Am I crazy? Transferring with 90 credits

Transfer Students
1

Background: 32F with husband and kids in Massachusetts with 90 credits (60 at community college - AS in Liberal Arts). I panicked when I graduated CC in December 2015 because I wanted to start on my bachelor’s degree ASAP. Without giving it the thought I should have, I went with the cheapest/fastest option: Northern Arizona University’s personalize learning program online in Liberal Arts. Now, I feel like I wasted a year. I want to teach Earth/Enviro Science and I’m afraid that this degree is not preparing me.

I could follow the following steps (while working as a substitute and then a teacher):

  1. Finish 30 credits to get my bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts (by Jan 2018) at NAU - it’s self paced and 6 months for only $3,000 (quick and cheap)
  2. Take the Earth Science MTEL (already passed comm and lit) ASAP
  3. Apply for a preliminary teaching license in MA (Jan 2018)
  4. Do an alternative/non-traditional state-approved educator preparation program (start June 2018?) within the next 5 years to get my “initial license” - ie Teach for America (includes EdM in Curriculum & Teaching from BU), Boston Teacher Residency, or New Teachers Collaborative at Parker Charter
  5. Start my Masters in Education/Science/Agriculture online (apply Jan 2018 to start sept?) at Mississippi State, UMass, Colorado State, Franklin Pierce, or Iowa State.
  6. Get my “professional license” when I graduate

I applied to Worcester State and Umass as a transfer. I’m waiting on news from the former and have been accepted to the latter, but Umass doesn’t have a licensure program, so steps 2-6 would still apply (but the education would still be more targeted towards my future goal). However, both are 45+ minutes from my house (approx $1600 in gas per year!). Fitchburg state might be a viable option - closer and cheaper. Either of the three would mean at least 2 more years of school for just my bachelors and I wouldn’t be able to work while attending.

However, I was looking at Franklin Pierce University’s Environmental Studies/Science to Master’s Pathway. I can transfer in up to 90 credits, it’s only 20 minutes from me, and I’d get my master’s in about 2 years. However, it’s hella expensive and I still wouldn’t be able to work.

Note: I’m not sure what the financial aid offers will be at any of the schools and that could play a factor/

What should I do?

tl;dr: need help to choose a degree to teach science

2

What state do you want to teach in? Start with that. You need to meet their requirements. There probably are very specific course requirements for that license. How many of them can you fit into your current program or pick up on the cheap at a CC or a commuting distance state U?

How much teaching have you done so far? Can you get a paraprofessional job now? Some school districts will help cover the cost of teacher traing once you have some experience there.

In your situation, I think the alternative licensing pathwayis a good one. Those should be paid for by the school district or really cheap. But you need to verify that they are interested in your field of study. For example, our local school district would pay for chemistry but not for environmental science.

3

Massachusetts. The basic requirement is just a bachelor’s degree and passing a subject test.

There is a cc near me, but the closest state universities are 30 - 45 mins.

I’ve been subbing for 3 years, but haven’t found a parapro job yet.

I’m thinking an earth science license will be the best way to go if I do the alternate path. I know the material and it’s a understaffed area locally.