What to Expect

Education students should be prepared to keep on learning.

Janet Wushke took a five-year combined degree program: a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of education in English with a minor in history. "This gives you more knowledge in the subject area you want to teach," she says.

Wushke's program required three practicum (internship) semesters. During the first two practica, a group of students took six weeks of intensive study in teaching theory before student-teaching for another six weeks.

The third practicum required a three-month teaching internship, during which the students were responsible for half of the school day's curriculum.

Wushke says her favorite aspect of the program was that it qualified her to teach any grade.

"The incredible amount of work that goes into teaching really surprised me in the beginning," admits Wushke.

Her biggest problem was her second practicum, because she felt the teachers assigned to her didn't show a lot of interest. "Now I recognize it as a blessing in disguise. The experience taught me that I was not meant to teach high school at this point in my life, and I am once again excited about what possibilities will arise," she says.

Nick Maneno took graduate studies in education at George Mason University. He says education students should consider pursuing a master's degree in education.

"Since teachers with bachelor's degrees have to continue their education anyway eventually, it makes sense to go ahead and do it. And the result is a greater maturity level. We're older and more mature, which should help us in the classroom."