This is what an Excelsior Representative told me..........

Hey Group,

I hope I never seem to be "turning in different directions" so quickly, but this really did sound like a good idea -- and I have gained a lot of inspiration and help out of the members of this board and was wondering if somebody could comment on this. I have sent my unofficial transcripts for review to Excelsior -- and they never really could interpret the transcript I sent in from American Intercontinental University. So, they asked that I have my official transcripts from both institutions sent in -- so they could evaluate those...... and if I decided to enroll I wouldn't have to worry about sending those in again.

I'm not sure if I have ever stated this on the board before, but I'm aiming to become an Elementary School Teacher -- with Alternate Certification. I made this remark to an Excelsior Representative this morning and was told......... "rather than the major in Psychology, why don't you just choose the Liberal Arts -- and take an Area of Focus in Education, and your depth area in Psychology". I think this sounds like a very good idea, but I'm wanting some extra opinions from some of you. I do believe, at one point, I read on this board that a Liberal Studies degree was what most teachers in California had, is this correct?

The representative seemed certain (from what they could make out) that I would likely already have a depth area in Business (and might possibly have an area of focus in Business). I have already taken Introduction to Education..... and I was wondering -- for the upper level credits needed -- if I could take some of the classes from the BYU Independent Study in Education.

Oh, and I'm also getting the opinion that with 90 lower level credits and 30 upper level credits, that the degree might be a whole lot easier to finish in a year -- as I had originally wanted. I'm still thinking, from the situation described about Rosie's experience with Excelsior, it might be best to go ahead and enroll so I can get a definite call on where credits will go and what credits I will need.

PLEASE GIVE ME SOME MORE ADVICE HERE............... Is this the right call for somebody who would want to earn a degree and later teach??

J.V.

 

JurassicVagabond writes:

> a Liberal Studies degree was what most teachers in
> California had, is this correct?

Students at California universities who want to be elementary schoolteachers take a specific major called "Liberal Arts" or "Liberal Studies". This includes education courses and coverage of the elementary curriculum. See, for example, http://www.citruscollege.edu/transcntr/majorsheets/fullertonmatter.pdf

This is not the same as Excelsior's "Liberal Studies Option", which essentially means "no major".

However, it shouldn't make much difference. Hitherto, the California "Liberal Arts" majors were "approved waiver programs" that let you out of having to take a comprehensive exam, the PRAXIS MSAT or more recently the CSET Mutliple Subject. But anyone enrolling after 1 July 2004 will have to take the CSET Multiple Subject anyway: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/codcor.doc/030025/030025.html

 

I think you need to talk to somebody in the state you intend to teach in about the specific requirements. You really want to get this from the horse's mouth.

 

> I'm still thinking, from the situation described about
> Rosie's experience with Excelsior, it might be best to go ahead
> and enroll so I can get a definite call on where credits will go
> and what credits I will need.

The lesson from Rosie's experience is that enrolling now will give you a better call, but there's no definite call until you're approved for graduation.

> PLEASE GIVE ME SOME MORE ADVICE HERE............... Is this
> the right call for somebody who would want to earn a degree
> and later teach??

Isn't it possible that at some stage, you'll want to do something with your degree other than teach elementary school? When you say you have a degree and someone asks you "What did you major in?", wouldn't you like to have a simple, positive answer?

 

I agree with MarkIsrael. Basically, if you want to teach in CA you have to fit into what I call the "California straightjacket." That means that, whether you graduate or not, you still have to pass the C-SET in Liberal Studies.

Now, ironically enough, it doens't really matter, technically, what you major in. You take the C-SET in Liberal Studies and you can teach elementary school if you pass, regardless of your college major. However, if you major in that in your college studies, that will certainly prepare you more. And you need an accredited degree to qualify for the exam, I believe.

I would not recommend psychology because psychology is not taught to elementary school students. You need to beef up on anything that is taught to kids: Math, English, History, etc. Also, you want to come away with a major that means something, possibly, just in case you don't pass. So here is my recommendation....

Go ahead and take a smattering of liberal studies courses in your "liberal arts" section of the Excelsior degree, where you take the electives. That is the part of your degree you want to use to prepare you for the test. However, there is also the section that you major in. Choose a major that is meaningful to you and that will have some occupational currency for after graduation.

Then, pass the C-SET. Take it until you pass. Pass one portion at a time if you have to, but pass. Otherwise, your degree means basically nothing with respect to your goals for being an elementary school teacher in CA. What helps with Excelsior is that you can do both, you can prepare for the test and also get an alternative major. Interestingly enough, there are some seminars that are offered to prepare one for the test. If you live near Bakersfield, or are interested in visiting Bakersfield to do one of these seminars, write my home email address at [email protected].

Chris

 

My wife Rosie took the Bobrow test preparation for the CSET, and recommends it highly. It's offered all over California.
http://www.bobrowtest.com/PrepSessions/CSET/index.htm

There seems to be a fair bit of overlap in content between the CSET and some of the CLEP exams. Excelsior gives credit for the CLEP, so you may want to study for both simultaneously.