Add It Up: Math Knowledge Essential to U.S. Competitiveness

by Karen Lawson
Online Degrees Columnist

It's no secret that America's schools are facing a crisis. U.S. students must compete for jobs with international students who are far better prepared to meet the technological needs of major employers. If you're good at math, an online degree can provide the credentials you need to help students excel in math and science.

Teaching Degrees Available from Accredited Online Schools
You can earn a teaching degree in your spare time from an accredited college online. Most school districts require a bachelor's degree and a supervised internship. You will also have to pass a state licensing exam. If you already have a bachelor's degree, contact an academic advisor at your online school to determine how many credits you'll need to qualify for a teaching degree online. It's important to choose an accredited college program so that your credits will be honored by your state's teacher licensing authority, and by potential employers.

Teaching as a Second Career
If you are near retirement, or are experiencing a mid-life career change, you may want to consider teaching part- or full-time. If you have a professional background working with math or science, you can provide a positive influence to students who may not understand the importance of these subjects. Students frequently have trouble understanding how their school subjects will be useful to them later in life. In 2003, only seven percent of 4th and 8th grade students achieved advanced levels of math ability. If students in American schools are to succeed, they must be able to compete on an international level. Your enthusiasm for math and science combined with an online teaching degree, can help our schools, and most importantly, our students, excel.

About the Author
Karen Lawson spent more than twenty years in the business world before returning to college. She used student financial aid programs while earning her MA degree in English at the University of Nevada, Reno.

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