Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

Soon2bMrsI Posted: Nov 10, 2006 07:40 AM

Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

I've been doing some soul searching this past week because I gave up my job do to they changed everything you can think of to make me quit.

I've always wanted to be a teacher. I'm sure I need to go back to school. I do have a 4yr degree but it's in COmmunications...Ladies here's where you come in....WHAT do I need to do to make this happen??? Should I be looking into Grad school and I'm sure I will need to go and complete a few undergrad courses that are required. I thought about doing this before and went to the board of ed and all that and found out that I needed to go back to shcool first is it the same proceedure???

I would appreciate any help.

TIA
Claudia

Mooshyboo Posted: Nov 10, 2006 07:58 AM

Re: Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

I hear you ~ I am in the same boat ~ I would love to do a major career change as well ~ I am thinking about doing something different after we get married! (I have been at my present job in the credit industry for over 10 years)

afrodyt2000 Posted: Nov 10, 2006 08:02 AM

Re: Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

I know there are a few programs like NY Teaching Fellows and stuff like that where you can teach if you have a bachelors but you get your masters while teaching. I'm sure some of the teachers on here can help you. Good luck! As of late becoming a teacher is much less of a financial burden than when I was in high school or college.

heatherandrichie Posted: Nov 10, 2006 08:54 AM

Re: Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

Good luck, wish I could help!

hmv12 Posted: Nov 10, 2006 09:23 AM

Re: Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

Hello, I will help as much as I can. I graduated with a Master's degree in school counseling about two years ago. I am now a counselor for adults... not in a school. I worked in the highschool and college level before I landed the job I am in today. I know about most careers and the path to get there. You have a communications degree, which is great. If you want to go into teaching, you most certainly have to get back to school. Your options are to get your master's, which in teaching I believe is 40-something credits, and do so in a specific area. This could be childhood ed, special-ed, math...etc. After you complete that you will need to take a NYS exam in teaching. This should be done aslo along with student teaching, which is incorporated into your master's program. I think having a communications background is an excellent start for your career...If you have any questions feel free to FM me. I have alot of information in this area, and colleges that may suit you.

olivia30 Posted: Nov 10, 2006 09:25 AM

Re: Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

I would definitely look into the teaching fellows or a program like that. My ex got his Master's for free thru this program and he is getting his PhD paid for now. Check out the nyc website for more info. You would probably begin teaching while you are in the program.

hayleyandsteve Posted: Nov 10, 2006 09:56 AM

Re: Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

I'm not a teacher... I'm in speech pathology... but I know a little about teaching!

You'll definitely need to go back go grad school, and most of the programs in teaching are around 37-40 credits. The teaching fellows programs are a good idea, but only if you want to work for the board of ed for a certain amount of time (I'm not sure how long that is). Some programs have accelerated tracks, where you can finish your masters in a shorter amount of time... but except around a year and a half for your classes and student teaching (although, if you're a hard worker you can probably finish in a year).

HTH

MattandTricia07 Posted: Nov 10, 2006 10:27 AM

Re: Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

I graduated with a communications degree 2 years ago, but during my senior year in college I felt that this field was not for me. I lived out in LA for a semster and interned with a CBS show and hated it and the whole life out there. So when I moved back home after graduating I looked into getting my masters in education. You need to have a certain amount of credits (according to NY state) in certain subjects like math, science, foreign languages, social sciences, etc. The best thing would be to sit down with a graduate advisor with your transcript to figure that all out.

When I met with an advisor at Dowling, he informed me of what classes I was missing so I took those classes and started my masters last January. If you need any help or have any questions, FM me. It is a big step, but if it something you feel passionate about, I would go for it. Now that I'm student teaching and am in the classroom, I realize that there is no place else I'd rather be.

Best of luck!!!

SuzArtie69 Posted: Nov 10, 2006 10:52 AM

Re: Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

I'm the same way. I wake up everyday and say do I really have to go in?. My company was taken over about a year ago and things have changed so much. I'm researching different fields and schools. I saw something on aol yesterday about teaching. You should do a search on monster or careerbuilder, aol, etc to see what qualifications people are looking for.

This may give you a better idea on which direction to take. Maybe you wouldn't have to do that much more to become a teacher.

Good Luck!!

dplehat Posted: Nov 10, 2006 11:28 AM

Re: Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

my sister graduated with a marketing degree. She went for her masters in education at Molloy college. She was teaching while going to school and is now a fourth grade teacher and much happier.

Gin-Char 104 Posted: Nov 10, 2006 08:01 PM

Re: Wanting to Make A Major Career Change...NEED Your Help

Posted by dplehat

my sister graduated with a marketing degree. She went for her masters in education at Molloy college. She was teaching while going to school and is now a fourth grade teacher and much happier.

I hear molloy has a GREAT edu program as does hofstra.....good luck