Teaching as a 2nd Career
During 2006-2007 the NWO TeachOhio program prepared a cohort of 14 people who are currently teaching science or mathematics on alternative educator licenses or plan to do so in the near future!
NWO TeachOhio was a grant funded by the Ohio Department of Education to increase the pool of highly qualified 7th-12th grade mathematics and science teachers in high-needs districts in Ohio through alternative licensure. We offered a program that provided coursework needed for alternative licensure while leading to a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Bowling Green State University (BGSU). This program model made it possible for these students to take courses at no cost to them.
Although we currently do not have another grant available to fund another cohort, we are always accepting inquiries to add to our database of people we will contact if funding does become available again. See below for information about starting a second career as a mathematics or science teacher through alternative licensure or contact the education departments of universities that currently offer programs to help people with bachelor’s degrees become teachers such as the University of Findlay and University of Toledo.
Start a 2nd career as a mathematics teacher!
How to Get Started:
1) List all of your college mathematics courses and semester hours.
- We need more good mathematics teachers in Ohio. Choosing to teach mathematics as a second career usually requires candidates to take additional mathematics courses.
- For an Alternative Educator License 30 semester hours of mathematics courses are needed (accounting and other business courses do not count toward the Integrated Mathematics license).
- If you have taken Calculus I, Calculus II, and Calculus III with an average of 2.5 GPA or better, then you have completed the core sequence to become a mathematics teacher on an alternative license. However, there are many other branches of mathematics. The Office of Educator Licensure will look for a diversity of coursework including algebra, geometry, statistics and discrete mathematics taken at the college level. At Bowling Green State University courses such as elementary Linear Algebra (MATH 332), Modern algebra (MATH 339), Discrete Mathematics (MATH 322), Applied Statistics & Probability (MATH 341), and Modern Geometry (MATH 402/502) are recommended. History of mathematics is also an excellent course (MATH 411/511).
2) Read the information on the following links at the Ohio Department of Education web-site about Alternative Licensure:
3) As you start coursework, gain valuable experience and contacts by becoming a substitute teacher! Click here to find out how!
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=
3&TopicRelationID=513&ContentID=700&Content=28397
4) Still interested in alternative licensure? Contact us at: jnurnbe@bgnet.bgsu.edu
Start a 2nd career as a science teacher!
1) Read the information on the following links at the Ohio Department of Education web-site about Alternative Licensure:
2) Specific Information about Alternative Educator Licenses for science:
Earth Science License
- Requires 30 credit hours in earth science related fields
- Most common courses you could teach with this license:
- 7th and 8th grade science
- It is difficult to obtain a job in Northwest Ohio with an Earth Science license, because earth science is not typically offered in high schools.
General Science
- Requires 30 credit hours of science distributed across the four areas of Life, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth
- Most common courses you could teach with this license:
- 7th & 8th grade science
- 9th grade physical science.
- It could be difficult to obtain a job in Northwest Ohio with only a General Science License. High needs districts may hire a person with this license to teach physical science.
Integrated Science
- Requires 60 hours of science distributed with at least 15 semester hours in each of the four areas of Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics
- This license allows you to teach all sciences in 7th-12th grade, so districts want to hire those with an Integrated Science License whenever possible.
Life Science License
- Requires 30 credit hours of biology related courses
- Most common courses you could teach with this license:
- 7th & 8th grade science
- High school biology courses
Physical Sciences: Chemistry License
- Requires 30 credit hours of chemistry related courses
- Most common courses you could teach with this license:
- 7th & 8th grade science
- 9th grade physical science
- High school chemistry courses
Physical Sciences: Physics License
- Requires 30 credit hours of physics related courses
- Most common courses you could teach with this license:
- 7th & 8th grade science
- 9th grade physical science
- High school physics courses
3) As you start taking courses to become a teacher, gain valuable experience and contacts by becoming a substitute teacher! Click here to find out how!
4) Still interested in alternative licensure? Contact us at: jnurnbe@bgnet.bgsu.edu
