Bachelor of Science in Education Now Available in VA Colleges - Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Previously....in VA you could not major in education (BA/BS Ed) and obtain a teaching license in 4 yrs. You needed to major in Interdisciplinary Studies, English, etc. and then add a 5th Masters in Teaching for your teaching license. The added benefit being all teachers in VA had a Masters degree in 1 year. Most schools offered the 4+1 Masters in Teaching (MAT) Program and/or 4+1 Masters in Education (MEd) Program.

However, in response to state-wide teacher shortages, a recent change in VA state regulations now allows colleges to offer an undergraduate major in education with a four-year path to teacher licensure.

As such, several schools are discontinuing their 5 Year Programs:

UVA Article: https://news.virginia.edu/content/curry-school-launches-four-year-teacher-education-majors
UMW will now offer Four-year Programs in their College of Education. The four-year licensure pathways include a B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education with a major in education, and programs in secondary, PK12, or special education. All students who apply to the College of Education in the Fall of 2020 will be required to do the four-year programs as the five-year programs will no longer be offered. Opportunities for graduates to complete an accelerated master’s degree while they are teaching full-time is in development and will be available for students entering the four-year programs.

However, CNU notes that they are not discontinuing its 5-Year MAT Program...."we feel strongly that teachers who have degrees in a subject area are better prepared for the content they will be teaching. Also, if you decide to step out of the classroom at some point in the future, you will have an undergraduate degree in a field (English, sociology, psychology, math, etc.) that can open other career doors."

My DC was very much interested in the 5-Year M.S. degree at UMW. Now it is not offered but rather there will supposedly be opportunities for B.S.Ed. graduates to complete an accelerated master’s degree while they are teaching full-time.

Is CNU's 5-Year MAT Program where she'd earn a BA/BS in a subject area and then a Masters in Teaching a better option than going with a B.S.Ed. and then potentially an accelerated Masters Degree?? Pros/Cons of each path?

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I'd go for the master's degree. You get paid more, good schools in good districts prefer the advanced degree, and it gives you a fall-back if you decide teaching isn't for you or if you move out of Virginia. Also, the first few years of teaching are very stressful and time-consuming--do you really want to pursue classes at the same time?

I'd only do the bachelor's program if I had serious time or budget constraints.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I'd go for the master's degree. You get paid more, good schools in good districts prefer the advanced degree, and it gives you a fall-back if you decide teaching isn't for you or if you move out of Virginia. Also, the first few years of teaching are very stressful and time-consuming--do you really want to pursue classes at the same time?

I'd only do the bachelor's program if I had serious time or budget constraints.

OP here - thanks. Do you have a MAT or MEd? My DC is interested in elementary education. Is the MAT considered advanced degree then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I'd go for the master's degree. You get paid more, good schools in good districts prefer the advanced degree, and it gives you a fall-back if you decide teaching isn't for you or if you move out of Virginia. Also, the first few years of teaching are very stressful and time-consuming--do you really want to pursue classes at the same time?

I'd only do the bachelor's program if I had serious time or budget constraints.

This.

[Anonymous]

Uggg...with many VA schools discontinuing their 4+1 MATs programs due to recent VA regs allowing for BA/BS in Education for Teaching License it will be harder for my DC to decide which school to attend. Her top schools were based on this criteria along with size/fit.

[Anonymous]

I have an MAT. Was the quickest watch to be fully credentialized. If I had stayed I; the profession, I could have gotten more classes under my brpelt and earned the same as those with a two year masters. This way I was in the classroom sooner,

[Anonymous]

I'd go for the masters. Going back to school after stopping is a PITA.

[Anonymous]

Could she double major in Ed (or Teaching) and a subject matter (History, etc.) for undergrad and then still do a Master's?

Or given the opportunity cost of not working, do the Master's part time once she's teaching. For most careers I think it's better NOT to do a grad degree right away.