I can only speak for my university...

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I can only speak for my university...
By Aleesha

But the teaching certification is mainly a 5 year long program...4 year degree plus the year long teacher-school, if you will. I think you used to be able to do three years of your BA and then use the teaching year as your
fourth and finish that way, but that option was recently removed I believe. Even if you can still do it, it is less money for you that way...it is called a standard teaching certificate, vs the 5 year long, professional certificate. So technically the teaching end is only a year, but you can not get admitted to the program without university...so basically 5 years. I think one other

university here offers a two year teaching program but I am not sure if you have to have your degree completed before that or that is used to finish your degree...

You can do your BA in anything though...you do not have to major or minor in education...although many do. I had not decided on teaching while I did my degree so I have a major in psyc and a minor in English so during my academic semester during the teaching year, I took several "methods" courses...designed to help you plan and teach math, reading, writing etc.

If you want to teach secondary, you must major and minor in "teachable" courses (or do two minors)...so my psyc degree would not cut it! But I am not "high school teacher" material, so that is a moot point!! Thanks for the update...and if you do not mind explaining, I have always wondered about the term 'upstate' NY...what are the defining borders, exactly? Is it specific streets...or more a general consensus?

Thanks again...aleesha