Five-Year Teacher Ed Program FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions
About the Five-Year Teacher Education Program

Why does it take five years to become a teacher?

In most teacher education programs you receive only a bachelor's degree (or, if you already have a bachelor's degree, you may receive a master's degree). In this program you will graduate at the end of five years with both a bachelor's degree in a content area and a master's degree in education.

Will there be a job for me as a teacher when I graduate?

The job market for teachers is getting better every year. The school-age population is the largest it has ever been in this country, and more than 30% of the nation's teachers will reach retirement age over the next ten years.

Will having a master's degree make it more difficult for me when I apply for my first job?

Employers who recruit at WVU have consistently hired master's degree graduates in the past, and recent graduates have reported similar experiences.

What use is a master's degree to me when I go for my first job?

You will be better prepared than most beginning teachers because you will be skilled both in the specific subject area that you will be teaching as well as have extensive courses in how to teach and more than 1000 hours in actual classroom experiences. In addition, some school systems are now requiring that their new employees have a master's degree. Teachers with master's degrees also usually have a higher salary than teachers with bachelor's degrees.

How soon can I start taking courses in education?

During your first semester you will take the Education Colloquium (Education 1). This course is usually taught by senior faculty and helps to orient pre-education students to the five-year dual-degree teacher education program.

How soon do I get to work with students?

Even before you begin your formal clinical experiences in a professional development school during the third year of the program, you will complete 60 hours of pre-approved volunteer experiences with students who are approximately the same age level that you intend to teach. Beginning in the third year you will be working with skilled master teachers in the schools on a regular basis.

Are there scholarships or other financial assistance which may be available to me?

The College of Human Resources & Education has some Scholarships for Future Teachers. There are also scholarships available through the WVU Scholar's Office. The University will work with you to identify a variety of Sources of Financial Aid at WVU.

Is there a student handbook available that would give me more detailed information about this program?

Yes, there is. An electronic (PDF) version is available on our server. You will need a copy of Adobe's free Acrobat Reader to view the handook.

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	Frequently Asked Questions About the Five-Year Teacher Education Program Why does it take five years to become a teacher? In most teacher education programs you receive only a bachelor's degree (or, if you already have a bachelor's degree, you may receive a master's degree). In this program you will graduate at the end of five years with both a bachelor's degree in a content area and a master's degree in education. Will there be a job for me as a teacher when I graduate? The job market for teachers is getting better every year. The school-age population is the largest it has ever been in this country, and more than 30% of the nation's teachers will reach retirement age over the next ten years. Will having a master's degree make it more difficult for me when I apply for my first job? Employers who recruit at WVU have consistently hired master's degree graduates in the past, and recent graduates have reported similar experiences. What use is a master's degree to me when I go for my first job? You will be better prepared than most beginning teachers because you will be skilled both in the specific subject area that you will be teaching as well as have extensive courses in how to teach and more than 1000 hours in actual classroom experiences. In addition, some school systems are now requiring that their new employees have a master's degree. Teachers with master's degrees also usually have a higher salary than teachers with bachelor's degrees. How soon can I start taking courses in education? During your first semester you will take the Education Colloquium (Education 1). This course is usually taught by senior faculty and helps to orient pre-education students to the five-year dual-degree teacher education program. How soon do I get to work with students? Even before you begin your formal clinical experiences in a professional development school during the third year of the program, you will complete 60 hours of pre-approved volunteer experiences with students who are approximately the same age level that you intend to teach. Beginning in the third year you will be working with skilled master teachers in the schools on a regular basis. Are there scholarships or other financial assistance which may be available to me? The College of Human Resources & Education has some Scholarships for Future Teachers. There are also scholarships available through the WVU Scholar's Office. The University will work with you to identify a variety of Sources of Financial Aid at WVU. Is there a student handbook available that would give me more detailed information about this program? Yes, there is. An electronic (PDF) version is available on our server. You will need a copy of Adobe's free Acrobat Reader to view the handook.