I thought it might be interesting and maybe instructive for younger members to know where we went for our undergraduate degrees, what we majored in, and the general path by which we got certified, to include (or not) out having gotten a graduate degree along the way. I went to Dartmouth and majored in English, with a minor in philosophy. Then I went to a small state school (North Adams, MA) and did the teacher courses all as independent study (70's: all things possible). I did an entire year of student teaching - very unusual at the time, part of my independent study arrangement. Then I got a job teaching high school English and gathered enough credits to cob together a Masters in ed. I got out of education (marriage, a move), and when I went back, I had to write a 118-page sermon on "competencies" and defend it before some board to get my certification back. I got my second job where I teach now, 20+ years ago. I started the philosophy course at my present school and now teach 40% philosophy/60% English. It looks more linear on paper than it felt over time. And you? (No need to be as long-winded as I (always) am.
For a Canadian perspective: I took a 4-year concurrent B.A./B.Ed program that had me student teaching beginning in my second year. My placements were 1 day/week for the better part of the school year. I graduated certified to teach Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6. In the years since, I have added several additional qualifications to my credentials--Special Education Specialist, Grades K-6 Math, Grades 7-10 English, Writing, and (this summer) ESL.
AS in Math BA in secondary math education MS in secondary math education I received temporary math certification (7-12) with my BA. Once I got my MS, I was able to receive permanent certification.
And also, I'm pretty sure there's no longer a "permanent certification" in NY state. Sorry, I was grandfathered in.
I went to Mount Holyoke College. (It's one of the Seven Sisters colleges.) I got my BA in math and minored in Education. I did my student teaching in the last semester of my senior year. Right after that, I got my masters at UMASS Amherst. I worked in one of the education tutoring programs at UMASS while I got my masters there.
I have a B.S. in Elementary Education from a school in Michigan. In Michigan, I am certified: K-8 Self contained 6-8 Math 6-8 Social Studies Early Childhood Education In North Carolina, I am certified: K-6 self contained 6-9 Math 6-9 Social Studies NC doesn't have a special certification for early childhood. It is listed on my license, but it is meaningless. I took all of my MTTC tests (Michigan Test for Teacher Certification), and when I moved to NC, I simply wrote a check. A few people freaked when they found out that I never took the PRAXIS. I am waiting to begin my Masters until I (hopefully) move back home.
I have a BA: History and Political Science JD MAT in History MED in Administration PhD: History (an over 12 year project, part time through BC)
BS in Business, marketing concentration MS, Ed in Early Childhood ED I went back to school 12 years after graduating with my BS to become a teacher.i loved volunteering in my sons' classes and knew it was where I was supposed to be
BS in interdisciplinary studies M.Ed in Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment All my BS was in elem ed and I did observation hours and a semester of student teaching.
Associate degree-general Ed B.A. Philosophy, minor in Anthropology K-8 teaching credential M. Ed elementary education
Certifications: Early Childhood-4th Generalist 4-8 ELA, Reading, and Social Studies 8-12 English Early Childhood-12 Special Edu
BA in Classical Languages (Latin and Ancient Greek) MAT in Latin Licenses/Certifications/Endorsements: Latin TESL Computer Literacy Computer Applications Driver Education
BA in Child, Adolescent, & Family Studies with minor in Sociology Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education from CSUB
I got my BA from a small private university where I majored in Elementary/Special Education and minored in Spanish. My university provided me with tons of student teaching experiences. Starting my 2nd semester of freshman year, we did practicums where we went into the schools 2 hours a day, 4 days a week. As we got older, this increased to two placements a semester, meaning I spent almost the whole day at school, often split between two classrooms. During that time I was in charge of planning and teaching one or two subjects for whatever class I was in. I did: 2nd grade reading 2nd grade math and science 3rd grade reading Kindergarten reading and writing 3rd grade sped 7th grade sped 3rd grade reading again Then I student taught for a full year in 3rd grade. I took over the class completely within a month of school starting and was in charge of planning and teaching all subjects, contacting parents, conferences, attending meetings, etc. I did that until April and then took over for the 3rd grade sped teacher. She only taught a couple of reading groups since the school was full inclusion and then spent the rest of her time assisting in the gen ed room, so I took over for the job completely from day one on that assignment since I already knew the kids (they were the same ones that were in my gen ed room). Last year was my first "real" year teaching and people constantly told me they couldn't believe I was a first year teacher. I had so much experience in college that I really didn't feel like I was a first year teacher! I mean, I basically did everything that the "real" teacher did when I was a ST, plus mountains of college work on top of it. I felt like that was my first year. In my home state I'm certified in early childhood k-3 and mild/mod. sped k-12. In this state I'm certified early childhood 0-8, elementary k-6, and sped generalist k-12. I'm going to drop my early childhood though (it was just a fluke from the way my degree transferred from my old state) since I have the k-6 now and don't ever want to be placed in pre-k. I'd like to get a masters in some type of ESL program, but am wary of the financial input vs. the output. So many districts are going to not paying extra salary for masters degrees at all or paying very little, especially now that my entire state has gone to pay for performance which ends "step raises" where you can make a lot more with a masters. Money isn't the only reason I want to do it, but I can't afford to throw all that money at something and then never make it back.
BA in History M.Ed in Education Leadership Certifications: 6-12 English (lifetime) 6-12 history (lifetime) 8-12 journalism Driver's education (classroom and in-car) All level principal English as a second language endorsement
BA in Arts Production from a very small liberal arts college in NC Went back to school (UNC-Charlotte) a few years later to get Elementary teaching certification which included coursework and student teaching. It was called a post-bacc program, as I had my BA but it was not graduate-level work. I ended up with K-6 licensure in NC. Moved to Ohio and my license transferred as K-8. After teaching a few years I got my Masters in Literacy from a local university. Got National Board Certification two years ago (Early Childhood Generalist). I now hold a Lead Professional Educator license in Ohio.
BS -Behavioral Sciences, Psychology option, and almost enough credits for a minor in English from N.Y. Tech, a private college on Long Island, NY. Worked in the business world as a tech writer/trainer. Went back to earn Teacher Certification through an Post Graduate Degree program after 20+ years as a technical writer (actually a total of over 27 yrs. out of college). One class waived based on SAT scores from 1970's, one completed via creation of portfolio of experience working with children, 4 others were on-line or with limited interaction with professor/advisor and/or classmates. Finished classes in 1 semester. Student taught for 12 weeks in second semester, then crammed for PRAXIS exams - missed one ques on one and two on the other. All classes passed with a 4.0! Very proud of myself. Not bad for a 50 year-old. Worked several long-term subs and tons of per-diem subs for a year. Highly recommend this if you can afford to. Better prep than student teaching because you are in charge, on your own, but not for a full year. Also lets you see different schools, student populations, administrators, school districts, etc. Certified to teach 6-8 Language Arts/Social Studies. Hired to teach 8th graders the art of writing/reading. Taken various graduate degree classes from several colleges to improve my skills and also to help with re-certification. Contemplating going for certification in middle school Math.
AA in English BA in English, minor in Anthropology Certification: English 5-9, soon-to-be-ESOL endorsement Additional 36 credits taking ed classes for my permanent certification and ESOL endorsement. I did trial-by-fire - got an temporary teaching certificate, started teaching before I'd ever taken an education course. As always, I do not recommend this method.
B.A. and MA in history from Case Western Reserve JD from Ohio State Teaching cert and M.Ed from Antioch McGregor
B.S. Education (k-6) Penn State Middle level certified for LA, SS, Sci, Math ESL certification this June
I got my BA in 1993. It's in English with secondary teaching certification, and I have a minor in philosophy. In 1996 I earned my MA, which is in American & British literature. I went back again in 2004 and took two hours toward a creative writing masters, but I haven't been back.
I started at a private religious college but that didn't work out. Long story. I took a bit of time off after a close family's members death and just got refocused. I enrolled in a state university and graduated with a bachelor's in Middle Grades Education: English & Communications and Social Studies. The majority was online or some other sort of distance learning course. LOVED IT. I had to log a number of hours in the classroom and do one semester of student teaching. My biggest gripe our student teaching requirements was that I only had to do it in one grade and one subject. That's silly. Immediately upon graduating I enrolled in a master's program at the same university for library media education. It was also completely online, but DONE RIGHT! Immediately upon graduating, I enrolled in a private college for my Rank I. I wasn't at all interested in administration and felt what would be most beneficial would be to simply choose courses to fit my needs as a teacher. This resulted in mostly literacy courses, a couple special needs courses, and a couple of adminstrative classes for the public relations aspect of them. This was also all online but relied on Skype and teleconferences. Very interactive. So it took about nine years after graduating high school to have the two degrees and the Rank I, which isn't bad considering my issues during my first year of college and my break. I guess I felt the need to speed through once I got started to make up for lost time.
--BA: Sociology --K-8 Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential (Endorsement/Authorization: English) --MA: School Administration
B.A. in Theatre Arts from Gettysburg College with minors in music and literature Started M.F.A. in Set Design/Art Direction at NYU. Quit grad school, worked in professional theatre for 3 years. Quit theatre, did various other jobs Went back to school, received M.A. in English from College of Staten Island 1 semester student teaching Certified to teach 7-12 English, Speech & Theatre Back in classes in now to get an M.A. in History so I can get a Ph.D. in Theatre History and Performance
I took a concurrent program at UNBSJ here in Canada. I took my BA (Psychology/Politics) along with my BEd (Elementary Education). It took five years, along with a very intense May-July of intersession.
Associates in Child care from a New Jersey community college BS in Psychology from a University in Southern Illinois MS in Special Education from University of Phoenix, online. If I had to do it over, I would have drove 1hr to an hr and a half to my nearest college to get my teaching certification instead of doing it through the University of Phoenix. But it is what it is... Im certified in IL with a Type 10 k-12 special certificate, LBS 1 which is the states special education certification. Plan on getting my early childhood special education approval to teach 3-5 year old special education students from Kendall College (online.
I have my AA in General Education, BS in Human Services and I'm about 75% done with my Master's in Reading Curriculum. I took a break from my Master's because I just became so burned out. I decided I made a huge mistake in not getting my undergraduate in Education so I found out from my state what all the requirements were to become a teacher...and here I am!
BS in Human Service BA History 29 credits towards my Master's in Ed...not going to finish. University of Utah, BYU, and Utah State University.
BA from Bryn Mawr College in history MSEd from the University of Pennsylvania - Reading, Writing, and Literacy program I'm currently taking classes for my special ed cert at St. Joe's Certs: Reading Specialist English
BS, Business Administration, UC Berkeley MBA, Stanford GSB Multiple Subject Credential - Cal State TEACH I spent 12 years working in technology product marketing before having my daughters. Then I gave myself a gift - a job I really love. Teaching!
I have an: AA in History BA in History Masters in Educational Psychology and I am currently working on a Specialist Degree in Ed. Leadership I have certifications in: Elementary K-6 Special Ed. (ESE) K-12 Social Science 6-12 Earth/Space Science 6-12 Reading Endorsement I have been in the classroom for 4 school years teaching high school. Next year I will have a position outside of the classroom.
I have a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies and am currently working on a BA in Music. I have certifications in Elementary, Middle School Math, Middle School Language Arts, and ESL.
I got my BA in English education from UD and did a semester of student teaching plus multiple practicums (practici?) Certification was basically automatic with that. In DE at the time, I only had to take the Praxis I series. After getting a job, I got my MEd, also from UD, in Educational Leadership as well as an extensive practicum. This pretty much gave me automatic principal certification. I also had special ed certification in DE which was kind of a joke because all I did was take the Praxis II in special ed and got it as an additional certification. To transfer to PA, I had to take the Praxis II in English and Leadership to transfer my certification. I did not transfer the special ed certification.
