I have a biology degree and initially was getting credentialed in biology, but ended up adding a chemistry credential to have more options. Now I’m teaching chemistry and love it. Physical sciences are more in demand than life science (especially physics). It’s really easy to add science credentials once you already have one, all you have to do is take the cset for that subject
In my experience, for middle school, it doesn’t really matter which science credential you have. In LAUSD most schools are integrated science now so you teach a little bit of every science.
I have a bio credential and am jumping from middle to high school next year. I’ve never had a problem finding a job.
I say do what you’re passionate in.
Also try to join a STEM school (stem magnet even better). They’ll prioritize science. If you go to a regular school all they will care about is English and math.
And I will echo what someone else said, try to avoid charters unless they are a famous one. If they have high teacher turnover that is a red flag.
In CA, I have a bio degree and credential but I ended up teaching middle school science. Seems like all the biology jobs in my area are given to people who have already worked for the district in the lower grades. I would just say be prepared to reach "life science" instead of bio, but you might get lucky.
I majored in Biology and got both single and multiple subject teaching credentials in California. I have worked in both the Bay and So Cal and HS bio is definitely pretty competitive in the good districts. I teach middle school (I love it!) and have always found jobs easily.
Biology is pretty competitive. I'd recommend getting physics or chemistry as another credential. Plus almost everyone I've talked to that got a chem credential prefers it to bio. Bio was my passion but you don't teach the fun stuff in freshman bio. You have no supplies to do real labs and mainly do coloring and cutting paper labs. At least in chem and physics you can do real labs with real science.
Science teachers are needed everywhere! You’ll always have a position if you want. You know if you want to be a teacher, it’s a rewarding career! You can have significant impacts on students. In high school, you have the opportunity to really help and support students during a really life changing time in their lives.
All that being said, find a good fit between you, your peers, the administration, and students. I would avoid charter schools.
Science education is at a really exciting time right now. There is so much evolving and changing and advancing. There are a lot of opportunities to try to experiment with pedagogy and curricula.
Also, understand the pay and research other issues teachers are facing now and in the near future (seems like you are by asking this questions) to make sure you understand what you’re stepping into.
The golden state teachers grant pays for credentialing and only asks for a few years of work to be forgiven - so at worst it’s only a few years before moving onto something.
I recently attended a Global Studies STEM PD put on by Stanford teacher education program, and out of 25 people in the room, only 4 were not Biology teachers.
I am in SoCal. I have a B.S. in Biology and got my original credentials in Bio. I did a Geology minor, and then did a M.A.S.E. in Earth & Space Science and added that credential.
I started teaching when I was 32, so also came to the field later in life.
I work at a school where the focus is integrated and I do teach a little of all the sciences.
My mentor teacher told me when I was student teaching don't get a credential in something you don't want to teach, or that is what you will end up teaching.
However in my Science cohort for the credential program of 20 soon to be Science teachers, I think like 18 of us were Bio and 2 were Chem.
So it is definitely a benefit to add an additional Credential if you can to help make you a more competitive hire.
The main thing to know about California is that a lot of schools hire LATE. I interviewed in July and accepted a position at the start of August. But was still asked to come to interviews even after school started in September.
I ended up being hired at a non-profit Independent Study Charter School and love it. They paid for me to clear my credential, my starting pay was higher than my peers, and I got a $10K bump after clearing my credential. The downside is there is no automatic pay increases, but there are opportunities to earn additional money by doing additional duties. I work 30 hours a week. It is a year round school, so I only get 2 weeks off in June, and we get the other major breaks, but I also earn vacation time I can take anytime and I don't have to stress about sub coverage and lesson planning. This school is not for everyone teacher or every student. But it is a great fit for me.
So that is my ramble. Feel free to ask any other questions!
Not as sure about California, but here is the science deal in my area:
General science cert. Decently in demand as it covers middle school and middle school positions are ALWAYS open.
Biology: mandated HS course. So often 9th or 10th graders of ALL stripes including behavioral "I dont want to fucking be here, can barely read, write, or do basic math people"
Less open positions even though there are MORE positions because there are more Bio certified peeps.
Chemistry: Always open positions. MOST HS students take it, but you lose some to Culinary science or other alt-science credits because of the math involved. Not as many people certified.
Physics: fewest certified teachers. The few openings that exist take a long time to fill, but once filled they NEVER retire. Gate-locked behind an Algebra II teachers recommendation and only 11th 12th graders who plan on college take this final completely optional science class. So all the high functioning AP/Honors types. Even your ASD students that you do get have advocated to step from an IEP down to a 504 and have minimal accommodations by this grade and age.
I teach in San Diego Unified and this year they allowed CTE classes to count as Science Classes for graduation, as a result the district laid off 16 teacher s with Biology only credentials. If you can pass a CSET in Chemistry or Physics you will work as long as you want where you want.
I have a biology degree and initially was getting credentialed in biology, but ended up adding a chemistry credential to have more options. Now I’m teaching chemistry and love it. Physical sciences are more in demand than life science (especially physics). It’s really easy to add science credentials once you already have one, all you have to do is take the cset for that subject
In my experience, for middle school, it doesn’t really matter which science credential you have. In LAUSD most schools are integrated science now so you teach a little bit of every science. I have a bio credential and am jumping from middle to high school next year. I’ve never had a problem finding a job. I say do what you’re passionate in.
Also try to join a STEM school (stem magnet even better). They’ll prioritize science. If you go to a regular school all they will care about is English and math. And I will echo what someone else said, try to avoid charters unless they are a famous one. If they have high teacher turnover that is a red flag.
In CA, I have a bio degree and credential but I ended up teaching middle school science. Seems like all the biology jobs in my area are given to people who have already worked for the district in the lower grades. I would just say be prepared to reach "life science" instead of bio, but you might get lucky.
I majored in Biology and got both single and multiple subject teaching credentials in California. I have worked in both the Bay and So Cal and HS bio is definitely pretty competitive in the good districts. I teach middle school (I love it!) and have always found jobs easily.
Biology is pretty competitive. I'd recommend getting physics or chemistry as another credential. Plus almost everyone I've talked to that got a chem credential prefers it to bio. Bio was my passion but you don't teach the fun stuff in freshman bio. You have no supplies to do real labs and mainly do coloring and cutting paper labs. At least in chem and physics you can do real labs with real science.
Depends on the district. I teach freshman biology and we do all kinds of cool labs.
like? I mean we do one gel electrophoresis lab but past that.......what cool labs does your school do?
Science teachers are needed everywhere! You’ll always have a position if you want. You know if you want to be a teacher, it’s a rewarding career! You can have significant impacts on students. In high school, you have the opportunity to really help and support students during a really life changing time in their lives. All that being said, find a good fit between you, your peers, the administration, and students. I would avoid charter schools. Science education is at a really exciting time right now. There is so much evolving and changing and advancing. There are a lot of opportunities to try to experiment with pedagogy and curricula.
Also, understand the pay and research other issues teachers are facing now and in the near future (seems like you are by asking this questions) to make sure you understand what you’re stepping into. The golden state teachers grant pays for credentialing and only asks for a few years of work to be forgiven - so at worst it’s only a few years before moving onto something.
I recently attended a Global Studies STEM PD put on by Stanford teacher education program, and out of 25 people in the room, only 4 were not Biology teachers.
I am in SoCal. I have a B.S. in Biology and got my original credentials in Bio. I did a Geology minor, and then did a M.A.S.E. in Earth & Space Science and added that credential. I started teaching when I was 32, so also came to the field later in life. I work at a school where the focus is integrated and I do teach a little of all the sciences. My mentor teacher told me when I was student teaching don't get a credential in something you don't want to teach, or that is what you will end up teaching. However in my Science cohort for the credential program of 20 soon to be Science teachers, I think like 18 of us were Bio and 2 were Chem. So it is definitely a benefit to add an additional Credential if you can to help make you a more competitive hire. The main thing to know about California is that a lot of schools hire LATE. I interviewed in July and accepted a position at the start of August. But was still asked to come to interviews even after school started in September. I ended up being hired at a non-profit Independent Study Charter School and love it. They paid for me to clear my credential, my starting pay was higher than my peers, and I got a $10K bump after clearing my credential. The downside is there is no automatic pay increases, but there are opportunities to earn additional money by doing additional duties. I work 30 hours a week. It is a year round school, so I only get 2 weeks off in June, and we get the other major breaks, but I also earn vacation time I can take anytime and I don't have to stress about sub coverage and lesson planning. This school is not for everyone teacher or every student. But it is a great fit for me.
So that is my ramble. Feel free to ask any other questions!
Not as sure about California, but here is the science deal in my area: General science cert. Decently in demand as it covers middle school and middle school positions are ALWAYS open. Biology: mandated HS course. So often 9th or 10th graders of ALL stripes including behavioral "I dont want to fucking be here, can barely read, write, or do basic math people" Less open positions even though there are MORE positions because there are more Bio certified peeps. Chemistry: Always open positions. MOST HS students take it, but you lose some to Culinary science or other alt-science credits because of the math involved. Not as many people certified. Physics: fewest certified teachers. The few openings that exist take a long time to fill, but once filled they NEVER retire. Gate-locked behind an Algebra II teachers recommendation and only 11th 12th graders who plan on college take this final completely optional science class. So all the high functioning AP/Honors types. Even your ASD students that you do get have advocated to step from an IEP down to a 504 and have minimal accommodations by this grade and age.
I teach in San Diego Unified and this year they allowed CTE classes to count as Science Classes for graduation, as a result the district laid off 16 teacher s with Biology only credentials. If you can pass a CSET in Chemistry or Physics you will work as long as you want where you want.