Masters in History or Masters in Educational Leadership?

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iblibrarian
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Masters in History or Masters in Educational Leadership?

Post by iblibrarian »

So my husband is a certified K-12 teacher (I'm a certified school librarian), and he was thinking about getting his masters degree. I already have mine in Library Science. We were debating between a Masters in Educational Leadership or a Masters in History (his favorite subject). He has absolutely no interest in ever being an administrator. Which one do you guys think would make us a more attractive hire as a teaching team?
PsyGuy
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Post by PsyGuy »

What does he teach now, what is his current certification area, what does he want to do in the future?

The rule is a Masters or other advance degree should do more than get you in the classroom, it should provide you opportunity you didnt or wouldnt have had before. If the degree doesnt do that, you should wait.

If the Masters in history is just going to repeat what he already has its likely not worth the coin youd spend on it (and niche academic degrees can be pricey and very involved compared to about $7K on the cheap side for an M.Ed).
Studying history at masters level can be absent that fun if you dont study it in a particular setting or with particular professors. If you dont find a professor who is REALLY focused in their research on what you want to study, than the degree is likely to be a long slow plow through some books and papers, there wont be anything to add to the context.
The vast majority of those History programs are going to be little more than doctoral prep programs, they are going to be far more focused on the scholar and not the practitioner. Masters programs in history dont do anything more than prepare you study more history.

Ed.Ld programs can be soul sucking, unfocused, generic, generalist programs, that are little more than grossly water downed management programs. A good many of them can feel like they are taught by professors with out dated education backgrounds who read a book on management for dummies.
The programs that lead to an leadership credential are generally more involved and more likely to require another field experience, which can be difficult to do by distance.

The Ed.ld degree is going to add more marketability and utility to your resume, even if your spouse never moves into leadership.
mamava
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Re: Masters in History or Masters in Educational Leadership?

Post by mamava »

I disagree with just about everything PsyGuy said about the Master's in History, except that he's right about the leadership degree probably being a better choice. My husband (who has an MA in history and teaching) also has his MA in leadership and, while he found that administration was not something he wanted to do, the skills, framework, and perspectives have been very helpful to him as a teacher leader. Task forces, strategic planning, teacher coaching, etc., have all been roles he's played and been a leader because of the Ed. Leadership work.

Some schools employ literacy coaches or curriculum specialists (not curriculum directors) so a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction might also provide those types of leader skills that schools often find attractive.
iblibrarian
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Re: Masters in History or Masters in Educational Leadership?

Post by iblibrarian »

Thanks PsyGuy and Mamava!

He's certified in K-6 Elem Ed, 5-9 Math and 6-12 Social Studies. His undergrad is is international business, so no background in history or education--he got his teaching certificate through an alternative certification program in the U.S.

The programs that we were looking at are through the University of Portsmouth in the UK (because they're so inexpensive, in comparison to U.S. Masters): http://www.port.ac.uk/courses/#postgraduate There's also a MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL; and a MSc in Psychology and Learning Disabilities that we're considering--but those seem to be the only ones available via distance learning.

Thanks again!!
peachestotulips
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Re: Masters in History or Masters in Educational Leadership?

Post by peachestotulips »

There are tons of distant education Masters programs available that are cheaper. He should really focus on what he wants from the program he chooses rather than choosing a program because it's inexpensive. I think that some of the options in the US are comparable and take less time. Universities in Australia are also comparable.
PsyGuy
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Post by PsyGuy »

@iblibrarian

Wjat does he have experience teaching now?
Is all his experience in elementary or maths and he wants to teach history but cant seem to get any utility out of his resume and a Masters in history would open up opportunities for him?
If so than that could work but he does a background in education, its just not a Uni academic background, and he has a background in history by means of his social studies certification. If the Masters in history gave him high probability of an appointment in history than it might be a reasonable expense, but that just isnt so. About the only claim thats reasonable is that the Masters will move him up to a higher salary band, but any masters will do that.

Looking at some of the Uni port issues, You cant really study history at Port unless his focus and area of interest is in British Navel History, its the only concentration they have. As a distance learning program there wont be much fun in it, mostly participating in some online chat rooms and reading texts and papers and writing.

I dont agree with @peachestotulips there may be some distance education Masters thats cheaper, but in my experience Port is one of the cheapest, and I dont know of any US degree programs that would be cheaper, considering a US program is at least 2 years, I dont know of any that are less than a year and thats what you can complete the Masters in at port. I also have to strongly disagree with the claim that not considering cost as a priority. A masters will get you X coin on the scale, there is rarely a direct distinction between Masters.
Yes, AUS is an option, so is CAN and for that matter anywhere is an option.

I would recommend Port, but the more control he has over the program and the course of study the more enjoyment he will be able to get out of the program. Unless his passion within history is the British Navy than I would look at either the MRes if he wants to do course work or the MPhil if he already has a thesis proposal. Understand however that overall Port doesnt give him the best options with those goals. It will give him an upgrade on salary band and beyond that not much of anything else. It will not do anything more for him aside from getting him in a classroom. Port could offer him more utility but it would require more complex structuring of his study plan.
iblibrarian
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Re: Masters in History or Masters in Educational Leadership?

Post by iblibrarian »

Thanks peachestotulips. Cost is a big factor for us, as we're still paying off my BA and Masters degree, and probably will be for another 10 years. I have not been able to find any cheaper programs than U Port, and coming from the U.S. where our experience in grad schools have offerings between 400-600/credit, it did seem very affordable to us. If you have any suggestions, then I would be delighted to see them.
PsyGuy, he does have experience teaching Elementary grades and HS Social Studies, and his love is history, but at this point he would just be happy to be back in a classroom. He's been a stay at home dad for 3 years, and probably will be one for another 1-2 years, so to have something to show for that time professionally is also a bonus. The pay bump from a Masters would be great, but most of all, we're looking for increased competitiveness as a candidate, and whatever can get him there the fastest.

Thanks again; you both gave us a lot to consider!
PsyGuy
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Location: Northern Europe

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Post by PsyGuy »

@peachestotulip

I cant reconcile your claims regarding cheaper programs, Port is £4200 for the full 2 year DL/Online course of study regardless of being a MSc Ed.Ld, MRes or MA History.

@iblibrarian

An Ed.Ld Masters is going to provide more utility and marketability than a Masters in history. That doesnt mean he cant incorporate history into an Edu Masters program, even Ed.Ld in his thesis component, and if he wants more options outside education he can do the MRes in Edu which gives him the utility of an "Edu" degree with a lot of flexibility to study and research in history.
phallyka
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Re: Masters in History or Masters in Educational Leadership?

Post by phallyka »

Which one do you guys think would make us a more attractive hire as a teaching team?



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