Online Masters Walden Vs. ACE Vs. University of Cumberlands

Discussion in 'Education, Teaching and related degrees' started by Lilywise, Apr 7, 2015.

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  1. Lilywise

    Lilywise New Member

    Hello All,

    This is my first time posting so I apologize if this has been asked before. I have been looking at online Masters programs for about a year or so and have finally found some online schools that work for me. I have 3 options and I was looking to see if anyone has experience with the following 3 schools/programs. Also any reason why one would be better than the other? I do not have a teaching license nor am I really looking for one as I will be teaching overseas most likely. Most important factor for me is learning how to be a better teacher.


    Walden University-Accelerated M.S. in Education Accelerated Elementary Reading and Literacy (Grades PreK–6)
    Under 12K
    1YR

    American College of Education-
    Master of Education in Elementary Education
    (Under 8K)
    18months or less

    University of the Cumberlands (I am Muslim, will that be a problem?)
    Master of Arts in Teaching-
    Under 8K
    18Months or less
     
  2. damooster

    damooster New Member

    Hello,

    I can help with two areas:

    1. I am currently enrolled in the MSED (Accelerated) - Elementary Reading and Literacy program at Walden University. I am finishing up my second course, and so far, everything has been great. The instructors are very responsive and the materials are good. I like it much better than the other online schools I've attended. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

    2. I am currently teaching overseas. I did not think that I would need a teaching license, but it is becoming the norm. In fact, I am in an alternative teaching certification program. If you can, I would strongly recommend that you pursue a degree that leads to licensure. You'll save yourself a lot of headache in the future.

    Good luck.
     
  3. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    No, it won't be a problem. It's a Christian school, but if you're okay with that then you being Muslim is fine.

    Given some previous speculation about this on this forum, I even called Graduate Admissions and asked this point blank just to be sure.
     
  4. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    My first masters was through Walden. I really enjoyed my program. It was an MSEd in Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment. I enjoyed the 8 week class format and the structure of the program. My program would've taken my 2 years, but I took 2 classes each 8 week term to speed it up, mostly because my wife and I were going to have our first child. It was still manageable.

    Now I'm working on my PhD at the University of the Cumberlands. I can't speak to their masters programs, but I am very impressed with the doctoral program. It hasn't been overly religious, although some faculty members do mention Bible versus and whatnot. When they do, however, the verses are relevant to the discussion, so it's not like they're pulling it out of the blue. I have no complaints.

    -Matt
     
  5. Lilywise

    Lilywise New Member

    Thank you for your reply. I also was thinking about the teaching certification, I just do not know if I am able to fully commit to that right now. Is there a lot of classroom activities (teaching time) required in the program? I am currently not teaching but I am able to do classroom activities with my local elementary school on a weekly basis if needed.
     
  6. Lilywise

    Lilywise New Member

    I have no problem that they are a Christian University. I am just worried that the professors might have a problem with me since I have an obvious Middle Eastern Muslim name.
     
  7. Lilywise

    Lilywise New Member

    Thank you for very much for your reply. Was there a lot of classroom teaching time required for your Masters at Walden? I am currently not teaching and will not be during my Masters.
     
  8. Lilywise

    Lilywise New Member

    Thank you for your reply. I also was thinking about the teaching certification, I just do not know if I am able to fully commit to that right now. Is there a lot of classroom activities (teaching time) required in the program? I am currently not teaching but I am able to do classroom activities with my local elementary school on a weekly basis if needed.
     
  9. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Not knowing the OP’s reason/s for selecting /restricting options to the three listed universities; even so, there are many economically priced education master programs. Merely one example:

    Lamar University (a B&M State University whose teacher education programs are additionally NCATE accredited /now transitioning into the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)): 36-hour program/s @$250 /credit hour (e.g., $9000).

    Degree Programs | Lamar University Online
    Tuition and Fees - Online Degree Program | Lamar University Online
     
  10. Lilywise

    Lilywise New Member

    Thanks for your reply. I looked at Lamar but it did not have the program I was looking for. I am more interested in classes that help me learn useful teaching methods vs C&I or Leadership. I do not have an undergrad in Education so I wanted something to help me effectively in the classroom.
     
  11. major56

    major56 Active Member

    If K-12 /EC-12 are the teaching area of emphasis; the standalone M.A.T. degree that lacks a teacher certification track is unlikely to meet very few, if any, long term teaching career goals and/or make you a competitive or even eligible teacher candidate. Even in an expatriate teaching assignment ... most expat teacher applicants you'll be competing with will be credentialed, e.g., certified /licensed teachers.

    As an additional option … you may want to consider an alternative teacher certification /post-baccalaureate university based program. Either way, either the M.A.T. with certification track or the alternative certification program will both entail a teacher /teaching internship in addition to coursework prerequisites.
     
  12. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Another, leading to teacher licensure, post-baccalaureate or Master’s program option you might wish to consider too:
    Online Teaching Degrees | WGU Teachers College | Online Teaching Degree
     
  13. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    The program I did was not a licensure program, so I did not do any student teaching. I was already a full-time teacher when I started the program.

    -Matt
     
  14. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    I doubt it. Assuming things about someone simply because of their name is a bit childish, in my opinion. I will say that in my program, we've had students from all over. In one of my courses there was a student from China. She was a trooper, too, consider that due to the time differences the classes were not held at an optimal time for her.

    -Matt
     
  15. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Matt were you were teaching at postsecondary /higher education level (which would clarify the non-need for a teacher certification track M.A.T) vs. the secondary public school level? If on the other hand you were teaching at the secondary (K-12 public school) level; you likely would have been on an emergency teacher permit /certification (e.g., school districts are authorized to fill teaching vacancies with emergency certification applicants) ... permit request based on your academic degree/s qualification re the classroom subject area teaching.

    I certainly can’t speak for other states /school districts, but in Texas … emergency / temporary permits (certification) are only permissible [if] the classroom teacher has a pertinent degree and necessary qualifications for a district teaching position in the subject area to be taught, AND the school district cannot find a qualified /certified teacher applicant. Nonetheless, all states must comply with NCLB, e.g., Highly Qualified Teachers New No Child Left Behind Flexibility: Highly Qualified Teachers Moreover in Texas, emergency /temporary teacher permits are only valid for a single academic school year.
     
  16. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    Keep in mind that different states have different guidelines for teaching in non-public schools. And different states have different guidelines for how non-public teaching is treated if you ever want to teach in a public school.

    Under one of the alternative pathways for teacher certification in New York you can waive student teaching if you taught in certain private or religious schools without a license.
     
  17. Lilywise

    Lilywise New Member

    I agree with you that in order to get a teaching job I would require a teaching license. I am planning on teaching in the Middle East and many schools will except a Masters in Education in lieu of a License. But I do think that in the next five years I will need to get certified, maybe through TEACH NOW or some other alt licensing program.
     
  18. Lilywise

    Lilywise New Member

    It is childish, but you never know.
     
  19. major56

    major56 Active Member

    My question /reference to Matt were regarding K-12 public schools … not private /non-public schools. I believe I had clarified this…

    Per your mention re New York State … although in certain cases student teaching /field work can be waived, e.g., substituting paid experience (i.e., per NY … validating forty days of full-time, paid satisfactory experience in the subject area and grade level range of the certificate sought.), e.g., Substitution of Experience for College Supervised Student Teaching http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/pdf/ot11ip.pdf. And re Substitution of Experience for College Supervised Fieldwork http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/pdf/ot11pp.pdf the superintendent/chief school officer validating one year of full-time, paid satisfactory experience.The public school district superintendent /superintendent of schools must remit the application for such to the Office of Teaching Initiatives (NY). Moreover, Substitution of employment will be considered for the fieldwork requirement only on the basis of appropriate experience in which the applicant is legally employed according to current Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. A long-term substitute could likely fall within this category. Really not dissimilar to that which I previously point out in re to Texas, e.g., emergency teacher permit, probationary, or one-year teaching certificate.

    Nonetheless, in Texas most districts will decline this process short of extreme circumstance (i.e., critical teacher shortage in academic area/s such as: STEM (Applied Science/Technology/Engineering/Math) and/or special education /students with disabilities to petition the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) AND it’s a lot less hassle AND more economical for the public school district to pay a long-term substitute than a licensed teacher salary … even one employed on an emergency permit (i.e., certified teacher assigned out of field). Moreover, even if an emergency or one year teaching certificate were to be applied for and subsequently approved … it’s a prerequisite condition for continued employment as teacher of record that the recipient is to move toward meeting state standards: those additional requirements other than student teaching /field work (if waived) for a Standard /Provisional, etc. teaching certification in the subject area of employment.

    Per SBEC (TX) ... Maximum Length of Service Without Standard Certification:
    Without obtaining initial, standard certification, an individual may not serve for more than three school years in the same assignment while holding a probationary certificate, emergency certificate or one-year certificate. https://tcta.org/node/11514-educator_certification_overview

    Additional note re Texas: Even an experienced non-public and non-certified school teacher attempting to transition to public school as a teacher of record would be a highly unlikely candidate to obtain full-time employment as a public school teacher. Such is just unlikely to occur. And while there are prescriptive processes to obtain waivers leading to emergency or one year teacher licensure ... at large, public school districts are just not seeking non-licensed teachers … extreme circumstances withstanding.
     

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