Tim Rupiper
Year Graduated: 
2020
N/A

Job description

Graduating post-pandemic has put a strain on the job market, however, with this degree I have been able to apply and be interviewed for jobs in elementary education, children’s publishing, the nonprofit sector, management, and having this degree has opened up the ability to apply and be accepted to various graduate programs, including those at Humboldt Stare University, Arizona State University, CSU LA, and the University of Hawaii.

Why did you choose this program?

I wanted to be an elementary school teacher, and read about the program after some friends who went to HSU recommended it to me, and liked what I saw so applied!

How did this program prepare you for your job?

This program does a great job of offering many different point of views from both the professors and the class content. Because of the amount of experience through those means, as well as the in-classroom fieldwork, you get to experience the K-6 classroom environment and learn about the mechanics of it all that you might not have experienced before. The program discusses all the aspects of teaching one might not think, which definitely prepares one who wants to enter the teaching field.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

I enjoyed the close connections I developed with professors and our small community, the small class ratios, and the oodles of information, frameworks, pedagogies, and perspectives I did not know before.

What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?

If you are looking for a small learning community, a chance to dig in to enriching and culturally responsive material, and develop meaningful relationships, a viewpoint based in equity, and strong work ethic then this program is for you!

Other comments?

Though I found this program fantastic, if you are doing the dual degree/credential, it was sometimes difficult to maintain a part-time/full-time job as well as balance the coursework, fieldwork, and eventually student teaching time. Please talk to your advisor beforehand and examine your needs to find what works best for you.

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