Engineering "Educator" Degree Programs

[Siri]

Originally Posted by Anupam Goli

I'm doing something very similar this fall with Georgia Tech and 1648's high school, where I will be a robotics coach/teaching assistant and be paid with a stipend. I'd definitely be interested in something like this in the future.

I feel like it would be beneficial to have some experience in industry before pursuing an education degree. While I've considered teaching in engineering as a potential career, the experience I get in industry will only build my base of knowledge to teach from. Perhaps this program could be a master's-degree program for the best effect?

This is how I feel about it. If you're coming at it from a teachers' college, this makes a lot of sense. You're recruiting people that want to go to a teacher's college into teaching engineering. (Which is good.)

I don't know that you'll pick up many would-be engineers this way, though. Or if you do, I'm afraid they might be disappointed. I'm not sure if this is part of your target audience, but if so, have you considered adding a master's degree program? Not immediately of course (take your time). A 2-year grad degree specifically for transitioning engineers into teacher certification could reach a very different but also good (arguably better, but I won't argue it here) audience. Or even a 5-year dual degree that finishes with a BSE and an teacher certification--that one I might've done myself.

Personally (so that you know this type of person exists): I used my undergrad to become published author in engineering curriculum development, to TA four courses, and to coach an FRC team while earning an honors dual degree in engineering and liberal arts. I'm now working for the university in engineering education development before I start teaching high school science with WorldTeach. This bachelor's is literally at the intersection of my passions and pursuits, and I never would've opted for it. I can't imagine giving up any part of my undergraduate engineering education, much less essentially half of it. I wouldn't be nearly as useful to students or society in the roles I want without those experiences. I intend to become a certified teacher as well, but not at the sacrifice of being an engineer. Whereas if you opened that master's degree program, I'd start looking for apartments in Georgia. (Is this UGA?)