2 answers
Mirudula
Student
Plano, Texas
1
Question
Asked
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Would it be advisable to receive an electrical engineering major and get certified in teaching?
I would like to major in electrical engineering and get certified to teach advanced high school math or physics. Is that too many credits to complete in 4 years?
I was also considering double majoring in electrical engineering and mathematics.
In addition, I wanted to get certified in teaching math or physics for high schoolers. Would that be do-able in 5 years?
I have around 40 college credit hours from high school.
#engineering #teaching #mathematics #double-major #electrical-engineering
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2 answers
Peter Sturtevant
Retired Civil Engineer
252
Answers
Kent, Washington
Updated
Peter’s Answer
Quite Honestly, Mirudula, if your primary goal is to teach advanced high school math, I'm not sure that you would gain any particular advantage by majoring in electrical engineering, unless you are attracted to that engineering discipline. If that is the case, I would advise that you go ahead and major in EE and then work for an EE Firm for 2-4 years to gain some practical experience in the Field. If you still want to teach high school, you would need to devote one year further education (perhaps a Masters Degree) to obtaining a teaching certification.
If, on the other hand, you want to go straight into teaching, you could probably get a math or general science major plus a teacher certification in a 4-year college program. Getting an EE Degree plus a teacher certification would likely take five years.
Definitely check with the college(s) you intend to attend to see what they offer and how long it would take.
Good Luck, Pete Sturtevant, PE
If, on the other hand, you want to go straight into teaching, you could probably get a math or general science major plus a teacher certification in a 4-year college program. Getting an EE Degree plus a teacher certification would likely take five years.
Definitely check with the college(s) you intend to attend to see what they offer and how long it would take.
Good Luck, Pete Sturtevant, PE
Hello Mr. Sturtevant!
I am interested in EE, and I really like your plan for teacher certification, so I will talk to my academic advisor about this new plan. Thank you for your advice!
Mirudula M.
Mirudula
Todd Stahlnecker
Electrical Engineer at eCADlt.com
24
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Todd’s Answer
Mirudula,
I'm no expert when it comes to college load, what's doable, or obtaining teaching certification but I will comment on what I do know. If you don't have to support yourself by working during your schooling, it's likely that you can obtain an EE degree with a minor in math or physics along with the additional steps for teaching certification in Texas during a 4-5 year period. During summer months, you could also do internship work at an engineering firm or school to bolster your education/work experience.
Now, allow me to wax nostalgic when it comes to the combination of teaching and engineering. Mentoring seems to be a lost art in our Western Civilization. Many I've worked with jealously guarded the knowledge and experience that they had accumulated and would not share that with those coming up the ranks behind them. They considered the knowledge and experience they had to be something that the upcoming youth would steal in order to pass them by. That or the youth would rob them of their glory and start competing firms to steal their clients. Their mentality was "I paid for what I have with money, blood, sweat, and tears. I'm not giving that away for nothing. Why should I? I'd just invest in this person only to have to leave to take a better job." As a result, finding a firm or individual willing to mentor a youth is nearly impossible these days.
At one place I worked, all the new people wanted to work with me because I would actually teach them and help them plot out their career and prepare for the licensing exams. In contrast, the owner of another firm I worked at would do everything he could to stifle his people from networking, joining professional societies, or even socializing with other engineers out of a paranoia that his employees would give out "corporate secrets" (that place didn't have any) or be lured away to other firms.
For 4-1/2 years, I taught a trade school for electricians at a local community college and I remember that time as being some of the most enjoyable years of my career. So...I applaud your goals. I think that you will enjoy the combination and derive satisfaction from teaching. Certainly, any engineer must be proficient with math and physics. Every year, I visit my children's school to give presentations to the advanced math or science students about engineering during national engineer's week. I wish there were more people like you involved in engineering.
I'm no expert when it comes to college load, what's doable, or obtaining teaching certification but I will comment on what I do know. If you don't have to support yourself by working during your schooling, it's likely that you can obtain an EE degree with a minor in math or physics along with the additional steps for teaching certification in Texas during a 4-5 year period. During summer months, you could also do internship work at an engineering firm or school to bolster your education/work experience.
Now, allow me to wax nostalgic when it comes to the combination of teaching and engineering. Mentoring seems to be a lost art in our Western Civilization. Many I've worked with jealously guarded the knowledge and experience that they had accumulated and would not share that with those coming up the ranks behind them. They considered the knowledge and experience they had to be something that the upcoming youth would steal in order to pass them by. That or the youth would rob them of their glory and start competing firms to steal their clients. Their mentality was "I paid for what I have with money, blood, sweat, and tears. I'm not giving that away for nothing. Why should I? I'd just invest in this person only to have to leave to take a better job." As a result, finding a firm or individual willing to mentor a youth is nearly impossible these days.
At one place I worked, all the new people wanted to work with me because I would actually teach them and help them plot out their career and prepare for the licensing exams. In contrast, the owner of another firm I worked at would do everything he could to stifle his people from networking, joining professional societies, or even socializing with other engineers out of a paranoia that his employees would give out "corporate secrets" (that place didn't have any) or be lured away to other firms.
For 4-1/2 years, I taught a trade school for electricians at a local community college and I remember that time as being some of the most enjoyable years of my career. So...I applaud your goals. I think that you will enjoy the combination and derive satisfaction from teaching. Certainly, any engineer must be proficient with math and physics. Every year, I visit my children's school to give presentations to the advanced math or science students about engineering during national engineer's week. I wish there were more people like you involved in engineering.
Thank you, Mr. Stahlnecker, for both the information you provided and compliments!
Mirudula