thinking of staying extra semesters to get teaching cert (EE now)... thoughts?

[bignateyk]

I am going to be a senior in Electrical Engineering at Penn State this fall. My GPA is approx. 3.8. I have been working a research position for the last three years.

I was sitting at work today, and I realised that I had no desire to continue doing research related work for the rest of my life. My intention has always been to get a PHD in EE and then teach at a university.

Would it be worth sticking around as an undergrad for an extra 3 semesters to get a secondary education teaching certificate in math or physics? I already have most of the technical requirements met, so I would just need to get the education related classes completed...

Thoughts?

 

[HardcoreRobot]

do you want to be a teacher right now or in the immediate future? if not, then wtf are you thinking?

 

[Landroval]

If you want to get the Ph.D. the cert won't help you. Why not start planning for grad schools?

edit: also realize that if you are a prof, teaching will be only a small part of your work at most institutions. You will still be expected to do a lot of publishable research and bring in grants.

 

[apologetic]

Math = Guaranteed job

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: bignateyk
I am going to be a senior in Electrical Engineering at Penn State this fall. My GPA is approx. 3.8. I have been working a research position for the last three years.

I was sitting at work today, and I realised that I had no desire to continue doing research related work for the rest of my life. My intention has always been to get a PHD in EE and then teach at a university.

Would it be worth sticking around as an undergrad for an extra 3 semesters to get a secondary education teaching certificate in math or physics? I already have most of the technical requirements met, so I would just need to get the education related classes completed...

Thoughts?

I am currently a prof in EE. I would have to say that it would be better to start teaching after the degree. You can always get the certificate after beginning teaching, and the credits would be free. Why tie yourself up like that? Get on with your life with what you set out to do, and then get the certificate as a long range goal.

 

[bignateyk]

I plan on getting a PHD in EE regardless of whether I stay the extra semesters to get a degree in secondary education.

I just dont know that I want to be in a university setting. It would be nice to have the option to teach high school, especially in the fact that it could be done at nearly any place in the country.

Edit:

I see your point about getting it after I start teaching though. Also, might it be possible to take the classes I need WHILE I am getting my PHD? Or do they only give you the tuition you need for your PHD related classes?

 

[Landroval]

Originally posted by: bignateyk
I plan on getting a PHD in EE regardless of whether I stay the extra semesters to get a degree in secondary education.

I just dont know that I want to be in a university setting. It would be nice to have the option to teach high school, especially in the fact that it could be done at nearly any place in the country.

Edit:

I see your point about getting it after I start teaching though. Also, might it be possible to take the classes I need WHILE I am getting my PHD? Or do they only give you the tuition you need for your PHD related classes?

You'd be better off focusing on your Ph.D. studies and not diluting them. If you get hired as faculty you can usually take free courses.