What about Western Governors University?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by cmburford, Aug 3, 2004.

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  1. cmburford

    cmburford New Member

    Hello people!

    I've got an Associates in Business Administration, Associates in Secondary Education, Associates in Technology, and a Bachelors in Technology Management. All of these are from the local college here in Dalton, GA.

    I want to teach math in high school but there are no programs around here to get me certified to teach. I ran across WGU while searching the net. They advertise a Bachelors in Secondary Math. Anybody know about this school? Is it properly accredited? They are suppose to be sending me some info.

    Help!

    thanks
    Mark
     
  2. intro2life

    intro2life New Member

    One WGU student's opinion

    Western Governors University (in my very biased opinion as a student) is a VERY fine school indeed. I have many classmates who are educators, in-service teachers, substitute teachers and current education professionals, who find the programs exceptionally challenging in certain areas. The school isn’t for everyone however. To earn your credentials, the school and staff demand you put your best efforts forward, and demonstrate quality work, understanding and competence in each area you study.

    WGU is not a “short-cut” or easy-in to the teaching profession if that is partly your reason for considering it. You will be asked to do an extensive amount of work in your degree program where writing, study, revising, and more writing will become part of your weekly routine. You will have to read quite a bit, and observe every aspect of education, and individual subjects. The material and assessments are continually re-evaluated to meet more standards, and higher standards. They become progressively more extensive as you get farther into your program, till in the upper division you are doing substantially more work, and more complex work that integrates skills and knowledge from the previous assessments. You will have to truly learn, read, consider, and work-through tasks. You will study for the assessments, exams, licensures, endorsements, as well as in-practice teaching. At the end of your program, you must complete student teaching or an internship while working with your assigned mentor a local mentor, the school, the school district and designing a final portfolio that directly represents a culmination of all that you have learned both in-classroom and from your studies. You must also (additionally) take and pass your states required licensure examinations, and be cleared in a background check, in order to complete your program. However, the staff makes every effort to make sure that you are very clear on everything you must do and are well prepared.

    I think you will find their assessments are not the kind you can simply cram for, because the process is specifically designed to ensure that you will learn and develop as a prerequisite for advancement in the program. If this sounds daunting or assumptive, it is not meant to be. It is, however, meant to give you a better concept (in my opinion) of whether WGU is right for you. For me it was a perfect match. I can honestly say I absolutely love the program I’m in, and that I’ve learned something new and useful nearly every day. I enjoy the feedback I get in posts and email from the other students, and my mentor takes a sincere interest in my progress. When I post an assignment, the graders pull no punches when evaluating my work, but give me a clear understanding (usually) where to find the information I need to improve the assignment and for future tasks. If I’m still in doubt, the domain mentor for that subject (I have found) gives excellent guidance in helping me to understand and develop. I am very impressed with their attention to students, and what has always seemed a sincere dedication in the staff to produce highly qualified teachers, and not simply people with a degree, who happen to teach.

    As to accreditation, they are regionally accredited by four of the six regional, and DETC (national) CHEA and DOE recognized bodies. They work closely with many recognized organizations, agencies, companies and even school districts across the nation. So, they may be a distance education university, but they seem to make every effort to run a tight ship like any top “brick and mortar” school of education or teacher’s college.

    If this sounds like exactly what you are looking for, then I would love to one day read your posts in the student teacher domain forums and chat. If not, then I wish you luck on finding a program that is more suited to your interests, situation and needs. But as for myself, I highly advocate WGU to anyone who truly wants to make teaching their life’s work.


    By the way, welcome to the forum! You will find many people here to be among the most helpful and knowledgeable in regard to your future educational pursuits.
     
  3. cmburford

    cmburford New Member

    Thank you for that thorough evaluation of WGU. Your opinion is very important to me. I have looked at other distance learning degrees but they were either "life experience" colleges, which the state of Georgia seems to frown upon, or they were not fully distance learning (meaning you had to take some classes at your local college).

    I do have some of the education classes I need including one in special education. I also have College Algebra, Pre Calc, Trig, and Applied Calc. I wish to teach Middle or High School math. Most of the DL degrees I have looked at do not offer anything above PreCalc and I know that higher math classes are necessary for teaching in middle or high school. I am trying my best to put some money aside because I know it will be close to impossible to do student-teaching and work even a part-time job at night.

    Hard work does not bother me. Our local college, Dalton State College, is known as one of the toughest colleges as far as homework and research papers are concerned. No, I'm not looking for the easy way out as far as work is concerned. I am looking for a DL program that will allow me to finish without leaving the town I have grown to love. I also need the flexibility to do this at my house at night and there just aren't any programs around here that allow that.

    I just emailed WGU yesterday. I've not heard back from them. I hope to hear something soon. I am sure I will not be able to start until January, 2005, but I would like plenty of time to take the info I receive and talk with some officials in Georgia to be sure they will accept a Bachelor's in Education from WGU.

    Does the Bachelor's Degree say "WGU" on it or is the degree issued by another college?

    Is this a collaboration of several colleges? Will I be taking courses from professors from several different colleges?

    I know this is approved by the Governors of certain western states. Can you tell me which states?

    If Georgia will not accept the degree, I may have to get my teaching certificate from one of those states (if Georgia has a reciprocity agreement with one of them.)

    Again, thanks for your detail analysis for WGU. The more information I can get the better.

    Mark Burford
     
  4. intro2life

    intro2life New Member

    See my response under phancom's post

    I was in a hurry to reply, because there was a knock at my door and posted accidentally in the wrong thread. See my response to your reply under poster phancom's thread; "Western Governors University?".
     

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