 The One Day Masters Degree at UB
By Beth Bruno
© 1999
Earn a graduate degree and teacher certification in two years..…one day a week (9:30am-2:30pm), no nights, no weekends, no kidding!
The University of Bridgeport’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Stamford Riverbend campus, in cooperation with the School of Education and Human Resources, has a new teacher certification program with a growing enrollment. The program has been so well received by working professionals eyeing career change, that for the first time classes will form in September on both the main Bridgeport campus and the Stamford campus. One of the prerequisites for admission is a Bachelor’s Degree.
Rhonda Ginsberg of Stamford was thrilled when she heard about The one-day-a-week degree program. "I searched everywhere for a graduate program in teaching that would fit into my family and work life," she said, "but most required late afternoon and evening classes and travel to satellite campuses."
Ms. Ginsberg had worked in the computer field for 25 years, the last seven of those years as the owner and founder of a computer consulting business. During her consulting years she began volunteering in the schools, first as a math/science tutor and later as a parent-teacher for the "Learning to Look" program, sponsored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Working with individual students, especially those with challenging learning problems, captivated her interest, both personally and professionally. Rhonda plans to teach 4th or 5th grade after graduation. Later she may continue her studies in the field of special education. Kris Kevela & Rhonda Ginsberg 
"The schools need teachers like us," Rhonda commented. "We’re professionals with maturity and life experience. We have families and knowledge about learning problems just from raising our own kids. Its good for my sons to see me back in school and studying hard, yet they also see that mom’s still available to them."
Kris Kivela of New Milford entered the certification program after working many years as a senior financial analyst. Her job involved extensive travel and long hours that didn’t mesh well with marriage and a growing family. "In the business world, people were treated too much like machines," she said. "I liked the atmosphere in the schools much better."
These days Kris teaches piano lessons in her home studio to 19 students. "I discovered that I love teaching children and seeing the light click on in their eyes," she said. "Finding this program is making a dream come true for me." Wednesday-only classes in Stamford make it possible for Kris to continue working and studying around her family’s hectic schedule. She spends about 15 hours a week outside of class on homework assignments. Classes are on Tuesdays at the main Bridgeport campus.
Rhonda and Kris especially appreciate the quality of instruction and the supportive, proactive role that student advisors take in helping them map out their two-year class schedule and identifying possible placements for student teaching.
For a master’s degree, students must accumulate 33 credit hours. Following completion of all coursework, the Connecticut Department of Teacher Certification requires 12 weeks of full-time, supervised student teaching, six credit hours not included in the MS degree.
This particular degree/teacher certification program leads to elementary or secondary certification. In the elementary certification program, all classes are offered one day a week between 9:30am and 2:30pm on both campuses. Students who pursue secondary certification are required to take some of their courses in a chosen field of concentration, such as math, science, English or history, courses which may only be offered in the late afternoon or evening. The Stamford Riverbend campus, which opened 14 years ago and offers classes seven days a week, provides library and computer facilities and a student/faculty bookstore.
The University of Bridgeport offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate degree and professional programs at the main campus and at satellite campuses in Stamford, Waterbury, North Haven and Trumbull. Weekend graduate degree programs also exist in the fields of business, computer science, counseling and human resources.
For further information about this and other programs, visit our website at www.bridgeport.edu.
Or call directly to:
Sharon Klebe, Executive Director of the Stamford Campus
PO Box 4585
5 Riverbend Drive
Stamford, CT 06907-0585
Telephone: 203-358-0700
Fax: 203-967-3735
Email:klebe@bridgeport.edu
Office of Admissions
University of Bridgeport
126 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06601
Email:amdit@bridgeport.edu
Telephone: 203-576-4558
Toll-free number: 1-800-392-3582
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