Issues in Transferring Credits...

Hi,

I'm looking for a bit of advice. I want to teach math in secondary school. I have math credits and quant-oriented work experience, but not a math degree, which is required for the teacher certification programs in NY State.

My question is about transferring credits. I understand that reputable, accredited schools generally accept no more than 6-12 transferred credits. I already have a BA (earned 28 years ago), MBA (21 years ago) and 33 credits of an unfinished MA program (10 years ago). It's hard to see how it is that you can earn a second major at a single school by concentrating credits in a second subject, but if you go to a different school, you have to earn (and pay for!) almost an entirely new BA. I can't really see myself having to prove myself in freshman English again.

Another possibility is an MS in math, applied math or statistics. For instance, the "data mining" MS at U of Southern CT looks fascinating, and it's essentially an applied math degree (though who knows if this would count with the teacher certification folks).

The nice thing about MS programs is that you only have to take courses in your area of specialization. However, I can't seem to find an MS program that allows you to earn credits based on existing knowledge or experience.

For instance, I've written several books and taught a couple of courses on financial math...that should be good for something, right? And it would be good for credits at, say, Thomas Edison State College, but not at any master's programs that I can find.

Just looking for some feedback from folks who know the ropes better than me. It's thrilling to discover this forum after mucking about on about.com and other less-than-useful sites. Whoever runs DegreeInfo deserves a big "thank you."

Dan

 

See Lawrie Miller's , BA in 4Weeks

http://bain4weeks.com/


Write the GRE subject exam in math with a high percentile and you get 30 semester credits at Excelsior College, enough to get another degree.

 

Usually only 30 credits are required for a second BA. If you can score above the 80th percentile in the GRE Subject Examination in Mathematics, Excelsior College will award you the 30 credits and you'll be done!

It's unusual to accept much transfer credit at the graduate level, let alone portfolio credit. But if you want to do a Master's, your best bet may be the Master of Arts in Mathematics Education at Western Governors University:
http://www.wgu.edu/wgu/academics/mame_listing.html

 

Thanks for your suggestions. The BAin4weeks site is a very useful resource. Two comments:

One, the MA math ed programs that I've looked at (Western Governors and U. of Montana Bozeman) are for certified teachers who want additional math background or a second certification in math. They aren't for people who aren't yet teachers, which rules them out for me.

Two, while the Excelsior deal looks incredibly attractive, I can't for the life of me imagine why the school chose a name that makes it sound a diploma mill. If I met someone with a degree from a school called Excelsior, I would certainly ask questions about it. Why do you think the school changed its name from the more legitimate-sounding Regents College of the U. of the State of NY?

Instead, I'll probably look into the state-chartered Thomas Edison or Charter Oak, which sound more legitimate to my ears, unless there is some way I can get the 30 GRE credits from Excelsior and apply them to one of the state schoos.

But 30 credits from a GRE exam is going to be hard to pass up.

 

> One, the MA math ed programs that I've looked at (Western
> Governors and U. of Montana Bozeman) are for certified
> teachers who want additional math background or a second
> certification in math. They aren't for people who aren't yet
> teachers, which rules them out for me.

WGU's MA is designed for already-certified teachers. But it also says: "You do not need to submit a copy of your license if you are not seeking the endorsement." (http://www.wgu.edu/wgu/admission/index.html#endorse) It might be worth asking them if they can help you.

> If I met someone with a degree from a school called
> Excelsior, I would certainly ask questions about it.

You're not the first person to worry about this.

On her résumé, my wife is putting "Excelsior College (formerly Regents College, a program of the New York State Dept. of Education)" -- and "includes coursework from University of California San Diego, San Diego State University, and Harvard University." I don't think she'll miss any opportunities because of the name.

> Why do you think the school changed its name from the
> more legitimate-sounding Regents College of the U. of the
> State of NY?

The school was privatized, and is no longer under the auspices of the Regents.

> Instead, I'll probably look into the state-chartered Thomas
> Edison or Charter Oak [...]. But 30 credits from a GRE exam is
> going to be hard to pass up.

Charter Oak will give you 24 credits for the Math GRE; Thomas Edison will give you none.

 

Mark wrote:

The school was privatized, and is no longer under the auspices of the Regents.

More than under the auspices, every college in NYS is under the direction of the Regents.

Yeah, I know what you meant but the situation in NYS is interesting.

 

"Excelsior" is the New York state motto. The word "excelsior" is found on the state seal. I suppose they were trying to sound patriotic to New York State. Additionally, "excelsior" means ever-upward, which is a representation of the school's mission and philosophy.

 

Hi there!

This is something that I looked into for myself - teaching math on a secondary level as a career alternative. You may want to check out first NYS new regulations on child abuse courses and courses required on Domestic Violence (as part of the curriculum) to become a certified teacher in NYS. If you live in or near the NYC area, they can assist you in this area, and may even hire you (due to all of your experience) pending your math degree in a teaching area (they are very desperate for good teachers.)


Please let me know how things go for you....

 

From Dictionary.com:

If you've ever lived in this "Worker's Paridise", you'd know how accurate a motto meaning "dead wood" is for our city/state run institution. <g>

Cordially,
Richard Kanarek
New Yorker by birth, not by morals

 

I could have done without knowing that definition! I checked the definition myself and now I am even more discombobulated over their name.

 

Look at Precotts MA in education by DL-- Most Prescots MAs are self designed (no conventional classes) and knowledge learned thru work/life experience can augment ones learning.
http://www.prescott.edu/map/grad_areas.html#education

 

I think that Prescott's MA has several required weekend residencies each semester. But I may be wrong...

 

The MEd / post-bac alternative

I recently (2002) received physics and math licensure in Vermont by participating in a MEd/Post-bachelaureate program of the University of Vermont (Burlington). I had a bachelor's and master's in electrical engineering. The university evaluated my transcripts, and decided I had the equivalent of a major in physics and a minor in math. I took the appropriate education courses and student teaching over the course of 1 school year, and the university recommended to the State of Vermont that I receive a license to teach secondary physics; the license was promptly granted.

The university would only recommend a license in fields where I had the equivalent of a major, but once I had the physics license, I submitted my transcripts to the Vermont Education Department, and they granted a math endorsement because of the combination of the license and the math major.

The requirements for the MEd are slightly higher than for the teaching license, so one of these days I need to take another course to finish the MEd.

As for the name Excelsior, the same organization that used to run them, the University of the State of New York, also issues licenses to professionals, such as engineers and accountants. Maybe they license teachers, too. So the state agencies should be familiar with Excelsior.