The field of Secondary Education Studying to become a secondary education teacher requires developing expertise in both the specific subject area the student wishes to teach as well as in the pedagogical philosophies underpinning the teaching process itself. As such, studying for a secondary-education degree involves both academic work as well as hands-on experience in the classroom. Issues of literacy , education policy , adolescent psychology , race and gender in the classroom, and a wide variety of other subjects are covered, and must be understood in order for successful teaching to result. And because state certification is often required of future teachers, many programs also include the training necessary to pass the battery of tests administered by the state, as well as those given by the program itself.