How do I know if I would make a good math or science teacher? (back to top)
Some people know from an early age that they want to be a teacher, while others make this discovery later in life. Aspiring teachers are often inspired by an exceptional teacher from their past or by a realization that they enjoy learning and helping others to learn.
Like other professions, members of the teaching profession master a body of knowledge and skills to become certified, and then continue to learn and gain expertise with experience. Teachers wear many hats. In addition to their role as facilitators of learning, teachers are evaluators, curriculum designers, classroom managers, disciplinarians, counselors, team collaborators, and role models. While there is no one magic formula for a good teacher, some of the characteristics associated with job satisfaction and success in the teaching profession include:
- Enjoys working with young people and making a difference in their lives
- Possesses a passion for the subject being taught and a desire to make that subject come alive for others
- Possesses curiosity about how people learn and gains satisfaction from developing creative ways to reach all learners
- Succeeds in a position with a great deal of autonomy, but also enjoys collaborating with colleagues
- Thrives in a dynamic work environment that regularly offers new challenges and opportunities to try new approaches
- Demonstrates ability to self-reflect, evaluate evidence, and flexibly make adjustments in order to achieve desired outcomes
- Demonstrates a desire for life-long learning in the subject area and in the profession
Getting experience working with students in the subject areas and grade levels that one wants to teach, seeing models of good teaching, and talking with math and science teachers are great ways to explore if the teaching profession is a good career choice. At UCI, the California Teach field experience seminars offer a great way to get an introduction to math or science teaching in K-12 classrooms, and to work closely with K-12 students as a classroom apprentice, under the supervision of a mentor teacher. Additionally, the counselors at the California Teach Resource and Advising Center can provide information about other opportunities to gain hands-on experience in math and science education programs.
Are there jobs for new math and science teachers? (back to top)
YES. California and other states across the country have a shortage of highly qualified (credentialed) teachers of math and science in the middle school and high school grades. Compounding the problem, nearly one-third of California's existing teaching work force is expected to retire in the next decade, and studies indicate that K-12 science and mathematics teachers nationally have attrition rates of nearly 40 percent after four years of teaching. As a result, newly credentialed teachers of math and science are sought after by districts across California, including schools in Orange County.
What are the salary range and benefits for math and science teachers? (back to top)
Salaries vary between school districts and generally are based on experience and college or professional development units completed beyond the bachelor's degree. Some districts pay bonuses for advanced degrees or extra duty. Across California the median annual salary in 2005 was $57,051 for secondary school teachers; while in Orange County the median was $62,456. The minimum starting salary for a new teacher in California is about $34,000; Orange County district starting salaries range close to $40,000. Teacher salaries are based on a 9-month school year. While some teachers enjoy taking 3 months off for summer vacation, others earn additional income from summer school teaching or other school-related responsibilities in the summer.
Benefits vary from district to district, but usually include a range of health and retirement plans.
What are the steps to earning a teaching credential and becoming a middle school or high school teacher in California? (back to top)
To teach in the public K-12 schools in California, you must earn a California teaching credential. Individuals interested in teaching at the middle or high school level earn a single subject credential; those interested in teaching elementary grades earn a multiple subject credential. In the fields of math and science, single subject credentials are offered in the subject areas of mathematics, biology/life science, chemistry, earth and planetary science, and physics. Generally, aspiring teachers of math or science complete an accredited teacher preparation program at a California university, leading to a teaching credential in one of these math or science subject areas. If desired, credentialed teachers can become authorized to teach additional subject areas by completing university level coursework and/or passing an exam in the selected subject. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing sets the requirements and issues teaching credentials in the state.
California teachers must have a bachelor's degree in addition to their teaching credential. However, the state's universities do not offer bachelor's degrees in education or teaching, so aspiring math or science teachers typically earn a bachelor's degree in the discipline they want to teach or in a closely related field. Common UCI majors for aspiring teachers of math include mathematics, engineering, computer science, or other degree programs that develop a solid foundation in mathematics. UCI degree programs in biological sciences, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, physics, and some engineering majors are common choices of future science teachers.
Students typically enroll in a professional teacher preparation program to earn their teaching credential after they have graduated with a bachelor's degree. The UCI teacher credential program includes education coursework combined with extensive teaching experience, completed over a minimum of three quarters. Aspiring teachers should consult a UCI Department of Education counselor or the department website for more information about program options, admissions requirements and exams, and application procedures and deadlines. Through its Minor in Educational Studies program, the department also offers several undergraduate education courses that satisfy some requirements for the UCI teacher credential program, thus providing UCI undergraduates an opportunity to get an early start on their teaching credential.
Upon completing an accredited teacher credential program in California, teacher candidates earn a preliminary credential, which authorizes them to teach in the public schools. Through school district or regional induction programs, new teachers with the preliminary credential satisfy additional requirements to earn a professional clear credential.
For more information, see the UCI Department of Education Credential Programs Website.
What major do I chose and what undergraduate courses can I take at UCI to prepare for a teaching career? (back to top)
Majors
Aspiring math or science teachers typically earn a bachelor's degree in the discipline they want to teach or in a closely related field. Common UCI majors for aspiring teachers of math include mathematics, engineering, computer science, or other degree programs that develop a solid foundation in mathematics. UCI degree programs in biological sciences, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, physics, and some engineering majors are common choices of future science teachers.
Some UCI majors offer specializations or concentration that are well suited for future teachers, because upper division courses and electives cover topics that are aligned with the subjects that are commonly taught in California's middle and high school math and science classes. Consult with an academic counselor or program website for more information on these majors:
Consult with a counselor in the School of Biological Sciences about future plans to offer a Biological Science Major with a Concentration in Biology Education.
Classroom Field Experience
UCI offers a three-seminar series designed for undergraduates who want to explore teaching as a possible career option and to get valuable field experience in K-12 math and science classrooms. The seminars are:
These seminars can be used to satisfy the practicum requirement for a Minor in Educational Studies.
Consult with a California Teach counselor about other paid and volunteer opportunities to get additional field experience in math and science education settings. Students who complete the California Teach seminars and/or other field experiences will have more competitive applications for a teacher credential program. Candidates with strong field experience are better prepared to start the student teaching component of a credential program.
Education Minor
The UCI Department of Education offers a Minor in Educational Studies, with an array of courses that provide a solid foundation for learning about educational issues, teaching, and learning. UCI undergraduates who do not have enough room in their schedule to complete a minor might consider taking individual education courses with particular relevance for future math or science teachers. Suggested courses include:
- EDUC 172A Issues and Controversies in Secondary Mathematics
- EDUC 172B Teaching and Learning Secondary Mathematics
- EDUC 136 Teaching and Learning Secondary Science (new course in 2007)
- EDUC 152F* Teaching Mathematics with Technology
- EDUC 131* Educational Technology (new course in 2007)
- EDUC 124* Multicultural Education in K-12 Schools
- EDUC 173* Cognition and Learning in Educational Settings
- EDUC 108 Adolescent Development (new course in 2007)
- EDUC 151* Exceptional Learners (new course in 2007)
Students who complete some undergraduate education courses or earn a Minor in Educational Studies will have more competitive applications for a teacher credential program; they are better prepared with foundational knowledge upon which they will build in their credential coursework.
*An Early Start for the UCI Teacher Credential Program
Undergraduates who complete any of the education courses listed above that are marked with an asterisk (*) can satisfy some UCI credential program course requirements, which will lighten the course load during the three-quarter teacher credential curriculum. Students should consult a Department of Education counselor for up-to-date information about waiving credential program courses by completing equivalent undergraduate courses.
Do I need a master's degree to teach math or science? (back to top)
You do not need a master's degree to become a K-12 teacher, but there are benefits to earning an advanced degree. One obvious advantage is that you develop greater expertise in your field, which can make you a stronger teacher and a stronger candidate for department leadership responsibilities or more advanced classes at the school where you teach. Another advantage is that the post-baccalaureate units could place a teacher higher on the district's pay scale.
There are multiple options for teachers who want to earn a master's degree. Many universities offer teacher preparation programs that combine a master's degree in teaching or education with the teaching credential. These programs typically require some additional graduate coursework beyond the credential program courses. The UCI Department of Education offers such a program that combines a teaching credential and a Master of Art's in Teaching degree (M.A.T. ). Some teachers prefer to earn their credential, start working, and then return for a master's degree after they have gained some teaching experience. Math and science teachers might be interested in a master's degree program with a specialization in math or science education, educational technology, or educational leadership, to name just a few types of programs offered by different universities. More information on the UCI M.A.T. program
Some teachers desire a master's degree in their respective discipline. The UCI math and science departments offer master's degree programs. Both the UCI Mathematics and Chemistry Departments offer a joint program with the UCI Department of Education that combines one year for the M.S. in mathematics or chemistry and an additional year to earn the single subject teaching credential. More information on the UCI MS in Mathematics Plus Credential
More information on the UCI MS in Chemistry Plus Credential
What exams do I take to become a teacher? (back to top)
Single subject math and science credential program admission requirements include the following exams:
- California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)
Undergraduates can start to prepare for and take this exam as early as freshmen or sophomore year, but should plan to take it well before the application deadlines for credential programs.
- California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET)
Teacher candidates select the CSET in the subject for which they plan to earn a teaching credential. The exam has multiple subtests that can be taken separately. Undergraduates should familiarize themselves with the exam contents, and develop a timeline for taking exam subtests that aligns well with their completion of relevant UCI courses and deadlines for credential program applications.
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
The GRE is required only of students who apply to a teacher preparation program that combines a teaching credential and a master's degree. (See the FAQ information on earning a master's degree.) As for the other exams, undergraduates should plan ahead to complete this exam ahead of credential program application deadlines.
The UCI Department of Education Resource Center (Berkeley Place room 1121) houses test preparation information and resource materials. The Resource Center Coordinator is available by email and by appointment to provide individual assistance in preparing for the exams (bleonard@uci.edu; 949-824-9141). The counselors in the California Teach Resource and Advising Center can also assist students with test preparation information.
What if I am interested in teaching at a community college or university (back to top)
A California teaching credential is not required for a community college or university faculty position. However UCI undergraduates who are considering a teaching career, but are undecided about teaching at the secondary versus college level, can benefit from teaching field experience and from education courses that offer an introduction to issues of teaching and learning. Faculty in higher education are better prepared to teach when they have an understanding of sound instructional strategies, of theories about how people learn, and of the ways in which math and science knowledge is taught and developed throughout the middle and high school grades. Consider classes listed in the above FAQ about undergraduate courses for aspiring math and science teachers. Also consider getting experience as an undergraduate TA or tutor for math or science courses.
What if I am interested in teaching elementary school math or science? (back to top)
Many new elementary teachers are not well prepared to teach mathematics or science if they did not complete much or any math or science coursework during college. A teacher with a degree in mathematics or the sciences would be an asset to any elementary school. One way for aspiring teachers to explore if they would prefer teaching the elementary grades is to get field experience in elementary classrooms, which they can do by taking Physical Sciences 5, the first of three California Teach seminars. When students complete all three seminars they are able to compare experiences in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.
In addition to math and science, elementary teachers must be prepared to teach the full K-6 curriculum, which includes reading, language arts and writing, history and social studies, visual and performing arts, and physical education. Aspiring elementary teachers earn a multiple subject teaching credential, with coursework that is somewhat different from the curricula of the single subject math or science credential program. Additionally, aspiring elementary teacher must pass a multiple subject CSET exam, which covers the different subject areas in the elementary curriculum. UCI undergraduates who are interested in becoming an elementary teacher should consult a counselor in the UCI Department of Education about undergraduate courses that cover these subject areas, elementary credential program options, and exams.
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