For many professionals, the prospect of taking two years off work to earn a masters degree is not financially feasible. As a result, many industries - such as education - allow workers who have the intention of earning an advanced degree to hold jobs while they complete their coursework.
In fact, work experience has become an integral part of some masters degree in teaching programs. For example, the Northern Plains Transition to Teaching Program at Montana State University gives online learners the opportunity to run their own classrooms after a year of instruction.
Individuals who enroll in this course of study by one of this year’s four starting dates will earn a temporary teaching license in time for the start of the 2011-2012 school year.
The curriculum is designed to help experience professionals who hold degrees in various fields transition into teaching careers. After they complete the program, degree seekers can hold both a masters degree and the same license as students who have completed four-year program in education.
Graduates of these programs could see high job prospects after they complete their studies, as nearly 500,000 teaching positions are expected to become available over the next eight years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
