As part of President Barack Obama's call for states to hire more qualified teachers, Jackson State University in Mississippi has announced the launch of a new online masters degree program for educators looking to add an advanced degree to their resume. The program, set to get underway in the spring, will focus on expanding and enhancing alternative certification through state approved teaching programs and learning curriculum through the school's college of education and human development. Dr. Mark G. Hardy, vice president and provost of the academic affairs for Jackson State, said the addition of a master of arts in teaching degree to a resume can help teachers advance in their careers within the kindergarten through grade 12 public school system. "America needs more qualified teachers and we, at Jackson State, are happy to provide them," Hardy noted. "We are continuing our long-standing tradition of preparing some of our country's best educators." The program requires that students complete 36 credit hours. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for teachers are expected to grow by 13% through the end of the decade. |