calling all teachers! -need your help

need help figuring out how to become a teacher. I have a BA in business administration and want to become an elementary teacher. do i need to go back for a bacholars or do i need to get a masters. whats the easiest, inexpensive way to go about doing this? can i do classes online? any advice would be appreciated

Re: calling all teachers! -need your help

You would need to go back for your masters in elementary education. My bachelors is not in education at all. Doesn't need to be. I have never seen online courses to become certified, but who knows. I have, however, taken online classes to get my salary differential, so keep that in mind as a possibility for down the road.

Schools would be Dowling, CW Post, Hofstra, and I know the CITE/College of St. Rose affiliation has teacher certification programs.

As for expensive...well, it's not cheap, but it's not horrendous either. My masters from Dowling was all as a loan and I think my loans totalled $30K. I personally am paying it off in 10 years which makes payments a wee bit higher. You can pay off in 15 or 20 if you want.

An upside is that classes are at night and they can be done within 2 years if you do summer and winter courses, too. The only downside job availibility. It's a competitive field, but jobs are there!

Re: calling all teachers! -need your help

If you live in Nassau or Suffolk contact your local Boces office.

They will meet with you and go over your transcripts and talk about what you need to take etc.

Good luck!

ETA St. Johns and Stony Brook both offer some on line classes.

Message edited 12/19/2008 4:19:41 PM.

Re: calling all teachers! -need your help

I was in business with a bachelors in business and switched to teaching. I did it through the CITE program affiliated with Touro College. I started my degree while still working in business by taking all day classes on Sundays. Eventually I quit my job and started substitute teaching. I did NOT have benefits doing this (luckily had my husband for that) but it helped me make some connections. I started my degree in 2004 and started subbing in 2005. I graduated 2006 and got my first full time position in 2007. I got credited for a year of subbing on the pay scale and off my probation for tenure. It worked out pretty well.

I highly recommend looking into CITE. It was very inexpensive and convenient. I did NOT love the program. But all in all I am very happy I went there.

Re: calling all teachers! -need your help

Everyone answered your question with the best answers, but I wanted to add that education is a terrible field to get a job in these days. The district that I work in is excessing tenured teachers this year.

Re: calling all teachers! -need your help

you coooooooould apply to become a NYC fellow...begin teaching next year and go to school at the same time to get your masters degree.

...I believe its cheaper...or free...? Not 100% sure about that, but it might be worth looking into...

Good luck!

Re: calling all teachers! -need your help

my dh got laid off and said that during the next 6 months start the process of getting a teaching degree. i wonder if i can contact st josephs where i went for my bacholars and do a masters there. i will also look at the boces route. i wouldnt want to start teaching until im done having kids. have two already and when dh is back on his feet would like to have one or two more but if i can do a class here and there i will have a degree by the time my last is in elementary school.