Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Secondary School Teachers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Troy University, University of West Alabama, Alabama State, and UA.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Troy University, University of West Alabama, Auburn, and University of North Alabama.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Judson.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Oakwood University, Talladega College, Tuskegee University, and Miles College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Athens State, United States Sports Academy, Troy University, and University of West Alabama.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Oakwood University, Tuskegee University, Samford University, and Talladega College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Talladega College, Birmingham Southern, Oakwood University, and Spring Hill College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Auburn, Samford University, Birmingham Southern, and UAB.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Alabama State, Alabama A & M, Spring Hill College, and Oakwood University.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Birmingham Southern, Tuskegee University, Alabama A & M, and UAB.
Working as a Secondary School Teacher in Alabama
Secondary school teachers can find out about professional development opportunities through the Alabama Education Association.
State Requirements
The State of Alabama requires secondary school teachers to be licensed by the Alabama Department of Education. For this, candidates need to:
- Have a bachelor's degree
- Complete an approved teacher training program and have a specified number of education and subject credits
- Undergo supervised practice teaching
Major Industries
Most secondary school teachers in Alabama work in secondary schools.
Major Employers
A few of the major employers of secondary school teachers in Alabama are:
- A G Gaston Elementary School(Elementary and Secondary Schools)
- A P Brewer High School(Elementary and Secondary Schools)
- Abbeville Elementary School(Elementary and Secondary Schools)
- Academy For Academics & Arts (Elementary and Secondary Schools)
- Addison Elementary School (Elementary and Secondary Schools)
- Ala School Of Math & Science (Elementary and Secondary Schools)
- Alabama Christian Academy(Elementary and Secondary Schools)
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Suny Stony Brook • Stony Brook, AL
Studying Math Secondary Education (completion in 2003)
• 12/24/2011
"The school got me the job I have. I can't ask for anything more."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Stony Brook is cheap and well-known. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Stony Brook is one of the top SUNY schools. It requires a high GPA to get in. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I had a good internship. I was in the internship program and it gave me experience. |
| Instruction | 10 | In my college there is strictly a math resource room. It is for math majors like myself. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Math is infinite It can never be mastered as it is always progressing. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The first two years was book work, which progressed to hands-on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Too many people apply to this school. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | In my college there is strictly a math resource room. |
| Social Life | 10 | It had many clubs. I was involved in many of them. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The school got me the job I have. I couldn't ask for anything more. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | I had good resources. I was never misinformed. |
Auburn University Montgomery • Montgomery, AL
Studying Education Literature (completion in 2007)
• 3/14/2012
"I love this school, but it was a challenge. I would just tell anyone who will be going here to be ready to work hard. This isn't a bad thing. It just is something that you have to know. I had lots of friends who started and did not finish."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school without a problem. I don't know of any other programs that are better than this. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | AUM is one of the most respected institutions in the state of Alabama. It's hard to get into this school and I never took this for granted. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The program at AUM is a grand curriculum. It really prepares you to teach with confidence. I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors were serious. This is what I remember the most. They didn't do a lot of fooling around. They got straight to the point and spelled out everything that we needed to do in the very beginning. |
| How Difficult | 10 | I don't believe I could have picked a better program to be a part of. The education department was a challenge that I gladly accepted. The courses were amazing. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a mix of both. It's not possible to get a feel for students without actually putting in some time in the classroom. This is why the student teaching was so important. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I know that they offer some evening classes. I took most of my mine during the day, so I really didn't have much experience with evening classes. I do know that they have some online options and some cross transfer classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | It is an awesome atmosphere for learning. It is also a great place to study. The library is so awesome. I still go there now, and I am not even in school anymore. I really love the resources that they have. |
| Social Life | 10 | School spirit is incredibly high. We considered ourselves to be a Montgomery extension of Auburn University in Auburn. We don't have an official football team for AUM, but Auburn's team is ours. Everyone stayed in orange and blue. You can see that Tiger Pride all through the city of Montgomery. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I can really only testify to hearing about word of mouth praise on job placement. I didn't really use the department, but I have heard that they were good. I did my student teaching at a local school and had a job offer before I graduated. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | The network of alumni members is strong. They always send out information on different things that we can do to stay in touch with our peers. |
University Of North Florida • Jacksonville, AL
Studying BS Biology (completion in 1996)
• 3/31/2012
"UNF is a great value. It offers good instructors and wonderful facility in a nature-preserve setting."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | As I have already explained, UNF is a great value for the money. The campus has grown in recent years, with a new Biological Sciences building just opening. The Business college is well-known, and the Computer Sciences school is also good. Campus life is growing as well, with Greek Life, a new student union building, and many clubs, intermural sports, and several choices for on campus housing. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | UF is a great public university. It is better known for its Music, Computing, and Business schools, but Science and Education are making progress. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Great science program, and superior college of education. I do wish there was a minor in Ed when I was in school. (They now have a minor program) |
| Instruction | 8 | Good, knowledgeable Ed instructors. Some science instructors were more interested in the research aspect of their jobs than the teaching aspect. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Chemistry was not my strongest area. In order to "design" my own degree (and be able to take the state boards upon graduation), I had to take more chemistry classes than I wanted. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Science classes all have labs in well-equipped laboratories. The Education degree requires two semesters of "part-time" teaching (pre-internships) and a full semester internship. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | In recent years weekend programs have been offered. Night classes have always been available, but not for every course. Some courses are offered only during specific semesters. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | NF ha a great library, with many periodicals. The computer lab has been available since the EARLY 1990's, and Wi-Fi is available anywhere on campus. |
| Social Life | I lived off campus, and worked a full-time job to put myself through school. I had no time for a social life. | |
| Placement Services | I have never used the school's job placement services. I found my current position through word-of-mouth. | |
| Alumni Network | My name changed when I married. the alumni association hasn't found me yet. |
Troy State University • Troy, AL
Studying Comprehensive Math Education (completion in 2002)
• 4/6/2012
"I would recommend it to anyone with an education major. I enjoyed all four years there and if I were doing something more lucrative, I would give back financially."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I guess I answered that in the question above. I think Troy does a fantastic job training teachers and helping them find jobs. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Troy began as a normal school and still produces a lot of great teachers. People who are familiar with it associate it with education majors. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I think my classes were relevant and my teachers were experienced in the field. My student teaching was under two great teachers. |
| Instruction | 9 | The classes were relevant. The teachers were experienced and insightful. |
| How Difficult | 7 | My education classes were relatively easy. My math classes were often very difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My classes were great. My student teaching was really helpful. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Troy was great for flexibility. They had times for anyone and there are plenty of online options, as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | When I was there, the facilities were kind of old and outdated. The library wasn't particularly large, but it was all adequate for my degree. |
| Social Life | 10 | I made great friends and there were plenty of social options. I loved the student section at football and basketball games, I was involved heavily in my dorm activities. I felt really included even though I wasn't in a sorority. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Again, I didn't really use it, but I hear good things. I was offered a graduate school scholarship based on my classes at Troy. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't really use support from alumni, as math teachers are fairly in demand. It is available and I hear good things from others. |
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