Graduates of this program become teachers in secondary educational institutions, both public (Hawai‘i Department of Education and Public Charter Schools) and private.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be recommended for licensure to teach 6-12th grade in a subject field in the state of Hawai‘i. The STE Secondary Program offers teaching majors in the following fields:

• Art
• Dance
• English Language Arts
• English Language Learners/Multilingual
• Health & Physical Education (face-to-face at UH Mānoa campus only)
• Mathematics
• Music (face-to-face at UH Mānoa campus only)
• Science
• Social Studies
• Theater
• World Languages

Once completing an initial teacher licensure program, graduates are eligible to apply for a state license through the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board, which will allow the licensee to teach in public and charter schools in the State of Hawai‘i.

Hawai‘i also participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement which facilitates the mobility of educators among states that are members of NASDTEC. UHM recommends you contact the office of certification in any state to which you may be relocating to get the most current information. See NASDTEC website for more information.

• Must have graduated from an accredited, four-year institution of higher education recognized by the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM), prior to beginning the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, Secondary Education (PBCTE, Secondary): program.
  • For applicants who graduated from institutions outside of the U.S- an evaluation of your transcripts from a NACES member is required.
• 2.75 cumulative GPA (2.50 cumulative GPA for Math and Science)
• 2.75 academic major GPA (2.50 academic major GPA for Math and Science)
• Complete 40 hours of paid or voluntary group leadership field experience with 6-12th grade students. The experience cannot have occurred more than 5 years prior to acceptance into the program.
• Meet the content knowledge requirement
• Interview with the program
• Write a personal statement
• Provide Three (3) Professional References

New cohorts start only in Spring semesters. Application deadlines are as follows:

• International Students: September 1 (refer to the International Admission Process for detailed information)
• September 1: General Priority Deadline
• October 1: General Final Deadline

Tuition Cost (36 credits)

Note: This program charges undergraduate tuition rates. See Outreach College tuition and fees.

• Resident: Approximately $471/credit x 36 credits = $16,956
• Non-Resident: Approximately $1,389/credit x 36 credits = $50,004
• WUE/WICHE: Approximately $706/credit x 36 credits = $25,416

There are many resources available to help students pay for college, including College of Education scholarships. Additional scholarships may be found in the Financial Support section of the general financial aid website. For more information on financial aid and additional resources, please visit the UH Mānoa Financial Aid Office (finaid@hawaii.edu).

The Grow Our Own Teachers Initiative, also known as GOO, is an opportunity for candidates enrolled in this program to qualify for tuition stipends to cover up to all tuition costs. GOO is made possible through a partnership between the College of Education of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and Hawai‘i Department of Education. For more information on eligibility requirements and the application process, please visit our Grow Our Own Teachers page.

PBCTE is cohort-based, with students only admitted in the spring term each year as part of a group that takes initial classes together and beginning with a two-day, on-campus orientation. In a cohort model, students enroll in a series of core courses, beginning and ending the series together. Such an approach helps build community and support structures within the program. Students work with like-minded professionals to achieve a common goal.

PBCTE is a 36 credit certificate program of 10 required core courses.

• The 10 core courses in PBCTE are offered online and include live sessions on the Internet weekday evenings to accommodate working professionals.
• General breakdown of program timeline, Course + (Focus Requirements)
  • Term 1 (Spring)
    • STE 401: Engaging the Adolescent Learner (WI)
    • STE 402(n): Teaching Practicum, Supervised Field Experience, 2 days/week + Seminar
    • STE 440: Curriculum Implications of Multicultural Education (H, WI)
  • Summer Term (or prior to Term 3)
    • EDEF 610: Foundation of Educational Theory
    • EDEP 631: Adolescence and Education
  • Term 2 (Fall)
    • STE 402(Alpha): Teaching Practicum, Field Experience, 2 days/week + Seminar
    • STE 404(Alpha): Teaching in the Subject Field (WI)
    • SPED 445 Educating Exceptional Students in Regular Classrooms, Secondary
  • Term 3 (Spring)
    • STE 405(Alpha): Teaching Residency, Supervised Full-Time Teaching, 5 days/week (O)
    • STE 406: Seminar in Teaching Residency (E, WI)