Overview

The full-time Secondary GTC program is designed for individuals interested in teaching English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies within a middle or high school setting, or Health and Physical Education, Music Education, Visual Arts Education, or a World Language (French, German, Latin, or Spanish)in a K-12th grade setting. The Secondary GTC program should be thought of as two separate parts:

1. Content Area Requirements

Secondary GTC candidates must first complete the requirements of a state-approved content area (credits vary). This coursework is housed at the undergraduate level, within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) and will likely be offered in-person, during the day, and on the Allendale campus.

Prospective students can preview GVSU DRAFT Planned Programs for their intended content area available on the CLAS Academic Advising website, however, should follow the initial steps outlined on the Informational Recording to have their transcripts evaluated by a professional advisor in the CLAS Academic Advising Center. Courses taken at other institutions must be equivalent to the objectives and standards of the Grand Valley State University courses and will be reviewed by a professional advisor and the respective department.

2. Secondary GTC Cohort

Once all content area requirements are complete, Secondary GTC candidates would then be eligible to start in a three-semester GTC Cohort (27 credits). The Secondary GTC Cohort runs for three-consecutive semesters, beginning each May and concluding the following April. This coursework is housed at the graduate level within the College of Education and Community Innovation (CECI) and is currently offered online. The Secondary GTC coursework will cover topics such as adolescent literacy development, classroom management, teaching students with disabilities, and technology integration. During the Fall and Winter semesters, candidates will also participate in a year-long clinical field experience under the guidance and supervision of an experienced mentor teacher.

Catalog information for this program can be found in the 2025-2026 Under Construction Catalog.

Admission Information

In order to participate in the Secondary GTC program, candidates:

• must be seeking initial teacher certification.
• must have an awarded bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• must be at least a year out from earning their bachelor's degree when starting the GTC Cohort.
• must successfully complete all content area requirements indicated on their GVSU Planned Program prior to starting the GTC Cohort.
• must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher in their content area coursework.
• must have 30 hours of paid or unpaid experience working with the 5-12th or K-12th grade age group prior to starting the GTC Cohort.

College of Education and Community Innovation

gvsu.edu/education/grad
401 Fulton Street West, Building C

Program Contact

Prospective students should first contact the Office of Certification and Accreditation (OCA) for initial information and to be connected to program resources for their intended route (Elementary vs. Secondary).

The Office of Certification and Accreditation

[email protected]
616-331-6650

Application Deadline

There are multiple applications required for the Secondary GTC Program. Please see the Secondary GTC website for the specific order of when to submit the applications and what materials to include for each.