Master's in Elementary Ed, worth it?

[weisr2002]

My girlfriend is going back to school and is debating this seriously right now, so I thought I would ask the fanatics.

Option 1: Second bachelor's degree from ISU in the field of Elementary Education with a Special Ed endorsement. Timeframe 2.5 years. Would be commuting from DSM to Ames everyday.

Option 2: Drake offers a program where you can get your bachelor's and masters concurrently. Timeframe is 2.5 years also for the Master's and special ed endorsement. Total cost of the 2.5 years will be about $12,000 more than ISU. (This program charges tuition a little different that the regular Drake programs)

My question is whether the master's degree is worth the cost. I have heard some schools are reluctant to hire master's degrees, because they have to pay them a higher salary. She is really worried about getting a job since her first degree failed in that aspect.

Anyone have any experience with the school systems? With the special ed endorsement being a high need area, imaybe the master's will be worth it. Also does financial aid pay you more if your school is more expensive?

She is definately more excited about going after a master's rather than a second bachelor's, having trouble coping with the fact her first degree (Fashion Design) is worthless in central Iowa.

 

[CycloneErik]

Check with the Financial Aid office at Drake. They would have more info about how much of that 12k could be absorbed through grants or whatever.

 

[cloneswereall]

My girlfriend is going back to school and is debating this seriously right now, so I thought I would ask the fanatics.

Option 1: Second bachelor's degree from ISU in the field of Elementary Education with a Special Ed endorsement. Timeframe 2.5 years. Would be commuting from DSM to Ames everyday.

Option 2: Drake offers a program where you can get your bachelor's and masters concurrently. Timeframe is 2.5 years also for the Master's and special ed endorsement. Total cost of the 2.5 years will be about $12,000 more than ISU. (This program charges tuition a little different that the regular Drake programs)

My question is whether the master's degree is worth the cost. I have heard some schools are reluctant to hire master's degrees, because they have to pay them a higher salary. She is really worried about getting a job since her first degree failed in that aspect.

Anyone have any experience with the school systems? With the special ed endorsement being a high need area, imaybe the master's will be worth it. Also does financial aid pay you more if your school is more expensive?

She is definately more excited about going after a master's rather than a second bachelor's, having trouble coping with the fact her first degree (Fashion Design) is worthless in central Iowa.

Most schools are reluctant to hire a first year teacher that high up on the pay scale because it's their first year. She might be able to find one willing to roll the dice, but with the budget cuts, I'd be pretty hesitant with it. I'd probably ask Drake what their placement rates are for people in her situation going that route.

 

[heyguy85]

Some districts only hire teachers with Masters. Many other districts are hesistant to hire teachers with their Masters because of the cost. The better the school district, the more likely it will be that she gets hired with her Masters.

 

[everyyard]

an old rule of thumb was as a teacher don't get any more education until you are already hired in the job you plan to stay in. not sure if it still holds but certainly in rural schools a masters degree on someone you are looking at as a new hire is only going to be seen as an expensive hire.

 

[Naughtius]

Have her get the BA first. My wife teaches, and with many districts struggling financially, they'll take the cheaper BA over the more experienced/educated MA out of necessity. Then go get the MA ASAP.

 

[CydeOut]

Definitely BA first, get a job, then work the Master's.

 

[CoachBob]

Make sure she has a reading endorsement or she will limit herself either way.

I say do it while you are young, somebody will hire her especially if she is considering larger districts. Many schools in other states offer 5 year masters programs, so if she is going somewhere else besides Iowa it may be a disadvantage not to have it.

I have served on several hiring committees and the elementary positions are always tough.. You may be sorting through 200 apps----- a reading endorsement, willing to coach something (including speech, drama, cheerleading etc) and a Masters may get you into the call back pile.

 

[Tre4ISU]

Is this for real? Someone with a Masters may not get hired because they are more qualified and have to be paid more?

 

[CycloneErik]

Is this for real? Someone with a Masters may not get hired because they are more qualified and have to be paid more?

That kind of thing is real in plenty of areas. It's a consideration they have to look at.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

Is this for real? Someone with a Masters may not get hired because they are more qualified and have to be paid more?

Budget cutbacks in education.

 

[CycloneErik]

Pricing yourself out of the market is a very real consideration.

 

[mj4cy]

My wife (who has her bachelors and masters in elem education) says it might depend on what she wants to teach. Not sure what the state will accept.

If she can do the masters in elementary, I would also look into Viterbo. My wife did it on weekends in 13 months.

 

[acoustimac]

My girlfriend is going back to school and is debating this seriously right now, so I thought I would ask the fanatics.

Option 1: Second bachelor's degree from ISU in the field of Elementary Education with a Special Ed endorsement. Timeframe 2.5 years. Would be commuting from DSM to Ames everyday.

Option 2: Drake offers a program where you can get your bachelor's and masters concurrently. Timeframe is 2.5 years also for the Master's and special ed endorsement. Total cost of the 2.5 years will be about $12,000 more than ISU. (This program charges tuition a little different that the regular Drake programs)

My question is whether the master's degree is worth the cost. I have heard some schools are reluctant to hire master's degrees, because they have to pay them a higher salary. She is really worried about getting a job since her first degree failed in that aspect.

Anyone have any experience with the school systems? With the special ed endorsement being a high need area, imaybe the master's will be worth it. Also does financial aid pay you more if your school is more expensive?

She is definately more excited about going after a master's rather than a second bachelor's, having trouble coping with the fact her first degree (Fashion Design) is worthless in central Iowa.

I'm a professor in a School of Education so I hope this insight helps...

She needs to get some questions answered about the Masters and what it actually is perceived as by school districts. We offer a degree program like that and the degree is an MAT (Master's of Teaching) and usually isn't recognized as an official Master's degree by most school districts. I would suggest that she talk to school districts that she might be interested in teaching in and see what they say about the two tracks. If they do not recognize the degree as an actual Masters it isn't worth it. If she's not going to get a lot more money to pay off that 12K, it's not worth it.

Personally, there are two sides to this coin. First, I personally recommend a person get experience before they get their Master's degree so that the courses covered make more sense - she has experience to apply to the discussions. Second, the Drake program (and I think ISU might actually offer something similar) is a fast way to get where she wants to be.

 

[RideRdie4life]

My girlfriend is going back to school and is debating this seriously right now, so I thought I would ask the fanatics.

Option 1: Second bachelor's degree from ISU in the field of Elementary Education with a Special Ed endorsement. Timeframe 2.5 years. Would be commuting from DSM to Ames everyday.

Option 2: Drake offers a program where you can get your bachelor's and masters concurrently. Timeframe is 2.5 years also for the Master's and special ed endorsement. Total cost of the 2.5 years will be about $12,000 more than ISU. (This program charges tuition a little different that the regular Drake programs)

My question is whether the master's degree is worth the cost. I have heard some schools are reluctant to hire master's degrees, because they have to pay them a higher salary. She is really worried about getting a job since her first degree failed in that aspect.

Anyone have any experience with the school systems? With the special ed endorsement being a high need area, imaybe the master's will be worth it. Also does financial aid pay you more if your school is more expensive?

She is definately more excited about going after a master's rather than a second bachelor's, having trouble coping with the fact her first degree (Fashion Design) is worthless in central Iowa.

If she already has a degree she can go directly to a Master's in education. Talk to the college. But it will make her very hard to hire.

 

[cloneswereall]

Is this for real? Someone with a Masters may not get hired because they are more qualified and have to be paid more?

Yes. Guess what happens when general funds get slashed all the time.

EDIT: I know of multiple districts that have become a carousel of first year teachers only to leave after two years of experience because other, more financially stable districts don't want a first year teacher, but will wait until they have at least 3 years experience under their belt before looking at them.

 

[Gink]

I would get the BA and Masters. If you think that they won't hire someone with a Masters don't mention it when you apply. Then once you have the job you can bring it up at a suitable time.

 

[kilgore_trout]

Since I've come to the conclusion that a lot of higher education is a rip off (Fashion Design?), I'd go for the second BA in education (it's a degree required by the profession, in most places, and that opens doors) at ISU and keep the other 12 grand for option number 3.

 

[ameshammer]

I didn't even know you could get a masters in elem school education, isn't that called 6th grade?

 

[cloneswereall]

I would get the BA and Masters. If you think that they won't hire someone with a Masters don't mention it when you apply. Then once you have the job you can bring it up at a suitable time.

Umm... you have to have it brought up before you sign the contract. Otherwise you'll be working for the pay of a BA teacher.