WGU MA in Education

[ladylearner]

Does anyone have any experience with WGU's graduate teacher education programs? Would love to hear your thoughts, what program you are/were in, just basically your opinion of the degree offerings. Also, I would especially like to hear your thoughts on the student teaching component. Thank you!

[Lindagerr]

Back in 2011-12 I applied for their MAT in science education. I had received my BA from TESC in Math and science and had taken several education courses. Before I could formally be accepted in to the program I had to complete public speaking, american government, a health type credit and a fine art. I began fulfilling these requirements while learning more about the school. I found out they will help you but it is mostly up to you to find a school to do your student teaching, they will probably lead you toward the nearest large city even if it is 2 hours away. My circumstances changed and I decided the benefits did not justify the cost at my age.

I would definitely suggest you actually find someone to speak with who has completed the program. It sounds great but that student teaching is a BIG part of the program and if that doesn't work it is all wasted.

[ladylearner]

Back in 2011-12 I applied for their MAT in science education. I had received my BA from TESC in Math and science and had taken several education courses. Before I could formally be accepted in to the program I had to complete public speaking, american government, a health type credit and a fine art. I began fulfilling these requirements while learning more about the school. I found out they will help you but it is mostly up to you to find a school to do your student teaching, they will probably lead you toward the nearest large city even if it is 2 hours away. My circumstances changed and I decided the benefits did not justify the cost at my age.

I would definitely suggest you actually find someone to speak with who has completed the program. It sounds great but that student teaching is a BIG part of the program and if that doesn't work it is all wasted.

Linda, thank you for your feedback. I'm considering a few different options right now as I near graduation. Both NY and NJ have alternative teacher certification programs that look doable if other factors are in place (like actually finding a job and affordable classes).

[Lindagerr]

I lived in NJ and was working towards my Alternative teacher certification. I was at the point where I had passed all the PRAXIS II and had my Certificates of eligibility to teach. I just needed to find a job with a mentor. I went to one job interview, in the town where I lived and subbed. I did not get the job the board wanted someone stronger in math I was stronger in Science. After that we had to move to NY, since I had not been ""fully" certified in NJ I am not even allowed to sub here. I used to sub as an aide once in a while but $50 a day was an insult. Now I sub in SC in the winters and they beg me to complete the alt route because they need Math and or Science teacher badly. I have decided I'm to old to be bothered with having to work full time if I don't need to. So I have not gone on.

Have you ever tried Substitute teaching? If you have never taught children it is really important to try it out. I thought I really wanted to teach lower grades, until I subbed a few times and realized I don't have the patience for all day with a whinner. I found out I really love teaching Middle school and those are the only schools I will work at now.

Good luck which ever path you choice and CONGRATS on your graduation. Did I see you are planning on going to the graduation ceremony? I went both when I got my AA and when I got my BA it was an experience I will never forget. I would have gone back for my AAS ceremony but we had moved up here and I could not afford to go back at that time. Enjoy your day!!

[ladylearner]

I lived in NJ and was working towards my Alternative teacher certification. I was at the point where I had passed all the PRAXIS II and had my Certificates of eligibility to teach. I just needed to find a job with a mentor. I went to one job interview, in the town where I lived and subbed. I did not get the job the board wanted someone stronger in math I was stronger in Science. After that we had to move to NY, since I had not been ""fully" certified in NJ I am not even allowed to sub here. I used to sub as an aide once in a while but $50 a day was an insult. Now I sub in SC in the winters and they beg me to complete the alt route because they need Math and or Science teacher badly. I have decided I'm to old to be bothered with having to work full time if I don't need to. So I have not gone on.

Have you ever tried Substitute teaching? If you have never taught children it is really important to try it out. I thought I really wanted to teach lower grades, until I subbed a few times and realized I don't have the patience for all day with a whinner. I found out I really love teaching Middle school and those are the only schools I will work at now.

Good luck which ever path you choice and CONGRATS on your graduation. Did I see you are planning on going to the graduation ceremony? I went both when I got my AA and when I got my BA it was an experience I will never forget. I would have gone back for my AAS ceremony but we had moved up here and I could not afford to go back at that time. Enjoy your day!!

Linda, thank you!

Yes, I'm definitely going to graduation. It's only an hour away. I'd take an Uber from the NJ Transit station if I had to. I totally get what you mean about the program not being worthwhile if you can't student teach. I realized that the WGU grad program I'm interested in is actually for teachers who are already licensed. I'm going to find out if NJ's certificate of eligibility would fulfill that requirement. If it does, I'd have to complete the necessary requirements before I can even be admitted to the program. I have worked with children in a private tutoring setting but never in a classroom environment. I am still considering whether the NJ alternative certification is worth pursuing.

Oh and by the way, we have lived in three of the same states!

[KayV]

Subbing is a FABULOUS idea. Linda has many great points about both WGU and teaching certification in general.

[ladylearner]

Subbing is a FABULOUS idea. Linda has many great points about both WGU and teaching certification in general.

Yes, she does, as always. I realized that the program I was kinda/sorta interested in is for licensed teachers, which I am not. NJ has a teacher certification program but one of the draws of WGU was the ability to start at the beginning of the month. Plus it's competency-based and affordable. But if I have to have teacher licensure first, then I might be better off with another program. I'm going to probe a little and get more info on how the program works and see if there's some other way I could benefit from this program. If not, I will move on. I am considering two other programs as well.

Besides the student teaching/certification component, how did you like WGU's teacher ed programs?

[Lindagerr]

WGU does have programs that will give you an MAT with license if you have any BA. It is harder to find that page here is a link. Become A Teacher Online with WGU. Non Profit. Accredited

[ladylearner]

WGU does have programs that will give you an MAT with license if you have any BA. It is harder to find that page here is a link. Become A Teacher Online with WGU. Non Profit. Accredited

I decided to apply at WGU during a free application week. The program I was interested in is absolutely not available for those without a teaching license. The mentor said that not even the provisional teacher certification would be applicable. I thought that teachers with provisional or initial certification would be their primary targets - those who are already certified but need a graduate degree to get permanent or standard certification. Adding to that confusion is the tendency to use license/licensure and certificate/certification interchangeably. I asked if I enter the program if I didn't have a teaching license and didn't need one and the response was no. I asked three different people on three separate occasions. Always a no. I was considering using the MA in English Language Learners degree program to pursue ESL work outside of K-12 education. Their other programs are not of interest to me. If I end up going through an alternative teacher certification program in NJ, I will reconsider WGU for an affordable master's. I was just thinking that since I'm not in school right now, I could definitely jump on the low-cost self-paced program at WGU.

[Lindagerr]

I don't understand. This is from their site about the MA teaching English 5-12

Who the Program is For:

Individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree, with a major in English or the equivalent, who want to become certified middle grades or secondary school teachers and earn a master's degree.
Unlicensed teachers, substitute teachers, career changers, retired military personnel, school paraprofessionals, and others with bachelor’s degrees who feel the call to teach.

So is it that you wanted to teach other than 5-12 or esl that was the problem. The degree I was interested in was the Masters in teaching science. They had evaluated my BA and I had conditional acceptance but I needed a couple of prerequisites like speech and a fine art.

If you decide to go alternate method in NJ make sure you read and understand all the work and courses needed. It took me several readings because some things are ambiguous and you need step 1 then you find out what is entailed in step 2. Also look into where the classes you will need are offered they are (or were) not offered online must be in seat and are only offered at certain colleges. Also when you work it all out you are probably not spending less time or money than you would for a masters and these courses don't count towards that. I just want to make sure you understand all you are getting into before you start, because for me it just seemed to creep up on me that every step I took seemed to only lead to 2 more I needed.

Have you considered leaving NJ? I am not sure it is still so but Vermont used to have a peer reviewed competency route to a teaching license. Also are you sure there will be job opportunities in your field? I had a friend that taught esl in California but she couldn't find work in western NY.

I wish I had started on my path when I was younger, then I would have been able to justify the cost benifit ratio for the WGU MAT.