I don’t know if I want to be a teacher or not. I do, but I don’t want that to be what I go to school for…I want other options. Is there a way to major in something like English or Communications and still get my teaching certificate without majoring in Education or going to school for an extra year?
Of course. Look into some schools that you like. I know UCLA (for example) has a program for Math Majors (for example). There is a lot out there. If you look into the English department of your favorite school, I am sure you will find some great programs.
At most colleges you have to major in a subject, such as English, and you have a minor in Education (or ESL, or Secondary English…)
Your university’s education department/college will have a certification officer. Do not wait to contact this person. The state in which you get certified will have special requirements that may satisfy some of your gen ed requirements, but the reverse may not be true. For example, your university may allow you to satisfy a social science requirement in many different ways, but to be a certified teacher, you might specifically have to take a class in US government. Missing these kind of details is what causes some students to stay for an extra year.
These are all great points. I recommend also pursuing a double major while majoring in education. So to the original post, consider communication in addition to education. I actually read a blog post today that mentions the teaching field and what you can expect: http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/blog/so-you-want-to-be-a-teacher/
Keep in mind: knowing the material is just the very first step in being a good teacher. It’s absolutely vital, but it’s far from the whole picture.
At this point in my career, it’s also the easiest part of my day. The material is second nature; you can throw me into any course in the building, give me a page number, and I can teach.
But what separates the great teachers from the merely decent ones goes far beyond the basics of knowing the material. Some of it is intuitive. But a lot of it can be picked up in those education classes.
And consider networking. All those observations and student teaching you won’t be having will get other people a foot in the door. Right now, teaching jobs in just about everything (except Chem, Physics and secondary Math) are practically impossible to find in many parts of the country. Theres a lot to be said for having someone in a few local schools who can attest to at least the fact that you show up every day looking like a professional.
To answer your question, go to the website for your state board of education, and look under “Alternate Certification.” You’ll find the info there.