From the College History Classroom Back to High School

When I started my freshman year at Rutgers, I was declared as a Computer Science major. Everything seemed simple. I would study computer science, graduate, and become a software engineer. I loved computers, and I loved math.

But... I didn't love math class. That first semester, I made a complete turn around and thought about switching to history and political science. Before I made the switch, though, I needed to figure out what I was going to do. I thought about teaching high school, and it seemed like a great fit.

The Education Program at Rutgers

As soon as I decided that I might want to teach, I looked into the education program at Rutgers. Lucky for me, they have an excellent combined B.A. and Ed.M. program. By completing one more year of school, I could graduate with a B.A. in my field (Political Science and History) and also earn a Masters degree in education. Win-win!

While most schools don't offer this option, they will offer an education certification program. This combines your typical liberal arts education (your B.A. in history) with the classes and training necessary to become a certified teacher.

Eithre way, the advantage of the education program is that it lets you explore teaching before you dive right in. Teaching is a great profession, but it's not for everyone. An education program will give you several opportunities to observe educational settings and to see, on a small scale, what it's like to be a teacher.

These early observations can help you decide if teaching is really for you. For me, it was.

Alternate Route Certification?

In some states, New Jersey included, you can become a certified teacher without completing a specific education program. All you need is an appropriate Bachelors degree.

I thought about this. It would have been nice to skip the fifth year of tuition payments and enter the workforce a year earlier. But, I also would have jumped into teaching without the specific training afforded by my education program. Nor would I have had the opportunity to student teach as an intern working under an experienced, certified teacher.

This is a great option, though, for someone who has already graduated with a B.A. in History and wants to teach. In New Jersey, you can apply for a preliminary certification after taking a test (the PRAXIS) and start work. Then you'll take some classes at night your first year to finish up your certification. There are several teachers at my school who have gone this route, and they're successful at their work.

Three Years and Counting

In the fall after I graduated from Rutgers, I was hired as a high school history teacher. Three years later, I'm enjoying my work more and more every day.

This career gave me an opportunity to work with a subject that I'm passionate about - history - on a daily basis. More importantly, it gave me an opportunity to work with young people and help them prepare for their future. Being a teacher also allows you to advise clubs, coach sports, and mentor your students.

Teaching isn't just a "day job" or a last resort. It's a great job that makes use of a history degree, but it's only a great job if you want to be a teacher.