Newbie- need help on degree strategy.

I am really new to researching my options out to acquire my degree. So I figured I would post and get some advice from all of you.
I want to teach math. I am in California. Either in Jr High or High School. I really would like to teach Jr. College but not sure about how long it would take to get to that spot.

I have 37 units from 1979 from community college and cs-state university. They are high level classes, Calculus, Statistics, physics, etc.

I got interrupted back then and got married, had a family, own my own business. etc.. and now want to go teach math. I am assuming the fastest way would be to get an BALS with a concentration in math. Or should I go for BS? If I were to go and get a masters to be able to teach Jr. College, which is better.

From what I have found out so far, I could go WGU route but they will not take any of my credits. I really don’t want to start over. So they are out, I think.

It seems that Excelsior or TESC is my best choice to complete this the fastest.

Any help to a newbie looking for the best way I am open to your views. And how should I do this process?

 

You could go either the BA or BS with Excelsior with a major in math and the outcome would be the same. The problem here for you is that a simple BA/BS in math will not qualify you for a teaching certificate. You will also need a degree in education or at minimum a qualified teacher training program.

Now, one route to certification that you might take would be to get a BA/BS in math from one of The Big Three and then use that undergraduate degree to enter into an alternative certification program or an MAT in Mathematics Education.

Math is a critical shortage subject in most areas so you should have little difficulty finding a grad program or a job.

Step one: contact the Dept. of Education in the state(s) you want to become certified in and get a teacher certification information package and learn what it requires. Don't go entirely on what you hear from others as there are many routes to that goal.

For teaching in college - the MAT is not a master's degree in math so it doesn't by itself qualify. You would need 18 grad hours in the content (math) to meet the minimum requirements of most colleges for an instructor appt.

A plus though - the MAT does qualify for pay scale increase for teachers in most jurisdictions...

good luck.

 

I understand about that teaching training program. I did contact my local office of education and they told me to get my degree completed in math. Then come talk to them. They can emergency credential me while at the same time set up the instructional portion to complete that requirement. I know I need to pass CBEST and the particular test in area of math. I figure that once this was accomplished, then get the MAT completed during this time.

But my main area of question is the strategy to complete this at Excelsior? I have searched the forum and it seems that I coule surely zoom through clep tests and others to accumulate credit. If I apply at Ex, can I take those cleps to accumulate credit even though not enrolled? I am confused about that.

 

Yes, you can start accumulating CLEP credits before you register at Excelsior. However, CLEP wont help you with the specific math majpr requireemnts, just with your general education requirements as you already have some calculus.

The Excelsior math major requires 30 credits in math not more than 3 of which can be precalculus level and which include 3 semesters of calculus, two real analysis/adv. calculus type classes, two linear alegbra/matrix algebra/abstract algebra/number theory type classes, and an applied math class.


Good luck!

Elizabeth