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I was thinking of teaching high school math. What colleges in California would you suggest for someone thinking of becoming a teacher?

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 10:57 am: Edit

Unlike for elementary education, there is no "secondary education" major. To get your high school teaching credential, you have to major in the subject area you want to teach in.

There are two ways to get your Calif. teaching credential: either go to a school that has an undergrad program that allows you to work towards your teaching credential while you're an undergrad or go to a 4 year school for math and then spend another year getting your Calif. teaching credential after you graduate. Either way, to earn your high school teaching credential you will need to major in math. If you choose the later option, it's not necessary to do your undergraduate degree in Calif. It will be enough to get your teaching credential here post-grad.

For the first option, any of the cal state schools should allow you to work towards your credential while you major in math. Try, for instance, Cal state San Jose, fullerton, long beach, sacramento, northridge. Private schools that will allow you to do this option include the University of Redlands and the University of the Pacific.

For the later option, any of the UC's would be a good bet - especially UCLA, UCB, UCIrvine, UCSD, and UCRiverside (I believe you can take education courses towards a teaching credential as an undergrad at UCR).

Private schools with good math departments in
Calif. include Occidental, Harvey Mudd, Stanford, Pomona, the University of San Diego, Santa Clara. And, of course, there are many other good math departments at schools across the country.

Wherever you go, read up on the Calif. teaching credential requirements so you can judge how well different programs will help you. A good place to see the requirements for each state is at
www.uky.edu/education/TEP/usacert.html

By Haon (Haon) on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 02:04 pm: Edit

I believe Vanderbilt has a good school of teaching

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 03:20 pm: Edit

Yes, Vanderbilt does have a good school of education but to teach high school in California (as the OP hopes) you'll still need the degree in math first.

By Reba616 (Reba616) on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 04:12 pm: Edit

Go to a state school... don't pay an insane amount of money at a private school to major in education.

By Kewkiekid (Kewkiekid) on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 08:10 pm: Edit

all CSUs have teacher credential programs...just go there.

By Mom60 (Mom60) on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 08:14 pm: Edit

If you go the public University route in California you might think about what community you are interested in teaching in. Many districts hire out of the student teacher pool. Many jr and senior high school teachers in our community received their credential from the local UC. If you want to teach in Ca you need a teaching credential issued by the state of Ca and the best and least expensive to get that is to attend a Ca school.
Our schools always seem to be looking for good math teachers. Good Luck.