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Interdisciplinary Studies IST Advising |
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Sample Rationale Liberal Studies |
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Ever since I was a little girl, I have wanted to be a teacher. After graduating from Davidson High School in 1989, I began my academic career at the University of South Alabama (USA). I left USA in 1995 because I became pregnant with my first child and wanted to spend as much time with my new baby as possible. I returned to USA in 2004 only to become pregnant again with my second child in 2005, so I once again put my education on hold to spend time with my new baby. I returned to USA in 2007 and will finish my degree this time. I was originally an Early Childhood Education major, but decided Secondary English/Language Arts was my passion. I inquired about the Adult Degree Program and realized this program would allow me to obtain a Bachelor of Arts Degree, which will prepare me to pursue an Alternative Master’s Degree Program in Secondary English/Language Arts. With my master’s, I will be able to be an effective English teacher in the Mobile County Public Schools System. My educational goals can be fulfilled through the Adult Degree Program. The knowledge and skills I have acquired through my courses at USA will prepare me not only to enter the Alternative Master’s Program, but a proficient educator as well. I have chosen the concentration Liberal Studies. My disciplines are English, education and history. These disciplines will provide me with the skills necessary to excel in the Alternative Master Program and in my profession as an educator. The English courses I have taken at USA are essential to my succeeding in graduate school and being able to effectively teach my students. The writing courses that I have taken at USA have provided me the skills necessary to communicate in writing to teachers, students and parents. Proper grammar, punctuation use, and rhetoric are fundamental aspects of effective writing that I feel able to teach students. Also, the classes I have taken in American and British Literature, Shakespeare, and Literary Criticism have given me exposure to a broad spectrum of different types of literature and an appreciation of different types of writing. Hopefully, I will be able to think of creative ways to teach the different types of literature and different styles of writing to my students, and they will develop not only an understanding of literature but a passion for it as well. The history courses I have taken at USA have given me the skills needed to understand the past and have provided me with a basic understanding of not only American history, but the history of other countries as well. History provides a unique opportunity for people to understand how what happened in the past has shaped what is happening today. History is also related to literature in that history tells a story; therefore, I can present history in a way that the students can appreciate it and make it more exciting by combining history and literature of the same period for insights into both. History also provides an understanding of different cultures, which is relevant for a teacher who will encounter students of different ethnic backgrounds. In order to be an effective teacher, I must have a good understanding of historical events and be prepared to pass that understanding on to my students. The education courses I have completed at USA have provided me with the tools to effectively relate to others and to understand potential problems with students. The courses in human growth and the young child have given me a clear understanding of how children mature and develop. These courses assisted me in comprehending social and human behavior. These courses have provided the means for me to determine if a child has a developmental problem and to know how to take the necessary action to correct the problem. I have learned how to identify and work with not only special education students, but with exceptional children as well. The courses at USA which required me to go into classrooms and observe and interact with children gave me hands on experience and solidified my desire to become a teacher. After receiving my Bachelor of Arts Degree, I plan to enroll in the Alternative Master’s Program-Secondary English/Language Arts. I will combine all of the knowledge I have received from my three disciplines, English, history and education, and use these skills to be an effective teacher in the Mobile County Public Schools System. |
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