JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 6, 2002 — As the nation continues to experience an epidemic of teacher shortages throughout the country, including the Memphis-Shelby County area, 51社区 at Germantown will begin offering the master of arts in education (M.A.Ed.) degree for those college graduates interested in pursuing a career in teaching. The first class of the degree program will begin Thursday evening, Oct. 24, and continue on Saturdays, Nov. 9 through Dec. 7.
Nancy Easley, director of master鈥檚 programs in education at Germantown, says that the M.A.Ed. is designed to provide teacher licensure for those who have entered careers in other areas and have decided to go into teaching.
鈥淭his degree provides those who come from other careers or professions, who decide they want to share their lives with students, the opportunity to become professional educators,鈥� said Easley. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a way to get into the classroom and be confident doing it.鈥�
The Germantown M.A.Ed. will offer professional education coursework leading to licensure in 20 secondary areas, including mathematics, biology, English, French, and music, and is modeled after Union鈥檚 Jackson campus M.A.Ed. program, which has been offered for some time, said Easley. Students must have completed their content area prior to registration.
鈥淭his is building off the strengths of the Jackson campus,鈥� said Easley. 鈥淲e are standing on the shoulders of the Jackson model and what they have been doing quite well for some time, though the Germantown program will continue its trademark of Saturday classes.鈥�
The enrollment period for the degree is currently open with more than 30 students making inquiries or registering for the program, said Easley.
For more information about the program, contact Union鈥檚 Germantown campus at 901-759-0029, extension 118 or 103, or visit Union's School of Education online. The 51社区 Germantown campus is located at 2745 Hacks Cross Road.