What exactly does 18 credits let you teach?

How do schools determine what classes you can teach? I know that they require a minimum of a masters with 18 credits in the area you wish to teach. For example, say I have a masters with 18 hours in History. Can I be asked to teach a class on European history even though maybe I studied only American History?

Also, does a masters in Library and Info Science allow you to teach Management Info Systems/computer classes? The San Jose State program doesn't have a ton of technical MIS coursework where as the Syracuse program offers enough MIS classes in the MLIS program you could actually qualify for an MIS certificate.

Do they try to match up classes offered to you for teaching with your transcript or just that you finished 18 credits in the field?

 

Let me first say that I'm no expert. However, I'm about to begin the WNMU MAIS program in History and Political Science. I'm a high school teacher, and my school wants me to obtain 18 hours in each discipline so I can teach the community college courses. When I inquired about your question about a while back, they told me as long as I had 18 hours in history, I could teach history courses. I was curious because I want to study ancient history, but they want me to teach the US History survey courses. They said it didn't matter as long as I had the 18 hours. This, of course, is the opinion of Rappahannock Community College. Other institutions may have different opinions.

As for your second question, when my wife started working with UoP, they looked through her transcripts and matched her up with a course they thought would best suit her. However, they told her that other courses could open up in the future. I would believe what course you teach would be totally up to the institution and its needs.

-Matt

 

A couple of thoughts based upon my experience. Sometimes course designators, titles, and content (syllabus), can affect the application of the course to a subject. Some interdisciplinary programs use designators outside of the subject. WNMU uses appropriate designators and titles. So does Fort Hays in the MLS cocncentrations, but Fort hays uses IDS as course designators for some courses in the MLS.

Mountain State, however, uses GIDS designators for its courses in the MS Interdisciplinary Studies:

Mountain State

My school dean explained to me that a masters degree and 18 hours in the subject met the accreditor's (SACS) requirements. I believe the WNMU program meets both the masters requirement and the 18 hours, but be careful since it may also be seen as a credit shy masters. In my opinion the WNMU program would be a great add on to someone with a previous masters but might be tough to sell as a primary tool due to the lack of a specific major containing the usual 30 or more hours.

In my case I completed the MBA and an additional class in management to meet the teaching requirement. All told,45 hours (with some leveling courses).

For determining which classes I could teach I was told anything with a management designator and with a stretch, subjects in the business field. I think it is important that folks take some time to read the accreditor or school guidelines:

http://graduate.ua.edu/publications/dept/guide14.html

make sure to look at the flowchart links on the bottom.

 

I just tried to get my buddy, who is almost done with a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies, to get hired in my Social Sciences dept. to teach World and American History. The Chair determined that upon looking at his transcripts he did not fulfill SACS requirements. SACS is our Southern Association Regional.