teacher licensure or thesis?

College Majors Education Majors
1

Hi guys!

I was hoping to get someone else’s opinion. Right now I’m a junior Psychology and Education major, and I’m considering writing a thesis next year, or doing a teacher licensure program that will enable me to teach at the pre-k level for 5 years after I graduate from undergrad. I’m planning on going to graduate school for School Psychology as soon as I can, but I’m considering getting the teacher licensure so I can work for a few years until I get into graduate school. BBBBUUUTTT I’m also interested in writing a thesis about executive functioning in preschoolers, and with the time commitments of a practicum AND a thesis, there’s no way I could do both. If you were in my position what would you guys do? Write the thesis I’m interested and may look good for grad schools, or secure a job once I graduate?

Thanks!

2

You’re going to have a LOT!!! of trouble getting hired to teach without a license. There are tens of thousands of teachers out of work, and they’re all licensed. In almost all parts of the country, the job market for anything but Secondary Math, Chemistry and Physics is brutal to begin with-- without a license to teach you’re simply not a serious candidate in many markets. There’s simply no reason to even interview an unlicensed teacher when there are so many with the qualifications.

Why not get licensed, and go for your Masters and do the thesis then? I’m not sure about Pre-K, but to teach K-12 in NY at least you’ll need that Master’s Degree anyway.