Hi - I am new to this forum, and relatively new to the world of DL. I am interested in getting a post-bachelor's teaching certificate. It's offered very few places, particularly online, but I have found the program at Drexel and at Western Governors. In searching this board and others on WGU, the reviews have been mixed, which is probably to be expected, as it's a relatively new school. I can deal with some of that. I'm wondering, though, if any of you out there have received a teaching certificate from WGU, and how that has been received in the marketplace. I'm also wondering how you felt about the quality of your education. Part of me says that I should go with Drexel, as it's a more established program with a more recognizable name. The cost and time differentials, though, are significant. I work at a DL college (doesn't offer education), so I know opinions can differ wildly on worth of a program. I'm just curious to hear more opinions. Thanks.
I can't really offer any opinion on the acceptance of the WGU program but I suppose if it were me I would be asking for that information from WGU. I would also confirm that the program is approved for licensure at least in Utah where WGU is located. Then I would check with any or at least one or two school district's where I would like to work and ask them what they would do with an applicant with a degree/certification from WGU - then I think I could make a good decision. There are a number of programs that are accredited but not yet approved for licensure - my school has one such program - but we try very hard to make sure applicants to our program understand that difference and turn them away if they are looking for initial licensure or are hoping to use the program for pay increases or promotions. Once we have completed the licensure approval process in Colorado, there is a good chance that our courses will be acceptable in other states, again because we are not seeking to do initial licensure training. Good luck! Mary A
I have an opinion I'm attending WGU's BS-CIS program. I love education and particularily non-traditional education. No one RA, DETC, or otherwise seem to discuss the "dirty little secret" of education. Graduating and getting a high-school degree and then going on to college (getting in on the basis of grades, test scores, and ability) is nothing like graduating college and entering the workforce. Asking whether a degree will be accepted is a little like asking if I've been paying taxes. Well sure, I have. Yes. Well what do you mean? I pay sales tax on everything I buy, except food in Maryland. I also pay locality tax and state tax and federal tax. Yes, the degree will be accepted. It is a piece of paper, a marketing tool, a startingpoint in finding employment. The real question is who will accept the degree, under what conditions will they accept it, etc. Suppose you interview with an administrator who graduated from Harvard and all her staff graduated from one of a dozen look-alike Ivy League schools. You show her your credentials from a small and new recently accredited college and she might just smirk. On the other-hand if you interview with an administrator who works for an underserved community in rural Alabama with a degree from Auburn University (pretty good RA school), she might take your credentials much more seriously. I think it all comes down to business. If they need a particular skill set you provide, they'll hire you. If you're one of a million bland cookie-cutter educators they might hire you if they need that, or they might not. As to acceptance... The US Department of Education states that the employer (not the Department of Education, the school, or a seperate entity) decides what his/her needs are and what schools or programs will fit his/her needs. If you interview for a job at Black & Decker or any of the other Fortune 500 and you match up with every aspect of the job qualifications and personality, and all that jazz, and they pick the person with a 3.0 from Harvard over you with a 4.0 from State University, you'd be well within your rights to sue. You'd probably win, because in the eyes of the law, accredited is accredited and Harvard has no more weight than State U. If you were more qualified of the two, well that makes your case even stronger. The thing I'd think about is this: Am I going to learn something? If you expect to learn the bulk of your post degree knowledge from the degree program, then WGU might not be the place for you. If you are an old hack at teaching, and know all the ins and outs of educational law and good communication, WGU might be a really smart choice. WGU cuts through the red tape required to validate your knowledge. What traditionally would take me (as in Jacob Metro) 17 years to complete (attending 1 to 2 courses per semester), can take less than a year. If I were smarter or had a better memory, I might be able to quarter that figure. The competancy model is useful for those with substantial knowledge and experience in their field. If you treat it like a cram session, you'll have the paper but not much knowledge. The other thing I'd consider is this: If you're the best teacher to come out of WGU this year and you really know your American History better than many professional historians, then you stand a better chance of landing a job than someone who is botton quarter of the class who just barely passed the assessments and who doesn't have a passion. That's just my thought.
