Better to have a Bachelors or Masters

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Better to have a Bachelors or Masters

by sam

Mar 17, 2010

I have heard both sides the first one being that to start teaching with your Bachelors degree first (get your foot in the door, plus you cost less for a district to hire you. I have also heard get your Masters first sets you apart from everyone in this tight competitive job market in Ohio. I am going for Early Childhood. I would be fine with going the extra mile and getting my Masters degree right away if it wound not hurt my chances of being hired as a first time teacher as I hear (they do cost more to hire).What do you guys think???? I am so confused??

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Old teach On 3/17/10, sam wrote: > I have heard both sides the first one being that to start > teaching with your Bachelors degree first (get your foot in > the door, plus you cost less for a district to hire you. I > have also heard get your Masters first sets you apart from > everyone in this tight competitive job market in Ohio. I am > ...See MoreOn 3/17/10, sam wrote: > I have heard both sides the first one being that to start > teaching with your Bachelors degree first (get your foot in > the door, plus you cost less for a district to hire you. I > have also heard get your Masters first sets you apart from > everyone in this tight competitive job market in Ohio. I am > going for Early Childhood. I would be fine with going the > extra mile and getting my Masters degree right away if it > wound not hurt my chances of being hired as a first time > teacher as I hear (they do cost more to hire).What do you > guys think???? I am so confused??

I have to go with the Bachelor's for three reasons:

1. You will be cheaper to hire. As much as systems like to have teachers with advanced degrees, in this tight economy, they just can't afford them, esp. smaller systems. You may be pricing yourself out of a good portion of the job market.

2. If you get hired first, most school systems have course reimbursement. That means the majority, if not all, of your course work will be covered by your employer. This is a significant cost savings to you. The downside of this is that you will be trying to teach and do course work at the same time, which can get very, very stressful. You have to have excellent time-management skills to pull it off.

3. A Master's program will have much more meaning to you if you have a few years experience under your belt. However good a college's program may be, nothing beats actual experience.

My recommendation is that you get a job first. Teach for three years, which gets you through both tenure and the stress of being a "newbie". Then apply for a Master's program. Your employer will pay for it and you will have a better understanding of what you are doing with some experience under your belt. Also keep in mind that many Masters programs will not accept you without a minimum of experience. Also, you may have a better understanding of what you want to pursue in your Masters program- Reading Specialist, Curriculum, Administration, etc.

Mar 20, 2010

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Eric On 3/17/10, sam wrote: > I have heard both sides the first one being that to start > teaching with your Bachelors degree first (get your foot in > the door, plus you cost less for a district to hire you. I > have also heard get your Masters first sets you apart from > everyone in this tight competitive job market in Ohio. I am > ...See More

Mar 28, 2010

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test, ignore On 3/18/10, Pam wrote: > I would say start looking with your Bachelor's Degree and > wait to get your Master's. Like you said, many districts > HAVE to pay you more money if you have a Master's degree. If > you have a Masters with no experience in the classroom other > than student teaching and are up against someone with a > Bach...See More

Apr 7, 2010

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