Is it possible to teach without a degree in the field your want to teach?
I think that teaching classes would be interesting. I have a lot of industry experience, but I never actually got a degree in the field I work in, and I don’t have any sort of degree that deals with teaching. Is it possible to get a job as a teacher without those?
Edit: I’m in the US specifically looking at teaching college courses, but K-12 could be interesting, too.
I used to teach CS to middle schoolers at a private school. Illinois doesn’t require a bachelor’s for teachers at private schools as long as the teacher has “demonstrated competence”. I taught there part-time for twelve years and then full time for a year.
Community colleges often hire teachers solely based on applicable experience. For K-12, teaching without a degree may be possible depending on the demand and where you live.
I got asked if I wanted to teach for teachers after studying half a year at university. It is an advantage, often a formal requirement, but in praxis not necessary to have a degree in order to teach classes. Personal qualifications on the other hand is a must.
Many states have accelerated certification programs for K-12 education, and while some subjects would require a specific degree for secondary grades, many wouldn’t. Then there’s guest lecturing, adjunct work, and sketchy for-profit places will bring on anybody who knows more than the students.
So, I guess it depends on who you want to teach, how often, and in what context.
I’m sure it varies from country to country, but here in Canada, at least Ontario, which is the only province that I am familiar with when it comes to teaching requirements, you would definitely need to attend teacher’s college, which is a two year program.
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