History & Secondary Education
From youth basketball to assistant coach of Texas Tech University's Red Raiders, Brian Burg '03 took what he learned at Mount Mercy to make his dreams become a reality.
Preparing the next generation of leaders
A chance to enhance student learning.
Mount Mercy University’s secondary education program prepares future middle and high school teachers with the skills to improve young people’s learning experiences and ready them for life.
Under the guidance of our experienced faculty, and through curriculum specific to your major endorsement area, you’ll graduate from Mount Mercy with a professional licensure to teach.
By joining the Student-Iowa State Education Association (S-ISEA), a statewide education organization, secondary education majors have opportunities to attend conferences, participate in service learning projects with youth, host speakers, attend social events, and expand their network with other students and teachers.
I was able to become part of Mount Mercy—I wasn’t just another number. That individualized care is what makes Mount Mercy so special.
Rachel Collins '01
Secondary Education
When Rachel Collins learned one of the most important career lessons she would learn because of her experience with Mount Mercy.
Jessica (Shadle) Johnson '01
Biology & Secondary Education
Jessica (Shadle) Johnson immersed herself in the unique college life that Mount Mercy offers.
Curriculum
Hands-on experience sets you apart.
Mount Mercy is one of the only colleges in Iowa to offer a Professional Development School (PDS) model for teacher preparation. The PDS model offers education majors opportunities to apply theory and content in classroom settings. This invaluable experience helps Mount Mercy students transition into professional teaching.
A broad range of subjects are available as teaching endorsements:
- American Government
- American History
- Art – Education
- Biology
- Business
- Chemistry
- Economics
- English – Language Arts
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Journalism
- Mathematics
- Middle School (5-8)
- Music – Education
- Physical Science
- Psychology
- Science
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Special Education
- World History
Mount Mercy University’s education program prepares successful students for licensure within the state of Iowa. Mount Mercy has not determined if the curriculum meet licensure requirements in other states.
Mount Mercy’s education program is approved by the Iowa Department of Education.
What are the next steps?
Mount Mercy offers competitive tuition and generous scholarships.
We also encourage all students to apply for federal, state, and other kinds of financial assistance.
Learn more about:
- Federal and state grants and loans
- MMU-offered scholarships
- Tuition reimbursement from employers
- 10% tuition discount for employees of partner organizations
- Veterans benefits
We make it easy by accepting applications year-round! No deadline, no fee, no pressure.
- Create your application
- Apply under standard admissions criteria or go "test optional"
- Request official transcripts from all institutions previously attended. Mail to:
Mount Mercy University Admissions
1330 Elmhurst Drive NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402
For more detailed instructions on how to apply, see our Admissions page.
Careers in secondary education
An expanded professional network provides many connections.
Graduates from Mount Mercy’s secondary education program find success in public, private and charter schools, at community service agencies, childcare facilities, and with youth service institutions. For those wanting to take their careers to the next level, Mount Mercy offers a Master of Arts in Education with specializations in reading and special education and a teacher leadership emphasis area.
Because you will graduate with a double major, you are fulfilling a content-area major if you should decide not to teach.
Should you decide to pursue a degree outside of education, in most cases, there are few differences between the requirements for the educational endorsement and the requirements for your prospective major, as defined by the program in question.
The foundation required for teaching involves strong communication, planning, and interpersonal skills, along with courses in psychology. Many jobs outside of education also value these skills, and as such, you may wish to pursue a career in business, publishing, or other related fields.