Additional career options in education are now available through a new graduate level degree program at Samford University.
The Alabama State Department of Education and Samford’s board of trustees both recently approved a “fifth-year” non-traditional secondary graduate program (FYNT) for the Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies.
The FYNT program is designed for graduates of an accredited university who already have a B.A. or B.S. degree with a certifiable major in a core teaching field and desire to earn a Class A teaching certificate to teach at the secondary level of education (grades 6-12).
Samford will offer degree options in biology, English, language arts, general science, history, math, social science and Spanish. The first cohort is scheduled to begin this summer, and applications for admission are available now, said Jodi Newton, Samford’s associate education dean
“We believe the program will be especially attractive to students who have just completed their undergraduate degree in one of these fields and wish to continue at Samford or come from another institution to get a master’s degree,” Newton said. “Because the courses will be in the evenings, we think the degree will attractive to those who have been in another field for a number of years but are interested in becoming teachers.”
The Fifth-Year Non Traditional Secondary Graduate Program (FYNT) accommodates those working part-time or full-time, including those currently teaching with provisional certificates, Newton added. Courses are offered in late afternoon, evening or Saturdays.
“The shortage of math and science teachers has made programs like this very attractive,” Newton said. “The state is providing provisional certification for anyone admitted to this type of program so they can begin teaching while completing the program.”
Samford also offers fifth-year programs in early childhood and elementary education, as well as music education.
For more information about FYNT, contact Ashley Cacioppo, recruitment coordinator at fynt@samford.edu or (205) 726-2947.