How to Break into On-Line Teaching

Discussion in 'Online & DL Teaching' started by waitforit, Sep 24, 2012.

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  1. waitforit

    waitforit member

    Any Advice?
     
  2. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    What is your back ground? Looks of advice will be given but it might all be different depending on what bring to the table.
     
  3. jam937

    jam937 New Member

    Here's my work-in-progress plan:

    I submitted resumes to two for-profit, nationally accredited schools about a month before the fall quarter. Someone on this board suggested to apply right before a quarter starts so I did. I got lucky in that both schools had instructors leave and stick them with classes full of students but nobody to teach. Both schools hired me (with only a bachelors) and I am teaching four on-site classes! I plan to do this for a year at which time I should have my masters completed. Then I will have both experience and a masters degree. Then I plan to start applying to other for-profit schools for online jobs.

    I think your area of study/expertise makes a difference. For example, IT professionals with 4-5 years experience can be making $80-100k per year with an IT job. Not many of them want to become adjuncts making $36-50k per year. So I think there is some demand for instructors in this field. I also think few IT professionals go on to get masters degree in IT. I think there is more competition in the liberal arts fields as more of them likely have higher degrees and I'm guessing the pay in their field versus being an adjunct are more close.

    These are just my thoughts. I am wanting to become an online teacher so I can have the freedom of traveling.
     
  4. waitforit

    waitforit member

    I have a degree in accounting and an MBA in General Business. I live overseas, so that 45K a year is like 200k a year to me. I turn around and use that money for investments in the US. I have been teaching English as a second language for the last 7 years. This will be my first year teaching Accounting. Last year I taught adults. And it was closer to vocational English.
     
  5. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    The question is, are you an American citizen or resident? If not, options are limited as many schools have this requirement.

    Most schools would require either a specialized master's (e.g. MS in Accounting) or an MBA with 18 credits in Accounting to be considered for online teaching positions in Accounting. Some schools would consider an MBA with a CPA for an online accounting positions.

    The other issue is that you are a TESL teacher, most schools wont take you seriously to teach business if you are an English teacher. You would need to show at least some business experience in your resume.
     
  6. waitforit

    waitforit member

    I ahve worked for two fortune 500 companies and yes I am an American Citizen. Plus the last year I taught at a vo-tech school and this year I will be teaching at a University. I will be teaching accounting.
     
  7. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    You should not have any/many issues finding work. I would start with some of these schools:
    American Public University System
    Argosy
    AUI
    Axia
    Baker
    Capella
    Colorado Technical University
    DeVry
    Everest
    Kaplan
    Keiser
    Liberty
    South University
    Strayer
    Univ. Maryland - University College
    University of Phoenix
    Western Governors
     
  8. waitforit

    waitforit member

    I am a citizen.
     
  9. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I would try to finish a Graduate certificate in Accounting as you need 18 graduate credits to teach this subject and get some business experience so your resume can catch the eye of an employer.

    If you want to increase your chances, you can try to get a CMA, CFE, CIA or CPA. The CFE, CMA and CIA are easier to get than the CPA.
     
  10. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I agree with these statements but for the same reason that not many people get a Masters in IT, you will see that IT teaching positions are shrinking. The other issue with IT is that certifications required to teach this subject change every year, one year is MCSE and CCNA, next is CISSP and PMP and now is CISA, etc. This makes the teaching career very challenging.

    I've been teaching IT for many years but trying to switch into Accounting, Risk Management, Operations. The demand for MBAs has never been stronger and business courses do not change that much compared to IT. Salaries are also considerably higher in business than IT. I have seen full time teaching positions in IT for 50K while business teaching positions at AACSB accredited schools do not pay less than 100K.
     
  11. waitforit

    waitforit member

    I already qualify to sit for the CPA. I am just waiting for the background check from Taiwan.
     
  12. dl_mba

    dl_mba Member

    Does having a CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) help in securing a teaching position in Accounting?
     
  13. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I think nothing secures anything but I have seen a combination of the options below when it comes to accounting position:

    1. CPA + MBA
    2. M.Sc in Accounting
    3. MSc in Accounting + (CMA and/or and/or CPA and/or CIA and/or CFE)
    4. MBA with 18 credits in Accounting
    5. MBA with 18 credits in Accounting + (CMA and/or and/or CPA and/or CIA and/or CFE)

    I have also seen some ads that require a PhD or DBA in Accounting plus CPA but I dont think such individuals are easy to find but this might change in the future as there are few PhDs and DBAs in Accounting online offered by NCU, Walden, Nova and Capella.

    If you already have a PhD or DBA, you can complete a Post Doc certificate in Accounting from Walden or an Advanced Certificate in Accounting from NCU.

    I personally have a DBA in MIS and am completing a M.Sc in Accounting but don't have much professional experience in Accounting, I have been able to get some gigs teaching introductory accounting.
     
  14. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    Send your resume to The University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, IN. We've just launched our College of Adult Learning.
     
  15. icebergisonfire

    icebergisonfire New Member

    How I broke into this was persistence. Keep applying.
     
  16. salami89

    salami89 New Member

    I guess non Americans shouldn't study with online unis that only take American citizens as their instructors to be fair on the terms of trade.
     

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