Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Secondary School Teachers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Arizona State, Pima Community College, Cochise, and University of Arizona.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Arizona State, Northern Arizona University, and University of Arizona.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Arizona Western, Cochise, Pima Community College, and GateWay Community College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Prescott College, Cochise, GateWay Community College, and Pima Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Prescott College, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, and Arizona State.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, Arizona State, and Eastern Arizona College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Prescott College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Prescott College, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, and Arizona State.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Northern Arizona University • Flagstaff, AZ
Studying Secondary Education (completion in 2002)
• 11/29/2011
"I was pleased to earn my master's with such convenience. I was challenged, but still able to work full time while earning my degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For a full-time teacher, this program is ideal. The quality of education is high, and the convenience and the high standards of instruction are invaluable. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Northern Arizona University is known as the "teacher's college" in our state. They have a solid reputation of equipping teachers for classroom instruction. |
| Program Quality | 8 | NAU provided a master's program in secondary education that addressed the daily concerns I had as a high school teacher. I feel they could have done more in an active mentor role, by visiting my classroom to give feedback. |
| Instruction | 8 | The classroom instruction was detailed and clearly focused on class goals. The use of group activities was useful particularly for teachers, as this is a practical way to express new ideas and make them our own. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It is difficult to judge this attribute. It was difficult, because all of us were actively teaching full time as we completed the master's program. It was not excessively hard, though. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We did a fair amount of reading for these courses. However, our class time was used for group discussion, presentations, and role-playing teaching situations. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Our master's degree program was organized with a cohort of local teachers. NAU then sent us instructors for 6-week intervals to complete one course at a time, with one night of instruction per week. They also offered a summer program. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Because our program was offsite, we did not access the university's facilities. Working in groups with our teaching colleagues was most helpful. |
| Social Life | An offsite program does not access such services. We had no need. | |
| Placement Services | I would not have any knowledge of these services. I already had my current teaching position, as I pursued my master's degree with them. | |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I have had no contact or follow-up from the university since earning my master's. I had no expectation of any. |
University Of Phoenix • Online, AZ
Studying Curriculum And Instruction (completion in 2011)
• 2/23/2012
"The scheduling flexibility was essential for me. I was disappointed in the lack of support and instruction from teachers. I was pleased with being able to get my master's and meet my employer/state requirements for further education in a quick manner."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have already told colleagues about the flexibility of classes through Phoenix online. Teachers work all day, so unless they want to take classes at a campus every summer, they need an opportunity to complete the work through different means. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Since it's an online school, I feel like it doesn't have the best reputation. The reputation for my major is probably the same as it is for other majors, but overall, the school seems to have a lower reputation. |
| Program Quality | 6 | My master's degree did very little to enhance my career, beyond a salary raise. The program itself was very basic and didn't provide much of a challenge. |
| Instruction | 4 | Much of the material was based on self-teaching. The instructors were considered "facilitators," so they provided little guidance. |
| How Difficult | 2 | As long as you could balance the workload, it was easy. Most of the work seemed like busywork, and you could manage with reading very little of the textbook. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The courses were basically self-taught. There was little opportunity for hands on. Most often, work was demonstrated through research papers and PowerPoints. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Classes were offered online, so it was extremely flexible. Additionally, they began every Tuesday, so you could schedule a class any time you were ready. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They had a great library. The academic advisers called constantly to check on you. They also provided a plagiarism checker and writing assistant. |
| Social Life | The classes were online, so there was little social aspect. They did ask us to provide biographies in each class, so we could get to know each other. | |
| Placement Services | I don't have any experience with their placement services. I had a job, so it wasn't necessary. I believe they have decent assistance. | |
| Alumni Network | 8 | They offer a lot of alumni support and have a large network for alumni. I do not participate in such programs, because I have a job and do not feel a need. |
University Of Phoenix • Phoenix, AZ
Studying Secondary Education (completion in 2003)
• 3/7/2012
"I had a great education. It prepared me for the classroom. I am proud to be a "Phoenix.""
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I already do! For anyone who doesn't have time to go into a traditional classroom, UoP is the place to go!! |
| Program Reputation | 9 | University of Phoenix has a decent reputation. Unfortunately, many still have the mindset that online learning is not equivalent in any way to learning in the classroom. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The classes online were great. Student teaching left me very overwhelmed and I definitely could have used a little more preparation. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instruction was great. Teachers obviously were currently working in the field and knew firsthand what they were talking about. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I found that I had a much more difficult course load in my online learning than those in the classroom. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It did require many observations inside a traditional classroom. Discussion questions were very deep and required reading and personal experiences. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Taking classes online is definitely flexible. There were no set times I had to log in; it just had to be on 4 separate days of the week. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The university is located in Arizona and I am in Virginia, so I did not use the facilities or resources at the Arizona campus. They do have satellite offices throughout Virginia, and they were excellent. |
| Social Life | 4 | The social aspect was not a large focus, considering classmates were spread out across the country. Some even across the world! |
| Placement Services | I did not get the opportunity to use these services. | |
| Alumni Network | 7 | From what I've read, it is a pretty good alumni network. I have not had a chance to join yet. |
University Of Arizona • Tucson, AZ
Studying Education (completion in 2011)
• 3/23/2012
"I was satisfied because it allowed me to take the courses within a set amount of time. Most importantly, it fulfilled my needs to complete my degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, because the overall atmosphere is welcoming. People are not left alone. There is always help available whenever it is needed. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The reputation is very good, as indicated by the amount of students taking the courses. The school provides a wide range of courses from which to select a suitable one. Its schedule is also flexible, according to the needs of the students. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Well-reputed university staffed with knowledgeable, helpful instructors who were able to provide a high-quality course curriculum with plenty of opportunity for exploration. |
| Instruction | 8 | The courses are designed with recent knowledge and research about education, which prepare the teacher with up-to-date work in the relevant field. The instructors were all experienced and knowledgeable. |
| How Difficult | 9 | There was a high demand of meeting the standard and criteria. Each week required more than 30 hours of work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They were a mix of both. The research study was often equipped with hands-on activities and computer/TV programs. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Since I was a working student, the schedules of the courses were suited to my own needs, as the department offered mainly evening courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There are tutors and study group support available. The professors were available in person as well as via email, and they responded promptly to any concern. |
| Social Life | 8 | The department organized symposiums and social parties on special occasions, to meet with the other members. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The career service is well equipped with experienced staff who always provide advice and help to find the best opportunities available. The job opportunities are well advertised. |
| Alumni Network | I know there is an association for alumni, but I am not sure about the activity, as I was never involved with it. |
Arizona State University • Tempe, AZ
Studying Education Leadership MA; Secondary Education Home Economics BAESE (completion in 2004)
• 3/22/2012
"The educational content was excellent. The bureaucracy in the admin area when it came time to graduate (both times!) was terrible. Example: I received a letter notifying me of the deadline to file for graduation for my master's degree one week after the deadline. It was postmarked 2 days after the deadline. I spent a lot of time down there and was told I could just graduate in the winter instead of summer's end. Of course, that would mean no pay increase for that school year - they couldn't have cared less and assumed no responsibility. They said it was my fault and were offended when I reminded them that I only graduate once or twice, while they deal with this every day; how would I know what the process is? I ended up spending another $400 to register for some junk credit, so I could graduate in August as originally planned."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | You can get a quality education at ASU, and you will be prepared to work. Just keep an eye on all the bureaucratic deadlines and such; the school does a poor job of informing you of such things. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Working in the industry, I find that new teachers who come out of ASU's education programs are prepared. That is the general opinion, at least in the Phoenix metro area. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I had outstanding professors for both my bachelor's and master's programs. The master's program teachers were mostly retired superintendents with a wealth of knowledge and insight. |
| Instruction | 10 | I was very pleased with the quality of instruction I received. What I learned was certainly relevant. The projects were relevant and rigorous. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I completed my master's degree in two years while working full-time. I had no free time at all; all my "extra" time was spent working on projects, reading and attending class. For my bachelor's degree, I had a great number of projects as well, and practice teaching activities. Lots of work, but I feel it made me a better teacher. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had a lot of reading, but the hands-on experiences made me a good teacher. There were many hands-on projects relevant to my majors. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There was reasonable flexibility when I completed my last program. I did have to go to more than one campus to complete a course on my program of study, which was inconvenient, but at least it was available in town. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Very nice facilities; they keep them updated. I have not utilized a tutor there in years, so I do not know how good they are now, but I had mixed experiences with them 20 years ago. |
| Social Life | 7 | There are many opportunities to socialize at the school. I worked during both degree programs, so I did not take advantage of everything, but there was always something to do. |
| Placement Services | I did not use their services for job placement. I have no idea how effective they are. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I receive emails and occasional mailings from ASU. I haven't utilized their support services. |
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