What Works For Me Doesn't Work For Everyone

A buddy and I (who works with me in LEO work) were discussing at work what to do in grad school. I told him I was thinking of getting an MBA and going private sector, he nodded and say "yeah me too". I asked him what he was going to do and he said "teach middle school". I thought that was admirable, I told him I was looking at the security supervisor thing.

The part where it got weird was when he said he was going to do the same MBA as me (because I've hyped it up quite a bit) and his undergrad is the same as mine, BSCJ.

So I asked him why he would get an MBA to teach and not an M.Ed.......he said in Texas he could get a teaching cert for middle school with a BSCJ and the MBA would help him eventually get into a faculty/admin position. I told him I thought the M.Ed would probably be better for him to pursue, but he seems to think getting an M.Ed in the future would be more prudent just in case the teaching gig sucks. Plus during summers, etc. he could teach undergrad business classes at the local Community College which is always hiring part timers and seasonal instructors in Business.

I couldn't argue with his logic, he's going to get 2 masters same as me, mine in MBA and possibly MSCJ, his will be MBA and M.Ed.

Is there a flaw in his logic, I don't feel qualified to answer him on it, maybe he has a point.

 

i understand your point .... i would have advised him the same otherwise he should really consult with the school officials that do the hiring and ask the qualifications..

 

Does Tejas have some sort of non-traditional route for teachers that will allow a master's qualified individual to teach without an education degree? I think Coach Turner said that North Carolina had such a program. If so, he might get his MBA first and then, assuming he wants two master's degrees, pick up the MEd while teaching high school.

 

From what I understand after reading up on it, an M. Ed would have little use just to get your foot in the door. You have to have a BS in an academic area that is part of the Texas Curriculum....the only exceptions are for those teaching vocational courses, like wood shop.

For someone with a BS already, they have accelerated programs to get the basic qualifications to teach a subject area and teacher certification at the same time. It is likely he will have to do that.

"Texas institutions do not offer a degree in education. Every teacher must have an academic major, as well as teacher training courses" http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/certinfo/becometeacher.asp#basicreq

 

I've read the Texas alternative program, it's pretty interesting.

Almost every jurisdiction has some type of alternative program wherein someone with a bachelor's degree can enter the profession and while employed become qualified for regular certification. Many of these result in an MEd/MS in Ed/MAT.

I'm not sure where a BSCJ is going to fit into the school curriculum though -- is it social studies?

 

Probably not, but could be or could be psychology? I don't know......I'd probably have to take a few courses.

 

Many states have incentives for career changers, although TWO master's degrees seems like a lot to go through when he says he already knows he wants to teach middle school. A one year MAT or M.Ed is usually enough to qualify him for this, although as has been pointed out, criminal justice is a rather strange major. Most states require anywhere from 18-30 hours in a subject field to be certified to teach it, and most schools need math and hard science teachers more than social studies and humanities.

 

The school district where I teach places a lot of emphasis on the M.Ed; +30 coursework; and finally the PhD for pay purposes.

When I interviewed for my current position I was impressed that an MEd would have had greater utility than the MBA (which I have...).

The alternative pathways to teach school exist in most states.

Kindly,
Steven King

 

Maryland, where I live, does not require an Education degree to teach. It requires a RA undergarduate degree in anything and a teacher certification.

Pug