WGU Master's in Elementary Education - Progress Thread

[John tesy]

I am moving through this degree pretty fast despite not already being a teacher, paraeducator, etc so thought I would write about how I am doing here.


The WGU Master's in Elementary Education for Licensure (this license is valid for kindergarten through 8th grade) is what looks like around 20 normal courses + around 6 courses directly related to internship, classroom observation, student teaching or portfolio, totalling at 51 CPUs for the entire degree. On top of that, as additional rules for state licensure, you need to pass what is essentially a state GED test at the k-12 level, do an internship (may take 3 months to find placement, and is usually not possible to find in the summer months), get fingerprinted background checks, etc. All of this red tape means that even if you finish the actual WGU courses super fast it is almost impossible to graduate for licensure in just 1 term - especially if the schools are on summer vacation during any part of your term. 2 terms is doable by anyone however.

Why did I choose WGU? I actually contacted several schools and teacher licensing agencies, as I already had a Bachelor's degree. WGU was by far the cheapest and easiest option. Two companies had quoted me at around $20,000 to get a state license. I went to the local school district office to ask about how to get licensed in person - they refused to even glance at the resume I brought. After I submitted proof I was going to WGU though they offered me a job right away (see below!).

In the month between registration, acceptance, and term start:

• Created and studied Anki deck made from Quizlet flashcards on each course subject. This course includes a virtual classroom activity where student characters respond in real-time. Check the https://wgustudentportal.us/ for guidance on completing such assignments effectively.
  
• Got basic Complio background check (required for student teaching) through WGU.
  
• Filled out as much of the info on the OSPI e-certification (state teacher license) website and other places required for student teaching as possible.
  
• Applied for jobs at local school district. As I had no official WGU enrollment letter yet I attached a background check proving I did through WGU.
  
• Applied for contract work managing exchange students, which requires a state license to do. The idea is to boost my CV with some form of licensed child-related work.
  

What strategies can help WGU students complete their teaching degree faster while meeting all state licensure requirements?