Teacher's certification vs. Master's degree?

Question

I'm a senior at Penn State University, majoring in Human Development and Family Studies. My focus has been on the childhood lifespan and have worked in several childcare agencies, summer camps, and a Head Start pre-school. I know that I'm interested in working with children, but part of me is curious about teaching.

I am debating whether to look into grad school to get a Master's degree in Elementary Ed. or to check our alternative routes in teacher certification. I KNOW that I'm interested in child/school social work, but part of me is very curious about teaching...and I know I must be certified in order to do so.

Do you know anything about either? What pathway do you reccommend?

Answer 1

If you are interested in school social work you will need an MSW. This is a very different pathway than getting certified. If you want to go into teaching you would be better served by going on for an MA as you will enter the system in a better position. The alternative path works well if you can get the school to help pay for your MA later on (though working and an MA is a hard road).

DA

Answer 2

once you're set on a coaching profession then the grasp's will return you greater when you consider that grasp's retaining instructors are payed critically greater suitable than those with a bachelor's. That stated, a grasp's isn't many times "required" of an common instructor so which you may face a undertaking looking employment because of the fact they had could pay you greater suitable than they are able to hire an approved bachelor's point instructor. maximum MEd courses require which you already be qualified, you will probable be searching for a grasp of Arts in coaching (MAT) application. One massive income of the alternative courses is which you would be able to bypass to paintings interior the sphere splendid away and then commence working on your grasp's area time. Many college districts will fund your grasp's once you're already employed. actual, the techniques are approximately equivalent in execs and cons. in case you are going to be working now, the alternative direction would be good -- in case you do not could be working yet, greater training is mostly a competent determination. once you're "purely curious", making an investment in an extremely professional grasp's degree could not be a competent determination. in case you alter your strategies approximately coaching later, that MAT in Early Ed. has little or no fee exterior of early training.

Answer 3

I would suggest you do the masters route. First off, you'll be paid more with a masters than just a post-grad certificate so that's a big advantage right off the bat. Second, a teaching certificate locks you into teaching -- it's unlikely you'll be able to switch to the adminstrative layer (which is what counseling is) without going back for a grad degree. And when you're working full time, it can be very difficult going back to school yourself, especially if you have your own family.

Answer 4

You are approaching the point where you must ask yourself about the money you are about to invest and what will its projected returns look like. I've a friend who has a doctorate, she teaches high school and isn't paid all that incredibly well. She tried teaching at several universities but got fed up with the politics of "Publish or Perish."
Sadly, teachers are not paid their worth. How much more will your pay be if you have a masters over someone with a BA? Go for the masters but understand, at some point, it will be about the money.