<p>I apologize if this isn’t the best section for this question, though it pertains to post-bachelor’s study.</p>
<p>I’m currently in my 5th year at a small state university with a linguistics major and computer science minor. I attended an art school for a year, then took one semester off. I’ve also completed 4 semesters of Mandarin, but the Chinese department is in its infancy and doesn’t offer majors or minors.</p>
<p>I’m a member of the honors college, and am required to produce a thesis before I can graduate. I have a research question that I think would make a great thesis, but have yet to ask the professor I’ve got in mind to oversee the process. I’ve got a good chunk of work toward that project already done as part of a graduate-level course I took with that professor, and he was enthusiastic when I mentioned I’d like to continue working on it. I feel this project would be ideal for someone looking to work in English as foreign language instruction, which is what I want to do.</p>
<p>Another professor in cognitive psychology actually helped me develop a thesis project early this past semester, which would have been carried out under joint direction with someone in the computer science department. However, that person in CS wound up thinking the project too complex for an undergraduate, and the idea was eventually scrapped. I was passed around to a few other CS faculty members, but none of the ideas we came up with panned out.</p>
<p>If I choose to graduate with honors and produce the thesis, I will finish after next fall semester and graduate in December 2011. If I do not produce the thesis, I could probably graduate at the end of this next semester, although I’d have to finish a couple courses over the summer (this is permitted, although I don’t know the details).</p>
<p>I’m investigating my options for TESOL certification, and the two I’ve got my eye on are the CELTA and one offered through Columbia’s Teachers College. I want to get this done over the summer. Columbia’s TC program is the most attractive of the two, because I’m interested in their TESOL MA. However, I need to have my bachelor’s degree in hand* to apply for the certificate course. The CELTA is open to those whose degrees are in progress. Columbia’s program runs only in the summer, the CELTA is offered more frequently.</p>
<p>(*I’m not sure whether this is an absolute rule - the FAQ section of their site was broken, and the person I emailed asking about it won’t be back until Jan. 18).</p>
<p>Should I expedite my graduation by not carrying out the thesis project, and make myself eligible for Columbia’s certificate program? The thesis research would be really valuable, but I’m also itching to graduate and hit the road and start paying my student debts. I primarily just want to travel and write, preferably while still young.</p>
<p>Or should I stick it out for two more semesters and the summer, do the thesis, and “settle” for the CELTA? I’d also be able to keep going with my Mandarin and graduate courses. </p>
<p>Let me know what you think about the situation, and thanks for reading all that!</p>