Explore UAB

The Alternative Master of Arts in Education in High School Education (i.e., Secondary Education) program is designed for individuals who have a bachelor's degree in a field other than education and want to become a teacher. Successful completion of the alternative Master of Arts in Education in High School Education lead to Class A certification for grades 6-12.

Concentrations are offered in Biology, Chemistry, General Science, Mathematics, Physics, English Language Arts, General Social Science, and History.

For individuals interested in teaching a foreign language, concentrations in French and Spanish are offered. These concentrations, when completed successfully, lead to Class A teacher certification for grades P-12.

Coursework takes between 43 and 45 semester hours to complete and includes courses in classroom management, measurement and assessment, and reading in content areas as well as discipline-specific and advisor-approved elective courses and an internship. Concentration-specific checklists are below and course-specific information may be found in the UAB Graduate Catalog.

Register for an information session

Admissions Requirements

Biology: To be considered for admission to the biology program, applicants must meet the AMP admission requirements and attend an AMP information session. Applicants to th biology program must have an undergraduate major in a related field.

Chemistry: To be considered for admission to the chemistry program, applicants must meet the AMP admission requirements and attend an AMP information session. Applicants to the chemistry program must have an undergraduate major in a related field.

English Language Arts: To be considered for admission to the English language arts program, applicants must meet the AMP admission requirements and attend an AMP information session. Applicants to the English language arts program must have an undergraduate major in a related field AND 1 course at 300+ level in each of these areas (required - taken before or during AMP): Shakespeare (EH 376/476/576), grammar (EH452/552), young adult literature (EDR441/541, EH419), multicultural literature (EH 365, 366, 492/592), and writing (EH 402/502, 404/504, 433/533). One course at any level in each of the following: Speech, Journalism, and Theater.

French: To be considered for admission to the French program, applicants must meet the AMP admission requirements and attend an AMP information session. Applicants to the French AMP must also have an undergraduate major AND 67% writing and 75% speaking on respective Praxis OR score of Low Advanced on Oral Proficiency Interview computerized (OPI-c) during Spanish first term at UAB.

General Science: To be considered for admission to the general science program, applicants must meet the AMP admission requirements and attend an AMP information session. Applicants to the general science program must have an undergraduate major in a related field AND at least one course (recommended) in biology, chemistry, physics, and either earth science or space science.

General Social Science: To be considered for admission to the general social science program, applicants must meet the AMP admission requirements and attend an AMP information session. Applicants to the general social science program must have an undergraduate major in a related field AND 2+ courses before AMP (required): US History I, US Hist II, World Hist I (or Western Civ I) & World Hist II (or Western Civ II), with other 2 in AMP. Also required: one course in each of these areas: economics, government, and geography.

History: To be considered for admission to the history program, applicants must meet the AMP admission requirements and attend an AMP information session. Applicants to the history program must have an undergraduate major in a related field AND US Hist I, US Hist II, World Hist I (or Western Civ I) and World Hist II (or Western Civ II) – at least 2 before AMP.

Mathematics: To be considered for admission to the mathematics program, applicants must meet the AMP admission requirements and attend an AMP information session. Applicants to the mathematics AMP must have an undergraduate major in a related field AND the following prerequisites (preferably in the recent past): calculus I (MA 125), Calculus II (MA 126), & calculus III (MA 227).

Physics: To be considered for admission to the physics program, applicants must meet the AMP admission requirements and attend an AMP information session. Applicants to the physics AMP must have an undergraduate major in a related field.

Spanish: To be considered for admission to the Spanish program, applicants must meet the AMP admission requirements and attend an AMP information session. Applicants to the Spanish AMP must also have an undergraduate major AND 67% writing and 75% speaking on respective Praxis OR score of Low Advanced on Oral Proficiency Interview computerized (OPI-c) during Spanish first term at UAB.

Which Teacher Education Program is right for you?

Teacher certifications are issued at a few different levels and correspond to specific degree options here at UAB. Learn more about these certification levels and find out which degree program is right for you.

Information Packets 

Graduate ProgramInformation Packet 
Alternative Master's Program Download Register for an Information Session
Traditional Master's Program Download  
Educational Specialist Program Download  

Which Teacher Education Program is right for you?

Teacher certifications are issued at a few different levels and correspond to specific degree options here at UAB. Learn more about these certification levels and find out which degree program is right for you.

Information Packets 

Graduate ProgramInformation Packet
Traditional Master's Program Download
Educational Specialist Program Download

Request More Information