Graduate program gives prospective teachers in-classroom experience

Graduate program gives prospective teachers in-classroom experience

Although most education degree programs include a student teaching requirement, some enrollees may wish to obtain more experience in the classroom before they become responsible for their own group of students. Fortunately, many campus-based and online schools are now giving degree seekers the chance to work with younger students while they are still in process of completing their coursework.

For example, Florida Atlantic University’s Pine Jog Environmental Education Center enables students to apply what they are learning in their classes to real-world learning environments, the University Press reports.

Through the facility’s graduate assistantship program, master’s degree candidates can lead free environmental education programs and help the center’s directors design lesson plans. Furthermore, they are able to live in one of the program’s three houses and receive a $7,500 annual stipend.

Current and prospective teachers who take online courses may be able to participate in similar volunteer activities, as they will be able to complete their studies outside of normal school hours.

Individuals who complete campus-based or online masters programs in education could see favorable job prospects over the next eight years, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that nearly 500,000 teaching positions will be created in this time period.

By Stefanie Hughes