I'm at my wit's end: I'm a Substitute teacher who had a chance to permanently enter TWO positions -- if only I had a bachelor's degree. I have over 64 credit hours, but that's it. I spent a semester at a local 4-year college, but I didn't like the school. Last year, I was pondering switching to a Criminal Justice online degree, but I decided to stick to education. My problem is that I'm having a hard time coming up with an Elementary Education program online in North Carolina. I want to stick with a NC school because it's much cheaper, but I would be willing to attend another school if the price is reasonable. I would prefer teaching above the Kindergarten level (I have come across some NC schools offering Early Childhood Education -- Birth through K, but I rather work with older students in Elementary Education). Okay, long story short: if I don't find a reasonably-priced (read: financial aid) program, I was thinking about completing ANY kind of degree and going for a Lateral-Entry teaching degree. UNC-Greensboro is offering a degree that's totally online called a "Bachelor's in Liberal Studies". After looking at the website and the list of courses, I'm kind of apprehensive of enrolling (Mystics in America? Hip Hop Culture? $250 per course isn't bad though). I guess my question is, would this degree be worth anything? Or should I move on to another degree elsewhere (seems most online degrees offered by NC colleges are Business Degrees, and that won't help me one bit if I wanted to teach, say, 4th grade). The website to the degree information is here: http://web.uncg.edu/dcl/web/bls/default.asp If all else fails, I'll go for the Birth-K degree completion. I already know I have to take the Praxis I, but that won't be a problem for me (at least taking the test won't be, sparing the $125 cost will be).
Western Governors University offers a variety of undergraduate degrees which might meet your objective. WGU also qualifies for federal financial aid if that is important.
To me its sounds like Excelsior might be just what you need. Their credit by exam options are fast and easy enough plus the overall costs from start to finish are not cost prohibitive which will not require any financial aid in many/most cases. Good Luck! www.Excelsior.edu
Okay I'm doing more research on Western Governer's College as an option (I'm awaiting a phone call from them tomorrow or next week), but I'd still like some more information on the worth of a degree in "Liberal Studies" from UNC-G. Excelsior is a option for finishing up my Associates, but I don't see any kind of fee listed anywhere on the site.
The fact that a degree is called "Bachelor of Liberal Studies" or "Bachelor of General Studies" rather than a B.A. or B.S. means less than the fact that this particular degree seems to have a concentration only in humanities. If you want "humanities" as your major, it's fine, but I would focus on the content designation of the degree rather than what it is called. And if you want to be certified to teach in NC, follow their teaching requirements slavishly. You might need education credits from another school in addition to the BLS to be certified as a teacher.
NC has a pretty decent program to attract people to teaching called "lateral entry". As long as you have a bachelor's degree, decent grades, and pass the Praxis exams, you're eligible to be hired. A degree from one of the big three DL schools would definitely meet the requirement (in fact, I think there is a big three grad on this board who is now teaching in NC schools), but you might want to consider the UNC-G program for no other reason than there will be a bias in favor of UNC system grads in the hiring process - after all, most people in NC's education system are products of a UNC system school themselves. I've actually taken some of the professors who teach in the BALS program at UNG-G - I went there for a little while in the early 1990's. I will say they're all great teachers, and even though some of the course material is offbeat, it's taught in a serious, professional manner. You'll enjoy studying there. Good luck! --Fortunato
For what it's worth, UNCG does have an excellent reputation in this area, so it may not be a bad idea, just for name recognition, since you live in the area. My wife graduated from UNCG, (we live in Greensboro) and has always spoke very highly about the school. I certainly would be going there myself, but unfortunatlely they do not offer a business degree online.
Look into my old haunt www.limestone.edu ( South Carolina) they have turned out a few Elem. ed teachers. Or you can look into Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs NC atb Gavin
That's kind of unusual in the lateral entry programs I've seen. The states I looked at require not only a degree and an intensive student teaching practicum, but the degree has to be specific to the teaching area, and they are only interested in certain majors. A "liberal studies" degree definitely would not cut it. Now I wish I'd lived in NC when I was interested in teaching, if it's that simple.
Liberal Arts studies Union Institute & University's Vermont College programs offer degrees with concentrations in education that may be taken online. If you want licensure, you will have to attend brief residencies every six months for your last 3 semesters. They transfer up to 75 credits, and you can get credit for college-equivalent learning and workshops/ non-credit courses. Try www.tui.edu
