{"id":898,"date":"2025-07-31T07:25:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T11:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/online\/?p=898"},"modified":"2025-08-01T11:08:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:08:09","slug":"a-non-traditional-path-to-an-advanced-degree-via-the-workplace-specialist-ii-license","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/online\/2025\/07\/a-non-traditional-path-to-an-advanced-degree-via-the-workplace-specialist-ii-license\/","title":{"rendered":"A Non-Traditional Path to an Advanced Degree Via the Workplace Specialist II License"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dalton Foley currently works for C4 Columbus Area Career Connection as a Precision Machining Technology Instructor. His interest in machining started in high school when he first joined the same C4 machining program as a sophomore. \u201cThrough [the C4 machining program], I had the opportunity to participate in school-to-work, which gave me on-the-job experience while I was still a student.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dalton reflects that this valuable experience helped him discover a career path he was passionate about and laid the foundation for his future. After over seven years in the industry as a toolmaker at a local machine shop and completing dual associates degrees at community college developing skills, Dalton was presented with the opportunity to return to the classroom as an instructor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This unexpected career shift was life-changing for Dalton as he discovered how rewarding it could be to work with students who, like him, were looking for direction and opportunity in areas where they had aptitude. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cStepping into the role of teacher has been one of the most rewarding decisions I\u2019ve ever made,\u201d Dalton says. \u201cNow, I\u2019m continuing that journey by working to become a better educator. Learning how to teach more effectively and support my students in new ways. Which is why I\u2019m currently pursuing a master\u2019s degree in Career and Technical Education.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Choosing to Pursue a Ball State Degree<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dalton admits that until 2024, he thought he had completed his formal education. Around that time he began to realize that he wanted to expand professionally, and that meant looking into more college courses. It was during this research that he discovered the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bsu.edu\/academics\/collegesanddepartments\/online\/academic-programs\/masters\/career-technical-education\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ball State master\u2019s degree in Career and Technical Education<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and his whole outlook was changed when he realized that he met the requirements for admission with his previous education and experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWhat made this opportunity possible,\u201d Dalton explains, \u201cwas my industry background and the experience I\u2019ve gained through teaching under a Workplace Specialist license. I don\u2019t hold a traditional undergraduate degree in education, and without my years of on the job training and teaching experience, I wouldn\u2019t have been eligible for a graduate program like this.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bsu.edu\/admissions\/graduate\/apply?dyno=masters-career-and-technical-education\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Workplace Specialist II <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">license with no earned degree <span class=\"ql-bg-yellow\">provides a pathway to admission into<\/span>\u00a0the MA in Career and Technical Education.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #54585a\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWhat made this opportunity possible was my industry background and the experience I\u2019ve gained through teaching under a Workplace Specialist license. I don\u2019t hold a traditional undergraduate degree in education, and without my years of on the job training and teaching experience, I wouldn\u2019t have been eligible for a graduate program like this.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How the CTE Program Influences Real-World Work<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dalton goes on to share that this unique program has opened doors and expanded his opportunities. \u201cI\u2019ve always been a strong supporter of non-traditional education, especially career paths like machining that are built around on-the-job training,\u201d he says. \u201cIn many fields, real-world, hands-on experience is just as important, if not more than, a postsecondary degree. That belief is what led me to pursue this master\u2019s degree.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dalton\u2019s why is this: \u201cI want to become a better educator for students who may be following those same non-traditional paths. This program helps me grow as a teacher, gives me better tools to support my students, network with similar professionals, and also opens up options for my own professional future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #54585a\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThis program helps me grow as a teacher, gives me better tools to support my students, network with similar professionals, and also opens up options for my own professional future.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When asked about how the program has directly affected the work that Dalton is doing, he explains: \u201cI\u2019ve taken bits and pieces from each Ball State course that I have taken, and applied them almost immediately in my classroom or within my department. Whether that be educational technology, suggestions from other professionals through discussion boards, feedback from the professors, leadership and research skills, structuring better lessons, etc.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #54585a\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI&#8217;ve taken bits and pieces from each Ball State course that I\u2019ve taken, and applied them almost immediately in my classroom or within my department.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dalton is proud to credit some of the past 8 years of success to his family, colleagues, local business partners, and administrators, as well as his mentor, Mr. Darin Johnson, a proud Ball State alum and professional associate of Dalton\u2019s. He also appreciated the help of his advisor, who helped him create a plan of study that was specific to his goals and provided valuable feedback throughout the program.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u201c[My advisor] is very knowledgeable about the program and prompt to answer any questions I have,\u201d Dalton shares.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He is proud of his degree because it was not easy to achieve while also working and being a parent and husband. \u201cMy wife backed me every step of the way,\u201d he says gratefully.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dalton Foley currently works for C4 Columbus Area Career Connection as a Precision Machining Technology Instructor. His interest in machining started in high school when he first joined the same C4 machining program as a sophomore. \u201cThrough [the C4 machining program], I had the opportunity to participate in school-to-work, which gave me on-the-job experience while [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":155,"featured_media":899,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[63,169,7,160,85,161],"class_list":["post-898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-student-and-faculty-stories","tag-career-and-technical-education","tag-cte","tag-masters","tag-masters-degree","tag-masters-in-career-and-technical-education","tag-online-masters-degree"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Non-Traditional Path to an Advanced Degree Via the Workplace Specialist II License - 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