My son is interested in becoming a teacher in California. We are researching master’s degrees and wondered if anyone has knowledge of the University of San Diego program? He would like to teach English in high school. In addition, he may want to go on to get his doctorate at some point. He is not a CA resident so we are only looking at private schools. Thanks!
If California is like NYC, there is a glut of English teachers.
Does he at least have his initial certification as a teacher? Find out what he needs to do now to get his initial certification and work. For his first job, it may be better if he does not have it. A principal may not be willing to pay a premium for a teacher who has a masters and no classroom experience when they can get a teacher with no classroom experience and a bachelors for less money.
Many teachers starting out, work and do their masters at night. Some exceptions would be TFA, NYC teaching fellows and students who are in 5 year bachelors and masters program. Since a masters is required in many states as a condition of keeping your job, don’t pay an outrageous amount for it. You will not make more money because you went to a more expensive school.
He should also look into getting ether an ESL or Special ed extension (both would be really great).
USD is well-respected in San Diego, but it is not as well-known in the rest of the state. It is an expensive university, so, hopefully, he can afford the tuition/fees and the housing.
The largest employer in San Diego is San Diego Unified, but they just went through a pink-slip notice for 1400 teachers.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-School-Pink-Slips-Layoffs-415879293.html
The larger districts have some sort of seniority placement.
Most districts, in our county, have a surplus of teacher applicants and many have admin credentials with Ph.D’s. Does your son have a reference job waiting for him?
I ask because one of my private school sites just went through a hiring cycle for next year. They were looking for 2 VP’s (they got 200 applicants); 1 counselor (50 applicants) and 5 teachers (40 applicants). Bilingual applicants were highly encouraged and preferred and were interviewed (both in English and Spanish by parent/student committees).
Don’t know if that helps.
What is his ultimate goal with his Ph.D.?
Oh, I just noticed your son is going for a Masters degree, sorry, I just assumed Ph.D. mea culpa.
I have to agree with @sybbie719, my teacher colleagues have to maintain their continuing education units for their California credentials, so they all earn their masters’ degrees while accruing units. The pay scales are based on the numbers of units accrued after the Bachelor’s degree.
Since he’s earned his degree OOS, he may be required to take additional state coursework to earn a California teacher credential.
http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/out-of-state-high-sch.html
I believe the USD master’s program is to set up to obtain the California teaching credential. Are you saying there is no demand for English teachers in CA or NY? That would be good to know. He is also considering NC where I’ve been told there is great demand. Thanks!
I personally don’t know the stats for California English teachers. My colleagues are teachers. California is very competitive for teachers in good districts.
I know there may be more positions in some of the harder to reach communities in California.
You may want to check with the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers for employability.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes the following:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252031.htm
Is your son bilingual? Better employability odds, I think, for California and NY.
My daughter did a one-year MA program in English secondary education three years ago at a private university in California, which included a preliminary California teaching credential. (In California, teachers must “clear” the credential within 5 years; public schools generally provide the opportunity for new teachers to participate in a 2-year induction program to clear the credential). Jobs at the time were plentiful and continue to be for her and her cohort, especially if one is willing to teach in a lower socio-economic school or district. Many of her cohort received more than one offer, and continue to be employed as teachers. What happened in San Diego with pink slips is unfortunate,though not common at this time, it seems. In general, California is experiencing a severe teacher shortage, particularly in less desirable districts, in STEM fields AND English/drama/humanities. So, to the OP, dig further into the teaching situation in California before deciding against it.
I also think in Ca it helps to get the credential in an area of the state you want to work. Our elementary district gave out a lot of pink slips but it is due to mismanagement of funds on the part of the district.
We did some research last night and it appears there is a teacher shortage in California. The pink slips were as @mom60 points out due to budget problems. USD has a 100% post graduation job placement rate. @filo895 Do you know anything in particular about the USD program? May I ask what school your D attended? Thanks again for everyone’s input.
Unfortunately, @ACollegeFan, I don’t know anything about the USD program. My daughter did the Stanford STEP program. As @mom60 points out, it does help to get a credential in the geographical region in which you want to work. My D was living in the Bay Area and wanted a job in the area–cost of living is high but some districts, especially in the Silicon Valley, do have higher-than-average pay scales. Some did find jobs elsewhere; I recall a French teacher who got a job in Southern California. But as I said, everyone in her English cohort got a job. Some were regular pubic schools, some charter, and some private.
He can also consider Teach for America w
“Teach For America recruits recent college graduates and professionals to teach for two years in urban and rural communities throughout the United States. The goal of Teach For America is for its corps members to make both a short-term and long-term impact by leading their students to reach their full potential and becoming lifelong leaders for educational equity. Corps members do not have to be certified teachers, although certified teachers may apply. Uncertified corps members receive alternative certification through coursework taken while completing the program.”