Overview One of the benefits of becoming a Teaching
Fellow is enrollment in a subsidized Master’s degree program while working as a
full-time teacher under the NY State Transitional B certification. The New York
City Department of Education subsidizes most of the costs of tuition (excluding
books and materials) at one of several partner universities. These participating
universities, located throughout New York City, offer Master’s degrees that have
been customized for Teaching Fellows. Each university offers expertise in
specific subject areas and a unique set of Master’s programs. Fellows are placed
at a university based on their subject area and borough assignment.
Structure of
the Master’s program
How are Teaching
Fellows supported?
In the words of a
Fellow... "Your Master's classes are with other Fellows, so everyone
understands the pressures you are facing, the challenges, the excitement,
and the little joys of every day." - Julie, 2003
Fellow
Master’s programs are tailored to
accommodate Fellows’ teaching schedules with classes during the evenings, as
well as during the summer. The Master’s degree takes two to three years to
complete; the duration varies depending on a Fellow’s subject area and assigned
university.
Fellows take a range of courses at their universities,
including:
• History of Education • Teaching: Methods and
Principles • Classroom Organization • Psychological Foundations of
Education • Language, Literacy, and Educational Technology • Skillful
Teaching: Strategies for Effective Instruction and Classroom
Management
Fellows average two courses (six credits) per term. Fellows
who have previous relevant graduate coursework may be able to count up to six
graduate credits toward their Master’s degrees; however, not all coursework
credits are transferable. The participating college or university will
help each Fellow determine the best strategy for completing the credits required
for the Master’s degree. Summer coursework may be required.
Cost to the Fellow The New York
City Department of Education subsidizes most of the costs of tuition for the
Master’s program (excluding books and materials) at one of several partner
universities. However, each Fellow is responsible for some portion of the
Master’s degree tuition, and the amount will be deducted over time from the
Fellow’s regular paycheck. Each Fellow in the June 2009 program is contributing
$6,600 toward the cost of his/her Master’s degree. Please note that the
contribution for June 2010 Fellows has not been finalized.
The NYC
Department of Education takes its investment in Fellows’ continuing education
and development very seriously, as reflected in its subsidy of the Master’s
degree. Fellows must be active NYC DoE teachers in order to maintain enrollment
in the subsidized Master’s program.
In addition to the Master’s in
Education coursework, New York State teacher certification regulations require
that all teachers have completed coursework in a range of liberal arts
subjects. While each university’s specific requirements vary, some Fellows
may need to take additional coursework to fulfill a NYS required liberal arts
core. In addition, NY State requires that special education, childhood
education (elementary) and ESL teachers have an undergraduate major or
equivalent coursework in one of the liberal arts or sciences. Fellows in
one of these areas whose undergraduate major or degree is in a professional or
applied field may be required to complete additional coursework to satisfy this
liberal arts requirement. Any cost associated with additional coursework
necessary to make up liberal arts credit deficits is the responsibility of the
Fellow. However, Fellows in the past have been eligible to receive an AmeriCorps
Education Award after at least one full year of service, which can be used to
pay for additional coursework.
Certification As an alternate route
program, the Fellowship accelerates the process of bringing new teachers to the
classrooms that most need them. Rather than completing a traditional teacher
education program prior to entering the classroom, Fellows engage in a short,
intensive pre-service training program, and are then eligible to teach full-time
while completing other academic requirements.
While they are
completing their Master’s degree, Fellows work under Transitional
B certification, which is issued by New York State. The Transitional B
certificate is valid for up to three years, so long as one maintains good
standing as a Fellow.
Upon completion of the Master's
degree and additional state requirements, Fellows may apply for further
certification to continue their careers as teachers.