<p>I want to get some advice on my current major situation.</p>
<p>Currently I'm an English Literature major. I know a general English degree will not get me far, so I've planned on continuing my education after I graduate. I'm interested in certification as a reading specialist, which is a year long grad program.</p>
<p>My other interest would be secondary education, which would be a two year long grad program, or I would need to graduate a year late if I switched my current major to secondary education instead. I'm not sure how I feel about staying an extra year in undergrad if I decide to go this route. It would obviously be cheaper.</p>
<p>How important is it to graduate in four years? Does it look bad to stay an additional year if you change majors. I've also heard it would not be a good idea to get a masters right away because it would make employment more difficult, not to mention more costly. </p>
<p>I apologize if I sound very clueless. I'm trying to figure out my best course of action sooner rather than later.</p>
<p>Not that important, even though most employers or grad schools see it as important. In my view, if you get a degree in a reasonable time, it’s fine.</p>
<p>On your resume and job applications you’re just going to list your college graduation month & year. So that doesn’t give it away. If somebody really wanted to know they could look at your college transcripts. But employers don’t care. It is actually pretty common for people to take five years to get thru college. Sometimes even longer if they had to attend a community college on the way.</p>
<p>Teaching jobs tend not to pay very well, especially at the start. Cheaper college is much better! Stay in school.</p>
<p>From the sounds of what you wrote your current school offers the secondary teaching program. Don’t waste more time posting here. Go talk to someone in that department!!</p>
<p>Who is paying? If you are paying, do what you want. If your parents are paying, get it done however you can as soon as you can. If you are getting a lot of financial aid (meaning the taxpayers and other students who are full pay are covering your bill), get it done as soon as you can.</p>