|
Certification Only-Option Program &
Master of Arts in Teaching With K-8 certification
Student Profiles
Matt Jordan
- What undergraduate degree did you earn?
- I earned a BA in Health and Fitness Management with a minor in Business Administration from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon.
- Why did you choose APU to pursue your teaching credential?
- I chose APU because of the small school atmosphere which is very similar to my experience at Concordia.
From the other programs I looked at APU offered so much more in the terms of depth of experience with being
immersed in the school while taking classes. And from being on campus and talking to some of the professors,
it seemed like a very supportive environment.
- What have you enjoyed most about the program?
- I have most enjoyed the close relationships with other members of the program and the atmosphere
that is created by the professors. They genuinely care about each student individually and the progress
they are making towards a teaching degree or certificate.
- What is the most important thing to share with prospective students?
- The APU teaching program is one that will give you as much as you are willing to get out of it.
The professors will support you in every way possible and give you every chance to make the most of your
time while in the program.
Evelyne Tunley-Daymude
- What undergraduate degree did you earn?
- My undergraduate degrees were in business and communication (the first was an associates through
the old community college, now the University of Alaska, Anchorage and the second was at Alaska Pacific University).
- Why did you choose APU to pursue your teaching credential?
- I have always enjoyed the classes at APU, the classes are small and the professors really care
about their students, it is an ideal learning community.
- What have you enjoyed most about the program?
- This program is an opportunity to return to my first MAT in adult learning and explore a
new career opportunity. While I truly enjoy working with adult learners, the idea of going back
into the classroom and igniting a passion for learning at an earlier age is very inspirational to me.
- What is the most important thing to share with prospective students?
- I would start by quoting Albert Einstein: "Imagination is more important than knowledge, for whilst
knowledge points to all there is, imagination points to all there could be." I would say, there is no
better place than APU to pursue your dreams, ignite your imagination, and if you enjoy working with youth,
this K-8 certification program is an excellent option to blend imagination with knowledge…these classes will
stretch you and give you tools to help others learn and grow.
Kendra Miller-Jones
- What undergraduate degree did you earn?
- B.S. Psychology.
- Why APU?
- The MAT program was perfect for my career goals! The schedule allowed me to continue working part-time and begin substitute teaching during the last semester.
- What have you enjoyed most about the program?
- Flexibility, small class sizes, and attentive committee members.
- What is the most important thing to share with prospective students?
- The MAT program is rigorous, yet the flexibility and understanding the faculty provides makes for a positive experience. Go into this experience knowing that it is a process... trust the process and life will be much more enjoyable.
Michael Kutscheid
- What undergraduate degree did you earn?
- I received my B.S. in Anthropology from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
- Who is your employer while attending APU?
- I work as a substitute teacher during the school year. This summer I am working for the ARC with a child who experiences a disability
- What is the most important thing to share with prospective students?
- The program is intense and challenging. But it is set up so that it proceeds in a logical, quick-paced manner. Accepting the challenge has been well worth it; everything I learn here is relevant to the classroom. The skills that I am learning today at APU will help me in my first and twentieth year of teaching.
Laura Adams
- What undergraduate degree did you earn?
- B.S. in Finance from the University of Utah.
- Why APU?
- I wanted to obtain my Master's degree and APU offered that as a choice. I especially liked that the program was designed for individuals without a background in education. I found the idea of attending school with other students who may be
like me - changing careers - to be vary appealing.
- What have you enjoyed most about the program?
- I have particularly enjoyed the small class sizes. My cohort group had five students in it. The majority of my experience at APU has been composed of classes with less than a dozen people in them. I feel my professors know who I am, rathere than at some of the larger universities where students are nothing more than faces in the crowd and numbers on a page. Each and every individual teaching and mentoring us in the MAT program comes to the plate with a ton of real world, applicable experience. That makes classes and discussions so much more interesting. The instructors have a passion for teaching, and want to share that joy. I feel like I am graduating with a team of professionals behind me who support my decision to become a teacher.
Sandra Barron
- What undergraduate degree did you earn?
- My undergraduate degree is a BA in Psychology from the University of Washington in Seattle.
- What are your career goals?
- My career goal is to be an educator for the rest of my life-already 7 years in the making.
- Why APU?
- When I was looking in to the various programs available, I found that APU's MAT program appealed to me in both its small size and approach to learning. Active learning was what made the program such a success for me. I was able to learn by doing, and so I felt that my past years of experience weren't wasted. My perspective was important and I was able to learn about the many facets of education from some highly qualified professors.
- What is the most important thing to share with prospective students?
- If I were a prospective student, I would want to feel confident that the program could provide what I need as an individual. Because of the field work, practica, focus on technology, and other active learning, I feel that any student can succeed with the classwork, and in his/her future as an educator.
|
Employment
APU News
|
