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Hello! I'm currently an undergraduate student and will be receiving my B.A. in June, after which I intend to enroll in either a teaching credential program or a joint credential/M.A.T. program. The problem is, I'm hearing conflicting information regarding the benefits and downsides of starting a teaching career with a master's degree vs. only a bachelor's. My husband thinks that I would have a better chance of being hired if I only had a bachelor's, seeing as how the school would rather pay less for a teacher with a B.A. instead of having to pay a higher salary for a teacher with a master's degree under their belt. However, the M.A.T. description on my prospective school's website says that the M.A.T. degree provides graduates "with cutting-edge and specialized knowledge and skills that are valued by their employers, (and they) are recognized as teacher leaders".
Also, I've heard that it is easier to get one's M.A.T. before starting a teaching career, as I have heard horror stories of people who struggled with night classes plus their career and family responsibilities. The joint credential/M.A.T. program at the school I'm applying to only lasts 5 quarters (a regular school year plus 2 summer sessions), whereas the credential program takes only one year.
So, any advice/experiences/knowledge as to whether a Master of Arts in Teaching would be more beneficial than restrictive/unnecessary? Also, would having the Master's degree hinder me from starting my teaching career as opposed to starting out with a bachelor's? Thanks in advance!
I have heard that having a Master's can hurt you just starting out, because of the pay, but I have never seen that happen in my area. I will say this much, I gleaned so much more from my Master's because I was already teaching. I really think the instruction you receive will go alot further with a good frame of reference to draw from. So, I would take classes and work. Also, if you are teaching, some states will pay for your classes. My state paid for my Master's degree.
In most districts your position on the salary schedule is determined by your educational level and years of service, plus other factors like additional education credits earned while working for the district, many of which they will pay for you to earn.
Hello! I'm currently an undergraduate student and will be receiving my B.A. in June, after which I intend to enroll in either a teaching credential program or a joint credential/M.A.T. program. The problem is, I'm hearing conflicting information regarding the benefits and downsides of starting a teaching career with a master's degree vs. only a bachelor's. My husband thinks that I would have a better chance of being hired if I only had a bachelor's, seeing as how the school would rather pay less for a teacher with a B.A. instead of having to pay a higher salary for a teacher with a master's degree under their belt. However, the M.A.T. description on my prospective school's website says that the M.A.T. degree provides graduates "with cutting-edge and specialized knowledge and skills that are valued by their employers, (and they) are recognized as teacher leaders".
Also, I've heard that it is easier to get one's M.A.T. before starting a teaching career, as I have heard horror stories of people who struggled with night classes plus their career and family responsibilities. The joint credential/M.A.T. program at the school I'm applying to only lasts 5 quarters (a regular school year plus 2 summer sessions), whereas the credential program takes only one year.
So, any advice/experiences/knowledge as to whether a Master of Arts in Teaching would be more beneficial than restrictive/unnecessary? Also, would having the Master's degree hinder me from starting my teaching career as opposed to starting out with a bachelor's? Thanks in advance!
Are you familiar with No Child Left Behind? If you are not, it's the profoundly idiotic education law that was passed a few year ago and one of the key provisions is that all teachers must be "highly qualified." This means different things, but I'll explain to you how it pertains to me because I did what you are considering.
In college, I double majored in Chemistry and Mathematics and during my junior year, I decided that I wanted to be a teacher. I went to a private college (Tulane) and the program is not designed the way an education major would be at a public university. There, you have to finish your major before you actually begin the student teaching process. Student teaching is done one of two ways at Tulane, you finish your degree requirements and the following semester is the semester you student teach OR you spend one year as a teacher (with pay) and you receive assistance from an experience teacher. It was my intention to do the latter, but my partner was offered a position in Philadelphia and I decided to forgo that.
I knew I wanted to be a teacher, but since we moved unexpectedly, I didn't have the chance to apply to any graduate school programs. So, for the first year I worked, and I applied to the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova, and Temple. I ended up choosing UPenn and it is a one year program that I started this past summer. I will graduate with a Master of Science in Education with concentrations in Science and Mathematics in May.
Most education programs are now requiring future high school teachers to complete a major in a subject in addition to completing the education program. This is part of the highly qualified provision of No Child Left Behind. Which is why a lot of teachers that have been teaching for years have been going back to school to get a masters degree. I'm originally from Alabama and I know of some teachers (without tenure) who lost their teaching positions because of this. So, yes, it is beneficial for you to hgave a masters degree before teaching. It's very common. Also, depending on where you plan to settle, it's essentially non-optional.
Lastly, as someone said earlier, if you have only a AB or SB, you will hit a ceiling. Normally, the ceiling starts over for each degree one attains or for every 10 hours of graduate coursework undertaken. (For instance, one you attain a MA your salary schedule starts over, then if you attain another MA you will earn more but still be on the same schedule. If you attain an educational specialist Ed.S., you will start a new schedule, and finally if you earn a Ph.D. or Ed.D. you will be on the last (and best) salary schedule.)
For me, I don't really have a choice, we live in a highly desirable area and the students are high achievers - which creates a more competitive environment for the teachers. Not to mention I also plan to get eventually earn a Ph.D.
If you can get your teaching certificate as an undergrad, do it. The workload to get a Master's is not quick. You can always pursue the MAT in your own time, while teaching (and earning an income). Given different states' requirements and the comparative complexity of getting through at the Master's level (time commitment, not necessarily difficulty of work), I'd go for the quickest receipt of certification possible. THe bar seems to be lower at the undergraduate level.
Do you know where you'd like to teach? If so, I'd suggest contacting their HR department and asking what their typical hiring profile is.
I don't think you stated what subject you intend to teach. Obviously, some positions (math, science, special ed) are harder to fill, so if you're going for one of these areas (rather than something like English or social studies), it'll probably be easier to find a job with just a B.A.
If you can get your teaching certificate as an undergrad, do it. The workload to get a Master's is not quick. You can always pursue the MAT in your own time, while teaching (and earning an income). Given different states' requirements and the comparative complexity of getting through at the Master's level (time commitment, not necessarily difficulty of work), I'd go for the quickest receipt of certification possible. THe bar seems to be lower at the undergraduate level.
This is a lot of misinformation. Teaching full-time and attending graduate school is not the best situation. If you're able to get a masters and a credential in one year, then I would advise you to go that route. I assume that because you live in Orange County, you will also be teaching there. If that is the case, get your masters, they can afford to pay you. Again, school systems want thebest prepared teachers in the classroom.
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