The Department of Secondary and Special Education at Utah Valley University provides degree programs for students pursuing teaching careers in middle, junior high, and high school environments, as well as various special education settings. Students also have the option to add an autism certificate to enhance their existing degrees.
Wide range of available degrees
The university offers a wide range of secondary education degrees, including Art Education, Dance Education, Music Education, ASL and Deaf Studies Education, Earth Science Education, Physical Education K-12, Biology Education, English Education, Physics Education, Business/Marketing Education, Health Education, Spanish Education, Chemistry Education, History - Social Studies Education, Theatre Education, Computer Science Education, and Math Education.
Scholarships and program reputations
Several of these programs feature specific financial incentives, such as $10,000 per year scholarships available for Earth Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Math education tracks. The English Education program is noted for its statewide reputation, while the Physical Education program prepares graduates for Utah licensure standards.
Diverse career pathways for graduates
Graduates of these programs are prepared for various career pathways, including roles as elementary school teachers, special education teachers, instructional coaches, educational administrators, curriculum specialists, education consultants, corporate trainers, and nonprofit youth program directors.
Affordability and student demographics
UVU identifies itself as having the most affordable teacher training programs in Utah. Additionally, 24% of secondary and special education students are first-generation students. The university also notes a median starting salary of $59,811 for K-12 teachers.
Accreditation and student support services
The teacher education programs are accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), ensuring they meet national standards. To support student success, UVU provides resources such as academic advising, tutoring, wellness services, and accessibility support through the Student Success Center.
