<p>S is a first semester sophomore TRYING to figure out his major. Entered as math major with intent to maybe be a math teacher, but struggled with Calc 2 and ended up dropping Calc3 - must haves at his school to continue in the math program. Shadowed in a HS Math class for several weeks and decided that math was not desirable for him.</p>
<p>He has/is considering some type of law/government related job but doesn’t know if law school is something he really wants to consider (that topic has already been another thread!)</p>
<p>He is currently taking a Educational Psych class and has been talking some (and did in the past - as in, “get my math degree, teach a bit then maybe enter school administration”) more about School Administration - either in a high school setting (something like a Dean) or perhaps college setting (community college advisor, university role). </p>
<p>I know he would need a Master’s. Told him that what I figured most people do is come out with a teaching degreee, teach for a bit while earning their masters then enter administration. He’s not sure he wants to go through with the teaching education degree.</p>
<p>Can a Masters in School Admin degree be had with a non-teaching undergrad degree???</p>
<p>(just looking for conversation as he/we talk together - he has used the school’s career services but I think in his effort to try and figure his life out, he feels like he is being a pest!)</p>
<p>Each state may be different but I doubt that you could become a primary/secondary school administrator without teaching first. I have never seen or heard of it happening in my state.</p>
<p>University/college advising and support is a completely different matter. Large schools hire many people in support and administration. A common route to this is an undergrad degree in any field while taking on lots of volunteer/leadership roles at the school. Follow that up with a Masters in Higher Ed Administration. Quite often these MA programs provide funding through assistantships at various offices on campus. </p>
<p>I had an MPA degree fully funded through an on campus administrative assistantship.</p>
<p>Each state may be different but I doubt that you could become a primary/secondary school administrator without teaching first. I have never seen or heard of it happening in my state.</p>
<p>However, our urban district has had at least three recent superintendents who did not have a background in education- want to hear how that worked out? ( but ironically the fourth who did have ed degree was the worst of the bunch).</p>
<p>You* can* become admitted into a principal program without an ed degree. ( as long as you concurrently will be admitted into an MA.ed school) My daughters soccer coach, who was an attorney & had taught legal courses through the schools, went back to get his principals certification. ( he needed three years of classroom or related experience to apply)</p>
<p>For the record, my personal opinion is that if he wants to work in a high school or even younger setting, he should have the teaching experience. Get the degree, teach while you work on your graduate work and at least have that behind your back.</p>
<p>But, he doesn’t seem keen on the teaching - probably largely because he knows that math/science teachers are what are most needed - he is turned off by the math and doesn’t care for the science. Likes English-ish subjects and History/Govt. but those don’t seem to be an area of recommendation for jobs right now.</p>
<p>Now, if he was interested in working for a University setting, he can probably go with a more general major (comm for example - though in his mind he cannot see what “job” he can get with that - he is very literal!) and continue to build his already good writing and presentation skills and be a decent candidate for entry level university openings.</p>
<p>I know he is just really struggling to figure out what he wants to do - he WANTS an answer and he is feeling the pressure of being in sophomore year and not seeing a career ahead of him. It’s difficult.</p>
<p>Is he looking to become an AP or Principal? </p>
<p>For NYS he would need at minimum 3 years of teaching experience or pupil personnel service (School Attendance Teacher, School Counselor, School Dental Hygiene Teacher, School Nurse Teacher, School Psychologist, School Social Worker almost all require a masters to get the job) experience.</p>
<p>Many grad schools would want him to have is professional certification as a teacher, minimum 3 years of teaching experience and a masters or 3 years in pupil personnel services (School Attendance Teacher, School Counselor, School Dental Hygiene Teacher, School Nurse Teacher, School Psychologist, School Social Worker) to be a viable candidate for a school leadership position.</p>
<p>Is he looking to be come a staff developer or curriculum specialist? He would need teaching experience.</p>
<p>If he’s not interested in the teaching field, why’s he interested in school administration in particular? Is it maybe only because he has some familiarity with that field since he attended school and therefore dealt with them to some extent? There’s administration in a lot of different other areas including private industry, local governments, the federal government. Maybe he should consider something outside of the educational field unless he’s particularly interested in it.</p>
<p>In Illinois, there is a track to a superintendent’s job for people without teaching backgrounds, via a school financial officer route. The theory, as I understand it, is that in large districts, it’s more important that the superintendent be an able administrator and that subordinates can handle the education requirements.</p>