AboutJames J. Kovalcin Expertise I am teaching or have taught AP physics B and C [calculus based mechanics & electricity and magnetism] as well as Lab Physics for college bound students. I have a BS in Physics from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Arts in Teaching from same. I have been teaching physics for 27 years.
Question QUESTION: I am currently a sophomore at UC Berkeley double majoring in Physics and Astrophysics. It has always been my dream to become a high school teacher, preferably teaching higher grades (11 or 12) calculus and/or physics. However, I have also desired to get a doctorate in my field of studies: astrophysics.
So I guess I have several questions. Will getting a Ph.D. help with job opportunities and salaries in the high school levels, or will I be seen as overqualified? Do you know what the starting salaries would be for someone with my education in the California area? Also, I'm not sure when I'm suppose to go for my teaching credential, is it when I'm still doing my first four years, or when I'm out of school?
Thank you very much for your time,
Patrick
ANSWER: I think that most good suburban districts will be very happy to have a PhD on their staffs, but they won't really pay much for the bragging rights. In my school district in New Jersey the PhD would give you maybe $2000 per year more than what I get with a masters. Economically its a waste in public education. As for opportunities it, again, will not matter very much because that are many school districts throughout the US in need of qualified physics teachers - such jobs are relatively plentiful.
Salaries at the starting level in California are probably somewhere around $50K. This can vary dramatically from district to district. It is not unusual for starting salaries in a given geographic area to vary by a factor of 2 to 1!
The NCLB Federal Law literally requires that nearly all new teachers have a degree in their subtract area. My best suggestion is to complete your undergraduate degree in physics and then pursue a masters degree in education if you wish to teach at the secondary school level.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Wow, thanks a lot for the information.
So about the NCLB, you think I should not go for a PhD in astro but rather a BS in it then a masters in Education?
O, also, I thought I would like to teach high school during the school year, but then during the summer teach at a local community college. Do you think that is possible?
Sorry for the questions, I'm new to this.
Answer Yes, get the BS in the subject area then the Masters.
The standards for community college are VERY different. Their concern will be that you have AT LEAST a masters in the subject area! In any case, teaching in the summer is possible, but more interesting to many community colleges in that you be able to teach during the school year at night. I would expect that there would be many more such openings.
