With so many opportunities to study education at Drew University, dozens of students gathered in the Kean Reading Room on Sept. 26 to learn about the institution’s different pathways. This information session focused on the teaching minor and Master of Arts in Teaching tracks. From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., both certified educators and fifth-year students encouraged students to pursue teaching and guided those already in the field to their next steps.
Before the formal introduction began, all attendees were directed to the lunch platters and prompted to enjoy an assortment of goods while interacting with the other event staff and prospective students. The table consisted of various deli wraps, chips, fruits, veggies, and water.
All those part of the MAT program wore ‘DrewTEACH’ t-shirts, leading their separate tables in discussion for underclassmen either interested or within the preliminary track already. Each table focused on a different subject of education, with some overlap to foster diverse conversation.
After lunch was served, teaching minor coordinator Professor Maureen O. Sullivan conducted a presentation on various elements of the teaching minor–more specifically, how it translates into their five-year program post graduation with a bachelor’s degree.
Outlined in an on-screen diagram, Sullivan briefly explained the steps toward the MAT program taken as an undergraduate.
By their junior year, students declare their teaching minor and take EDUC 220 as a prerequisite class. Once this is completed, students earn their NJ substitute teaching certification and take four graduate-level courses. To become certified, requirements include a college transcript, fingerprinting, a background check and online training courses.
It is recommended to apply to the five-year program by Jan. 15 of the student’s junior year. Alongside the previously mentioned obligations, they must also have a declared major, a 3.0 GPA, a diversity statement and a teaching statement. This way, students can gauge their progress within the program and receive feedback before the formal MAT application.
Lastly, in their senior year, students must pass their Praxis exams (I and II) by Sept. 1. Receiving a recommendation from an education professor and others in outside fields, the MAT application is submitted by Nov. 1.
With their senior year completed and a bachelor’s degree under their belt, fifth-year students focus on pedagogy, method and most importantly, their clinical internship/student teaching.
One of Sullivan’s main points was the significant pay raise between teaching with an undergraduate and a graduate-level degree. “Districts are going to have a chart for you and they’re going to say, okay, we’ll pay you five dollars, because you are a first-year teacher with a bachelor’s degree,” said Sullivan.
Comically explaining that it will not really be five dollars, she emphasized that with Drew’s accelerated track, those with graduate degrees are instantly paid more in salary, even in an entry-level position. “Okay, it’s your first year, you graduated, but oh, you have a master’s degree? Well, we’ll pay you eight to ten dollars,” said Sullivan. Even with the same level of experience, the higher-level degree makes a large impact on the teaching profession.
A student expressed concern regarding this, asking if this consequently impacted the hiring process, as districts may not want to pay a potential candidate as much. Sullivan affirmed that this is not the case, elaborating, “I think that school districts are looking for highly qualified teachers… what they’re getting from you as a hire is more training.”
To wrap up her set of reasoning, Sullivan highlighted a key component of the MAT track: pairing students with aligning districts.
“We are big on finding a place that matches you,” she stated in response. “You’d be looking for a place that would say, ‘We honor this extra degree in this space and this knowledge…’ We have not hit a year where someone has not gotten hired.” This perfect success rate provides students with ease, ensuring their time with the program is not going to waste.
Jadelyn Villa is a junior who is majoring in English creative writing and minoring in teaching.
