So I know I want to go to grad school at some point for education but I’m not exactly sure when but im currently in high school. I will either major in music education or some type of science degree to teach in that field. Could I teach with an engineering major and what subjects could I teach with it?
I don’t know a lot about this topic, but I thought I’d mention that one of my math teachers in high school (public, Louisiana) had a degree (phd) in Mechanical Engineering. So I know you’d be able to teach math (after a certification, of course), but I believe that, usually, the requirements to teach are a 4 year degree in ANYTHING, and then passing the Praxis and getting certified.
At what level do you hope to teach? Elementary school? High school? College? Since you mention education I’d assume it’s one of the first two, in which case yes, you could teach, and likely any math or science subject.
I know a number of engineers who, after having worked in their field for some time, decided to change to a high school teaching career. They typically would teach mathematics or science after having gotten their teaching certification. The Mechanical Engineers and Civil Engineers often end up teaching physics.
My math teacher (my mom) is an electrical engineer and she is awesome. A college math prof felt easy after learning from her. Yes, engineers can teach.
I would think engineers can teach in regular colleges or high schools.
To be a public school teacher you typically need some sort of accreditation, which is determined by the state.
In NJ, there is an “alternate route” to become certified to teach for people who weren’t education majors. Math and science high school teachers are the most likely to use this “alternate route”, and I don’t think it is particularly difficult or time consuming to do if you have a technical degree.
http://www.state.nj.us/education/educators/license/alternate.htm
You should search for the similar accreditation path for your state.
My girls physics teacher in HS had her undergrad in engineering. If you think you really want to teach and can squeeze in some electives, look to minor in education. Look now at what you would need to be certified or accepted into masters in teaching program (for initial certification). Not the same subject, but for instance when D1 was considering teaching history and getting certified with a masters, she saw that the masters in that area required econ, which was not required for her history major, so she took it as elective. If you want to teach math, you probably need more undergrad math than an engineering degree requires but again, those could be electives. I’m sure it varies by state, but here you can get certified to teach secondary math without an undergrad major in math, but you are required to have certain math courses (through discrete plus maybe geometry and x number of upper level courses).
S is taking engineering classes in high school through Project Lead the Way (https://www.pltw.org/). He will earn 12 Credits from RIT while in high school.
@justice66 I am pretty sure that is not even remotely relevant to the discussion.
@albert69 Without a PhD, an engineer will not be teaching in colleges. Possible exceptions would include a community college that allows instructors with only an MS or maybe a technical school of some kind.
DS’s favorite math teacher (math major?) got rich in the dot-com boom. Then he switched to education. Now he is a hs math teacher. Not sure how often that works out.