How to become a teacher – master’s or undergrad route?

It differs from state to state. In Oregon you need a master’s in education. In California you need a bachelor’s in anything BUT education. Check with the education department at a nearby university in your state.

If you have the option of getting your certification while you’re still in undergrad then do that. This way you can start teaching earlier. With a masters degree you make more money, but prospective employers are more likely to hire someone fresh out of undergrad rathan than with a masters degree because you will have the same credentials and experience, but they can pay someone with only a BA or BS less. More than likely you will have to go and get your masters degree regardless. Many states require you get it after a certain number of years teaching. But if you start teaching with your BA then you can take graduate classes at night and get tuition reimbursement (if your district offers that).

It’s just much easier to get certified right off the bat. So if you still have time to major in education and get certified before you graduate you should do that now.

I got my teacher certification in Texas through the Masters of Education in Teaching Program at the University of Texas at Arlington.

I had a B.A. in English and then I went into the Masters Program, which consisted of 4 Graduate Classes, 12 weeks of student teaching then taking and passing the TExES and PPR exams.

My undergrad was in something completely unrelated to education. My master’s is in education. Look for a school that offers M.A.T. I finished undergrad a year early (a little summer school involved) and then finished the MAT program in a year (and a summer). Master of Art in Teaching. It’s a speedy program that gets you certified and ‘mastered’ at the same time. You will mostly likely have to search for a school near you that offers it (only 3 in my state). However, if you know you want to teach…no doubt…just go for it undergrad! I wasn’t sure at the time and wanted something to fall back on…

Find a school dirstrict that you are interested in teaching in. Then see if they have an Alternative Certification program. It would be easier to do that rather than going back to school. In these particular programs, they train you instead of you having to pay for college credit. You can apply for some type of temporary certificate while you earn your certification; that way you gain experience while you earn your teaching certificate. An M.ED. is great if you are looking to pursue other avenues (i.e. leadership roles in education, asst. professor, etc.)

It doesn’t matter.

You will UNDERSTAND MORE and POSSIBLY be a better teacher with an MS degree, BUT you still have to take the silly courses a state requires that ISN”T part of either a BA or MS program and you will still have to student teach and take the PRAXIS.

So either way it’s an extra semester of work that isn’t REQUIRED to get your degree but IS required to get a credentail.

the typical pathway is a B.A or B.S…….i actually got a B.A. and then went back to school later to get teacher cert in a different area……….if you want a job in a hearbeat got for special ed……history sucks to get a job in……….there are alternate ruotes such as troops to teachers for teacher certification but im not sure that they would make you highly qualified……… which just about all schools require you be now with the no child left behind legislation

Being an elementary school teacher, I have more respect for teachers who graduate with a four year degree, teach, and then go on for their masters rather than teachers who graduate with their masters and then get their first teaching job because you can really only learn to teach by teaching!