With a Master's degree in Adolescence Education from C.W. Post, Tara Salvador plans a career as an English teacher

Become a Middle or High School Teacher in 16 Months in New Master's Degree Program at C.W. Post

It has become a familiar statistic: the average New York professional will change careers three times.

Changing careers can be a liberating and invigorating experience - and becoming a teacher can be one of the most satisfying career moves you can make. Now, the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University has a new master's degree program that leads to certification as a teacher of grades 7 to 12 in significantly less time than traditional graduate degrees.

If you have at least 30 undergraduate or graduate credits in English, mathematics, social studies, earth science, biology, chemistry or languages other than English (Spanish, Italian or German), you can meet the academic requirements to teach that subject in as little as 16 months.

Graduates will be ready to get their state teaching certification and enter a new profession, making a difference in the lives of young people in local communities.

"The bottom line is to have a positive effect on a human being for the rest of his or her life," said Paul Kantrowitz, an adjunct professor of education at C.W. Post. "There are very few professions that give you that opportunity."

For Tara Salvador of Oyster Bay, N.Y., the M.S. in Adolescence Education represents a chance to greatly expand her career options - and to take on a role she has always wanted.

"I think being teacher is more of a calling than a career or a job. It's something you have to love," she said. "I love giving the gift of knowledge."

Salvador is currently a school library media specialist. She expects her library background to enhance her ability as a teacher, and said certification in both teaching and school media will make her an attractive candidate for good jobs in Long Island school districts. "It makes me more marketable," she said.

The master's degree in adolescence education includes such courses as "The Psychology of the Adolescent Student," "Education for Cultural Diversity" and "Introduction to Educational Research: The Teacher as Researcher." Classes are scheduled during the evening to accommodate working adults.

Small classes, elite accreditations, distinguished professors and state-of-the-art facilities make C.W. Post a regional leader in graduate education.

The C.W. Post Campus is conveniently located in Brookville, N.Y., minutes from Exit 39 on the Long Island Expressway.  Student resources include the Pratt Recreation Center, featuring swimming, a fitness center, an indoor running track and racquetball and basketball courts; the three million-volume B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library; and wireless connectivity and smart classroom technology. Financial aid is available, and the office of Professional Experience and Career Planning has a wide range of services available to help students and alumni find the perfect job.

Great careers begin with graduate degrees from C.W. Post. Find out more by visiting www.liu.edu/graduate or calling the Admissions Office at (516) 299-2900.

Posted: December 28, 2007