Specifically, I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts, opinions, or touching personal anecdotes about the program at St. Mary’s College of California in Moraga: I’m looking at getting a credential there, but also experiencing a little bit of sticker-shock and am thus hoping that more independent information regarding quality of education, reputation, placement opportunities, etc, will help me rationalize it a bit. Thanks for any hot tips!
I just finished my first year of teaching, which involved monthly seminars at St. Mary’s as part of the credential clearing process. They market their program so intensively it’s a bit difficult to determine what the substance is, but I got to sit in on the action research presentations of several students and came away with the impression that their program is, well, typical.
As most hiring administrators will tell you, your credential program doesn’t mean much to them, it’s how you present yourself in an interview that matters. So, if their program offers something in the way of convenience to you then it might be worth considering, but don’t pay top dollar with the expectation that your investment will somehow pay off down the road. In other fields, the reputation of your school can strongly affect hiring opportunities. In education, no.