Résumé or M.A.?
At some point
on the journey to graduation, you will have to decide whether your senior
year will find you filling out a résumé or graduate school
application. Some students may do both. How do you weigh the options?
It depends on you. Take a look at your financial and family situations, along with licensure requirements for the state in which you plan to teach. Also consider your level of enthusiasm for more coursework versus your eagerness to begin teaching. Mary C. Clement, an associate professor at Georgia’s Berry College and a longtime mentor of new teachers, recommends going for your master’s degree “when you have the opportunity.”
Now
or Later?
Because having a master’s degree usually means a higher pay scale,
some teachers-to-be are concerned that the advanced degree could deter
administrators from hiring them, which can be a valid concern, especially
with shrinking district budgets. Yet, having a master’s under your
belt when you begin teaching allows you to concentrate on your students,
rather than being torn between your studies and preparing class lessons
in your second year or later.
Many preservice teachers want to continue schooling while still in the groove of studying. If the state in which you plan to teach requires a master’s degree early in the career, you may find it less stressful to earn the advanced degree before the hectic pace of full-time teaching. In her professional experience, Clement has talked with many secondary candidates who choose to go for the M.A. immediately after the B.A. because they believe they will feel more confident in their subject area with the additional courses.
Other ConsiderationsAs with many career decisions, when deciding on the timing for graduate school, you will want to take into account personal obligations and ambitions, as well as professional requirements and expectations. No matter what your state demands for continuing education, Clement advises placing “obtaining a master’s degree” on your professional To Do list. She suggests asking practicing teachers, administrators, and professors you know about when to pursue graduate work: “List their reasons for starting a master’s immediately and the reasons to wait three years.” You have to decide what’s best for you, but here are some reasons you may wish to wait a few years:
| • | The first few years of teaching are very busy, especially if you become involved in extracurricular duties, as often happens with new teachers. |
| • | After several years of teaching, you may feel that you have “mastered” the basics and are ready to study more theory behind the practice. |
| • | Attending graduate classes can be rejuvenating. |
| • | Your teaching experiences may direct you to pursue a specific concentration or to go into administration. |
Going for the M.A.
If you decide to continue “hitting the books” right after graduation, good advisement is a must, according to Clement. “Consider the college’s reputation, accreditation standing, types of programs it offers, and its accessibility from your workplace.”
Once you’ve determined that you’re ready to go on to graduate school, you will want to find one that fits your personal and professional needs. When looking into a master’s program, Clement suggests keeping the following questions in mind:
| • | Are there any short-term weekend classes? |
| • | What are the evening and summer course offerings? |
| • | Will the program stress research only or include practical classes in advanced teaching methods? |
| • | What do former students say about the program? |
| • | Is it possible to add an administrative certificate to my teaching certificate with this master’s? |
| • | Are there cohort groups for student support in this program? |
| • | What financial aid is available? |
About this Article
“Résumé or M.A.?” was adapted by Student Teacher Advocate editor Karen Allen from an article written by Mary C. Clement for Kappa Delta Pi’s New Teacher Advocate. Clement is a member of KDP’s Rho Upsilon Chapter and a longtime contributor to KDP publications.