I’m graduating this December with my BA. The original plan was English major + minor in history. However, after looking at my degree audit and doing a little planning, I’m thinking of adjusting my fall schedule. I am just taking two remaining graduation requirements: a capstone literature class and another 400-level literature class. The extra class that I would add on to finish my minor would be a 400-level ancient history class.
I’m debating because of this: I don’t actually need this class to graduate. It would put me at 124 semester hours (it’s 3) and the only thing it would give me is a completed minor. I’m not super interested in the subject, but it’s not horrible. The downsides are two. First, the extra cost, coming in at $1000-ish depending on books. Second, I would have to drive to campus one extra day per week. My schedule currently is M/W 4-6:45 pm with two classes. The extra history class would be Th 5:30-8:15. I work M-F 7-3.
I guess I’m just having a hard time seeing the benefit in taking this class. I started college in fall 2016, but I’ve been working full time since last October, and I honestly feel like I’ve learned so much more at work in my field than I ever will in class. I know a minor is virtually meaningless on a resume. I also can’t see any additional job-related benefits other than a minor in my secondary teaching subject that I’ll have to do more coursework in anyway. Is it really worth it to spend money and trek to campus more than I have to, for a feeling of completion?
Also, I posted this on the Parents Forum because you all tend to have more of a long-range view of things than the student forums. I also know I’m pretty burnt out at this point from not taking any breaks and that might be clouding my judgment just a little bit. I’d appreciate any advice!
Back in the day (I graduated from college in 1983), I was close to having a minor in history or a minor in political science (my major was journalism). I wasn’t as close as you are; that is, I had more than one course left for both. But I was close enough that I seriously considered going for a minor. I didn’t and I never had negative ramifications.
How many more classes would you need for the extra certification? I would do it if it will get you close to an additional teaching certification. It may be what gets you a teaching job when you need it
@bajamm That’s a great point! My secondary content area would be social studies. The issue isn’t lack of coursework in history - it’s lack of economics classes. I’m planning on getting that knocked out via some alternative routes that I can take besides extra classes - plus taking econ wouldn’t finish my minor. When I’m finished with my cert grad program, I’ll be dual-certified in English & SS. Also, the market for social studies is… not great, obviously.
Certification requirements are a little up in the air depending on the program/state/route that I end up choosing. But in general, I only need to prove proficiency in my second area plus complete a methods course and practicing (student teaching). So I’m not worried about any additional subject courses there, although they might be mildly helpful. My first area will be more than satisfied by the 50+ semester hours that I will have in English by the time I graduate, thankfully!
Pretty much everything you wrote in the OP suggests that it is not worth the time & effort for you. I think your statement “a minor is virtually meaningless on a resume” is right on the money.
If you were a typical student with time on your hands then there would be something of a “why not?” rationale – but you’ve clearly laid out how the scheduling difficulties would impact your time in negative way – +$1000 in costs plus one more day per week that you would have to go to campus for a long (3 hour) class after the end of your work day. And what’s the benefit? From what you wrote, there isn’t one.
Thank you all so much for the advice! I think I will leave it off for now, and focus on getting as much as I can out of my two major classes and my time at work.
Both options, English and History, have a glut of teachers in both subjects. While the concept of dual certification sounds nice at the end of the day you will only be licensed in and teach one subject. You will only have seniority in one subject, if you change to the other then your seniority starts all over again (making you the last in first out).
You will definitely need economics to teach high school social studies. As others have stated, you really don’t seem that committed to it. You can always get licensed in English and if working in NYC where you would get additional compensation fro having 30 credits above your masters, take history courses to finish that certification (even though you probably won’t use it).