Several
Ways for MK Teachers
to Take College Courses Without
Returning
to the US
With regard to MK teachers taking college hours without returning to the US, the following list is provided. If the hours are to be used for teacher recertification purposes or towards a college degree, the relevant institutions should be contacted to determine appropriateness.
1. During a conference
A college course taught during a conference is time efficient since those taking the course will have allocated time for the conference anyway. Participation in the course means MK teachers will be able to dialog with other teachers from different schools.
2. In-country university
MK teachers can attend a local university as long as those courses taken will transfer back to the US. The college or agency to whom you wish to transfer credit from these courses should be contacted beforehand to determine if they will indeed accept them.
3. Traditional distance education (correspondence course)
This type of distance education has been around a long time and as long as the teacher has the self-discipline to work on the course there are many course options. These courses use a combination of video tapes, audio tapes, CDs, and workbooks. Materials may sent by mail or taken as baggage by someone traveling to the school. Many universities have distance education courses of this nature. Examples include Seattle Pacific University and UCLA. Refer to Peterson's Guide for additional listings.
4. Web
With the coming of the World Wide Web distance education took a giant step forward. While web courses require the use of a computer to access the internet, many courses are available. In some locations access to the internet can be expensive and in others there will be no access at all. Please refer to Seattle Pacific University and UCLA and to Peterson's Guide for additional listings.
5. e-mail
Colleges that offer courses through use of e-mail (not the web) are limited. Prescott College in Arizona offers courses that lead primarily to a teaching credential.
6. School-designed courses
At least one university (Seattle Pacific University) permits teachers to design graduate level courses specific to their own needs and schools. These courses are taught by an approved instructor form SPU. Please contact TIS for more information.
7. Independent study
Some universities have independent study courses in which a contract is made between a student (MK teacher) and a professor. These courses are individualized for a specific request from a student. Teachers should contact a university with whom they have taken classes in the past and see if the university will permit an independent study course to be taken while the teacher remains on the mission field. Please contact TIS for more information.