Requirements To Teach Math at a Community College

<p>When considering the requirements you have to meet to become a teacher, most people will consider the steps to become a public school teacher rather than a college professor. But what if you want to become a math teacher at a community college instead of a public school or university? </p> <p>The requirements to teach math at a community college include a master's degree in math, math education, or a related discipline, at least one year of teaching experience, and the mastery of specific soft skills that help people interact with students and the public. </p> <p>Below, we break down the ins and outs of these requirements and how you can best meet them. </p> <h2 id="section---TheRequirementsYouNeedToMeetToTeachMathAtACommunityCollege">The Requirements You Need to Meet to Teach Math at a Community College</h2> <p>The three main requirements you need to meet to teach math at a community college are educational, experiential, and skill-based. </p> <p>Much like teaching at any other level, it's important that you get a degree that can help you succeed, teaching experience to be sure you want to and can handle a classroom, and the skills to help you navigate stressful and unexpected situations. </p> <p>Take a look at the options for master's degrees, a year or more of teaching experience, and ways to build your soft skills so you can meet all the requirements to teach math at a community college today. </p> <h3 id="section---TheIdealEducationForACommunityCollegeMathTeacher">The Ideal Education for a Community College Math Teacher</h3> <p>The proper degree is the first requirement for teaching math at a community college. </p> <p>In general, a math teacher would want to have either a master's degree in math or a master's degree in teaching. A <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Masters_Degrees_for_Math_Teachers_Your_Salary_and_Career_Questions_Answered.html">master's in math education</a> would be ideal but isn't required. </p> <p>Degrees related to communication, administration, or math can be helpful for future math teachers, specifically when completing their bachelor's degree. </p> <p>From there, it's important to perform graduate education and math courses either through a teaching program or by pursuing a master's or doctorate degree in the subject. Some positions require you to complete a minimum amount of graduate credits in math before you can teach at the college level. </p> <p>A combination of math and teaching degrees is ideal for someone who wants to teach math at a community college, but you can be just as effective by completing an advanced math degree and some form of teaching certification or licensure program. </p> <h3 id="section---ExperienceRequirementsForCommunityCollegeMathTeachers">Experience Requirements for Community College Math Teachers</h3> <p>The experience requirements that you have to meet to teach math at a community college differ depending on the community college you intend to teach at. </p> <p>Most community colleges require you to have a year or more of teaching experience that can come from student teaching experiences, a different teaching position, or even from teaching at a different community college. </p> <p>Some community colleges may prefer for candidates to have math or community college teaching experience specifically, whereas others may not be so strict. </p> <p>With that in mind, it's best to complete the student teaching requirements for your teaching program and then work as a teacher in a different setting - a daycare, a public school, a church school, or a private school - for at least a year before attempting to apply for community college math teaching positions. </p> <p>You can also get a leg up by completing additional <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_is_a_Teaching_Certificate.html">certifications in teaching</a> or your subject area - this gives you greater education and experience to put on your resume. </p> <h3 id="section---AdditionalCertificationsInMathAndTeaching">Additional Certifications in Math and Teaching</h3> <p>While you aren't required to get certifications to teach at a community college level, the more you prove yourself, the better your chances of obtaining a job are. </p> <p>Many colleges offer graduate certificates in math or math teaching to help you meet education requirements and boost your skills before you move on to more advanced teaching positions. </p> <p>Math specialist certifications allow you to teach certain levels of math while teaching certifications allow you to teach certain age groups or work in more advanced positions. </p> <p>By pursuing additional certifications in the subject you plan to teach, and in teaching in general, you ensure you meet and surpass the requirements to teach math at a community college before you start seeking work. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantSkillsForCommunityCollegeTeachersToCultivate">Important Skills for Community College Teachers to Cultivate</h3> <p>In addition to the education and experience requirements to teach math at a community college, many two-year institutions will look for important soft skills that make it easier to work in learning environments or with the public. </p> <p>Soft skills that an aspiring math teacher should cultivate include: </p> <ul><li>verbal and written communication </li><li>time management </li><li>organization </li><li>leadership </li><li>teamwork </li><li>patience </li></ul><p>All of these skills pertain to dealing with the public and keeping your mind and workspace on schedule, which is important for an aspiring community college teacher to know how to do before they start working with students. </p> <p>While you aren't required to have all of these skills to teach math at a community college, being able to display your mastery of them will give you a leg up in applications and ensure your work goes smoothly once you're hired. </p> <h2 id="section---GetReadyToTeachAtACommunityCollegeToday">Get Ready to Teach at a Community College Today</h2> <p>Now that you know the requirements for teaching math at a community college that you have to meet before you can begin teaching, it's time to work toward meeting them. </p> <p>Learn.org can help you get the education you need to teach math at a community college today.</p>