Could this bring a change in plans?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.

If I could be a professional student, I would. I would go back to school in a blink of an eye, if I had the time and the money (neither of which I have at this particular moment in time). What I wouldn’t give, though – to be a student again. I am one of those rarities that love to learn. (Guess that is the reader in me!)

I attended (and graduated) from a University in South West Florida to become an Elementary school teacher, but I quickly decided that I wanted to do more than stop at a bachelor’s degree. I either wanted to change careers, or I wanted to move up and earn my masters. Though the idea of having my masters did appeal to me much more than starting over again in a different career.  But to find a program of interest that could cater to my own (forever) changing schedule of being a mother of a toddler, and one baby on the way? Seemed almost impossible.

Before I found out I was pregnant again, I was saving up to continue my education. How, I planned on doing that as a stay at home mother (I had no clue). But I was determined. But – now that we have another being into the mix, it makes finding the time even much more difficult. If I want to go back to school, it is going to have to be completely virtual centered. I want to be able to study from home (when I have the time), and correspond with my instructors via the internet where it’s much more convenient.

The USC (University of Southern California) Rossier School of Education’s MAT at USC offers current educators (Yay, me!) and aspiring teachers the ability to earn their Master’s of Arts Degree in Teaching from their University while being able to do this all from the comfort of their own home. This is fantastic, considering I live on the other coast and would need something flexible. Curious, I went to their website to check out their program information on earning my Master’s degree.

The USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT at USC is a highly interactive online program that is also combined with field-based experiences provided to you in your own home location. On top of that, they also have a tuition reimbursement program. I loved the idea of going to school and earning my tuition money back. It’s almost as if you’re going to school for free.

This accelerated virtual program is completable in as little as 12 months, which makes the prospect of earning my Master’s even less of a “far off dream”. Even though you’re a virtual student, you’ll still be considered an actual student at the University of Southern California and be an official “Trojan”! Further research into the University showed me that this institution has a 100-year history of educating teachers to be agents of change; to be adaptable and eager to continue learning through out your teaching career, and to encourage the change in your students for the better. The University of Southern California Rossier School of Education was ranked the twenty-second in the United States and number nine among all private Universities by the United States News and World Report.

Taking courses from a distance allows you to learn from teachers all over the world, and in my case – it would allow me to learn the different methods from distinguished educators across the entire United States. Being a distant learner in this Education program would also give each student full University of Southern California student benefits, allowing them to participate in commencement ceremonies and obtain a free lifetime Alumni Association membership.

The program offered at the University of Southern California has increased my knowledge of virtual programs available for those wanting to continue their education, but unsure of how they will manage to fit it into their every day schedule. It’s nice to know there are options.