Education major and Med School?

WayOutWestMom
Wed, 27 Jun 2012 10:07:09 +0000

@Weeknd-- if you want to teach high school (as opposed to elementary or special education), you will need a major in your teaching field plus a minor in secondary education. (Your degree will say Secondary Ed, but your course distribution will more accurately reflect subject major + ed minor.)

There is a glut of bio teachers. If you want to use education as a back up, you’ll do much better as a math and/or physics major. There is a shortage of qualified teachers in math and the physical sciences (physics and chem). (Though the shortage is not necessarily in the schools you’d prefer to teach in. Even a math degree is no guarantee of a teaching position, esp in suburban school districts.)

Every state has unique requirements for certification. Having a teaching certificate in one state does not necessarily mean you’ll meet the requirements in a different state. You almost always will have to take additional coursework. (IOW, take your Ed certification classes in the state you intend to work in.)

Also it’s not necessary to get a BS in education to teach. Every state has an alternative teacher certification process for career changers. You can get emergency temporary credentials after as little as a summer of intensive coursework.

Private, non-public schools do not require a teacher certificate.