Hi Everyone,

Has anyone been involved in an online elementary education masters program from any school that you could recommend or steer me away from?  I have been teaching for 11 years and have recently been giving the job of elementary math & science specialist.  No one is requiring it, but I feel that I should have a masters degree to back up that title!!  I want to make sure that I am as prepared as possible for the job and challenges that are ahead of me.

 With that said, I am looking for something that is challenging, but not just that it requires tons of work.  I am hoping to find something where I can have an elementary math focus.  I know that Kaplan, U of P, and Walden have programs like these.  Any experience with these schools and their education programs?

 Thanks so much for any help you can provide!!

 

I'd start here: 

http://www.elearners.com/online-degrees/master/k12-education.htm

There's nothing wrong with Phoenix, Walden, or Kaplan, but they're pretty expensive relative to alternatives.  If your district paying, well, then that's not an issue.  If not....

-=Steve=- 

---

B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

You might want to check out the programs at http://www.wgu.edu/ with the usual warnings and disclaimers that this competency-based system is NOT for everybody.  Also, note the NCATE accreditation which is unique to WGU in the DL world.

Sidebar: personally, I love it at WGU, but I'm in the school of business. With the recent changes in the online discussion forums, I no longer has ready access to any of the students in the school of education. I would strongly recommend that you download the PDF files that detail the programs you might be interested in, and read them carefully.  And as with any program at any school, DL or B&M, you need to check with the state certification board before you commit yourself.  At US$3295 per 26-week term, it's hard to beat the tuition, especially if you can do more than  the required 9 credit minimum each term.   (If anything, you should be able to knock out courses and finish much faster than - say by at least a third - than the schedule in the student guide mentioned above - and that's assuming an average of 15 hours per week.  As always, your actual mileage will vary, but I honestly think you can safely plan on 2 years, at least, and 2 1/2 years if you want a little cushion built-in. Frankly with your 11 years experience, you probably have accumulated training, workshops, seminars on many of the pre-requisites that bloat all of these programs in education regardless of where you attend.)

 

Thanks so much for your replies! 

 I will be able to get tuition reimbursement (about $900 per course), which will definitely help with the cost.

 I did look into WGU and I am very intrigued about the concept.  I really like the idea that perhaps with my background, I might be able to get through the competencies a little faster, but I can't really get a handle on whether that would be the case with the information that they provide...  Also, I'm not sure how my tuition reimbursement would work since they aren't normal "courses".  It may not be eligible.

I definitely do not want a program that is going to require me to take a lot of general teaching fluff - I would prefer to spend my time becoming an expert in the field of science and math.

That link did help me find another program at Lesley University which looks promising, as well.  It seems like there are many schools that have what I'm looking for - but I just don't know which of them are going to provide me with the least amount of general fluff and the most helpful info on mathematics education (a math and science combo are ok).  If anyone knows someone in an online education program, I'd love to hear about it!

 Thanks for helping!
 

mrsta1:

Hi Everyone,

Has anyone been involved in an online elementary education masters program from any school that you could recommend or steer me away from?  I have been teaching for 11 years and have recently been giving the job of elementary math & science specialist.  No one is requiring it, but I feel that I should have a masters degree to back up that title!!  I want to make sure that I am as prepared as possible for the job and challenges that are ahead of me.

 With that said, I am looking for something that is challenging, but not just that it requires tons of work.  I am hoping to find something where I can have an elementary math focus.  I know that Kaplan, U of P, and Walden have programs like these.  Any experience with these schools and their education programs?

 Thanks so much for any help you can provide!!

 

What are you looking for? The only distance master's programs (that I could find) which specifically deal with elementary math and/or science education were: Australian Catholic University www.acu.edu.au ; Kaplan University www.kaplan.edu ; Nova Southeastern University www.nova.edu ; Texas Wesleyan University www.txwesleyan.edu ; Walden University www.walden.edu ; and Western Governors University www.wgu.edu .  

Would you, for example, be interested in any distance master's in math and/or science education (regardless of whether it specified elementary)? Would you be interested in any distance master's in elementary education (regardless of whether it specified math and/or science)?

---

Theodore L. Heiks, BA, History/Political Science, Western State College of Colorado, 1984; MBA, Entrepfreneurship, City University Washington, 1992; MBA, Marketing, City University Washington, 1993

Good luck avoiding the "fluff" since it's mandated by the NEA, teacher's unions, and permeates practically every school of education in the country[;-)]

There's a pertinent interview with Jay Greene on putting multiculturalism ahead of math published yesterday.  'Course, Greene has long been anathema and on the hit list of the NEA, teachers' unions, because he refuses to "drink the Kool-Aid and just shut up" [;-)]  Never mind that has a PhD in education from Harvard, and has made education policy his life's work.  But that's just another glaring example of the double-standard and fraud about "diversity" and "inclusion" and all the rest of political correctness with these deranged extremists whose only core value is absolute control and unlimited power - at any cost[;-)]

About the only alternative I see is an advanced degree in straight math, but [how] would that really help you or your students? Or, perhaps, something with a concentration in instruction design, assessments, administration, etc., with your capstone project returning to how what you've learned applies or can be applied to teaching math.

 

tedmeister:

mrsta1:

Hi Everyone,

Has anyone been involved in an online elementary education masters program from any school that you could recommend or steer me away from?  I have been teaching for 11 years and have recently been giving the job of elementary math & science specialist.  No one is requiring it, but I feel that I should have a masters degree to back up that title!!  I want to make sure that I am as prepared as possible for the job and challenges that are ahead of me.

 With that said, I am looking for something that is challenging, but not just that it requires tons of work.  I am hoping to find something where I can have an elementary math focus.  I know that Kaplan, U of P, and Walden have programs like these.  Any experience with these schools and their education programs?

 Thanks so much for any help you can provide!!

 

What are you looking for? The only distance master's programs (that I could find) which specifically deal with elementary math and/or science education were: Australian Catholic University www.acu.edu.au ; Kaplan University www.kaplan.edu ; Nova Southeastern University www.nova.edu ; Texas Wesleyan University www.txwesleyan.edu ; Walden University www.walden.edu ; and Western Governors University www.wgu.edu .  

Would you, for example, be interested in any distance master's in math and/or science education (regardless of whether it specified elementary)? Would you be interested in any distance master's in elementary education (regardless of whether it specified math and/or science)?

Distance learning master's degrees in math and/or science education include: California State University Chico www.csuchico.edu ; Charles Sturt University www.csu.edu.au ; Deakin University www.deakin.edu.au ; Florida State University www.fsu.edu ; Governors State University www.govst.edu ; Kaplan University www.kaplan.edu ; Lesley University www.lesley.edu ; Montana State University www.montana.edu ; University of New England www.une.edu.au ; Northern Arizona University www.nau.edu ; Nova Southeastern University www.nova.edu ; University of Phoenix www.phoenix.edu ; University of South Africa www.unisa.ac.za ; University of Southern Queensland www.usq.edu.au ; Union Institute and University www.tui.edu ; Walden University www.waldenu.edu ; and Western Governors University www.wgu.edu .

---

Theodore L. Heiks, BA, History/Political Science, Western State College of Colorado, 1984; MBA, Entrepfreneurship, City University Washington, 1992; MBA, Marketing, City University Washington, 1993

Hi There!

I am a special ed teacher who had gotten a grant at Univ. of South Carolina several years ago in my area, with a $50,000 grant, since it was a high need area. I couldn't determine what state you are from, but I do know that math and science are both high need areas, particularly with No Child Left Behind quickly bearing down upon us, and results not stacking up the way the government thought they would! Of course, the idea of taking money away from schools that don't meet their goals is one of the most idiotic things I've seen the gov't do in the last quarter of a century!

I did do my certification courses on Univ. Of Phoenix classes and they were what YOU made of them. If you read the material, did the research on the many databases they provide in their library, and actually had people in your work group that cared about their topic/teaching category, then it was great. What happened in my case was that I was not working that year due to an accident and decided to do coursework online so I wouldn't have to travel with a wheelchair, but I also ended up writing most of the papers since the other group members either didn't have time to, or couldn't, write! It WAS my fault because I had offered to finish the papers if everyone sent me their parts, so we could all get A's. But, this idea of always doing groupwork and getting a group grade I don't think is quite fair in Master's of Ed work. I prefer to get credit for my own work, and I do not mind helping anyone who needs it. Of course, my first major was English Education, Honors. Our instructor was very picky about margins, research usage, etc., so we had to have everything perfect or lose points. I used a program called Reference Points to  do all the layouts for the papers so I could focus on the actual content! My group members had trouble with subject-verb agreement, and obviously didn't use spellcheck, so I was glad I did the papers. However, 10 projects in  12 weeks was time consuming. Had I been teaching high school special ed as usual, I never would have had time to do all the work I did! The good thing is you can work any time, day or night. They also grade you on 'comments' you make on the week's reading. You can't just say 'it was great' or 'it blows'. It had to be "substantial"..their word. Minimum of 2 during the week, I think. Plus, you had short papers, as well, not APA style. I think it was a lot of writing...but NO DRIVING!! That is what helped me when I was recovering from a near-fatal car accident, and still pretty banged up and scared to go out alone.

I would check around and see who is offering grants for Master's of Ed degrees in your area at Univ.'s nearby. I know it might take a little longer, but the respect you receive from doing it the old fashioned way, attending classes, far outweighs being able to write M.Ed at the end of your name, with U. of P. beside it on your resume. Online is GREAT for updating your license/certification, but it is not the same for adding on a new part to your credential. Actually, timewise, I did a 45 credit Master's in 16 months, and , yes, I worked at the same time, and raised my 4-yr-old hyperactive son alone. Of course I was tired, but, I wouldn't take it back for the world!

You should be able to find several places, no matter where you live, either offering a totally free Master's in Science,. Math, adn Technology ed upfront, OR, what many states do, is that each year you teach following the completion of your degree, you lose one-fifth of your loan owed! So, in 5 years, you never pay a dime, and your loan has been paid back.It sounds like you are going to stay with your field, so this would be worth your while. Also, you never know who you will meet, and you will be able to teach college level at that point yourself. A few extra bucks for teaching a night course ( or summer) never hurts! Most department chairs have a Master's, but not always. If you've stayed teaching Math that long, they LOVE you already! (My mother is a retired high school math teacher from south Florida,former dept chair). You may also choose  to do your Master's in Ed Leadership, to open up principalships to yourself!  Do some at a school, and some online. Most univ. are approving courses now online if they cover the necessary  topics. Don't choose without looking at all your options, and always look for FREE stuff! If you live in the South, particularly Georgia or South Carolina, there is plently of free stuff in your area!

Hope that helped!

Terri

I got my Master's in Education online at http://www.saintleo.edu. I personally think that Saint Leo's combination of legit accreditation, substantial financial aid offered, flexible class schedules, and great teachers/students helped make the online education experience much more palatable.