Career Options--Need help

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by distancelearner_2231, Jun 30, 2004.

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  1. Gentlemen-

    I stumbled upon this web site by accident looking for graduate degrees that could be taken online. I have browsed this web site for a day or so, and have made a few posts. The information and help on this site has been very helpful.

    I still need help though :) I have about 3 semesters left (1 & 1/2 years) before acheiving my bachelors degree at a regionally accredited state institution. This degree would be a Bachelor of Science degree with a Sports Management major....yeah...Sports Management...what was I thinking?

    I want to persue a Masters and then a Doctorate. Only problem is I want to do it online. I need to work at the same time to pay off bills. I want it to be cheap, and I want it to be regionally accredited or equal to it. I do not want to be lazy about this...I want to work and have something to be proud of...unlike my pathetic Sports Management degree. My grades are very good, but classes are very easy.

    The area/major is still somewhat of a mystery to me. I'd like to go into some sort of Health Sciences...Public Health or something of that nature. I'd also like to teach at the college level.


    The best option it sounds like would be an international online degree...UNISA has come up quite often as cheap, and also equal to an RA degree. Where do I start? I realize I still have a year and a half before I plan to enroll, but I just want to start planning early so I don't get stuck with a bad decision. Are there any other cheap options out there?

    Sorry if this is a bother to any of you...but I really could use the help :) Any thoughts on this or if someone could point me in the right direction that would be greatly apperciated!

    Thanks
     
  2. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

  3. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    First have you looked at American College of Sports Medicine and what htey have to offer as a professional organization.

    Second, I think uou are underrating your basic education. I believe you are in a growth industry.
     
  4. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member

    There are any number of professional graduate programs that would apply to Sports Management. An MBA would be one. Public Administration and Public Health come to mind. If you want to teach in a college though, you'll need the credential that gets the job in the subject area you want to teach in.

    Since you have a year and a half left -- it wouldn't be all that hard to pick up some upper level hours in any subject you wish. If you collect 24 upper level hours in any subject, many grad programs will consider you for their program in that subject. Especially if you can collect a pretty high grade average in those courses. You might even want to consider a BA/BS at Excelsior in an academic subject to go with your Sports Management.

    Two-year colleges often hire an MA with 18 hours in the content area he's teaching in. Four-years will hire an MA/MS in some areas that are short of PhD holders and in highly specialized areas (applied music for example) but your options are greater with a PhD.

    Some fields (theater and creative writing for example) seem to hire many MFAs and a few fields want multiple degrees or certification credentials (IT and Business).

    It is possible to get an appointment with just a BA/BS or even no degree at all but those seats are exceedingly rare and seem to depend on who you know - or who knows you. I know of an NCAA-II Head Women's Swimming Coach with no degree at all and more than a few BA holders in music and theater departments teaching applied and methods classes.

    One big help to getting the faculty gig is some college level teaching experience while working on your MA. DL isn't going to help you get that but you may be able to get some platform time through your local community college and their continuing education program.

    I suggest that you first decide what department you want to teach in and then break out some catalogs and flip to the faculty credentials in that department. See what degrees they hold and where they got them. (example: I want to teach post-secondary music. Music faculty invariably hold a DMA and not a PhD)

    It seems to me that those who hold very specialized degrees don't fare as well seeking FT faculty seats as those who are generalists. It also seems that the specialists who do get a seat do very well moving up the ladder.
     
  5. Han

    Han New Member

    I know somebody conducting a doctorate in Business, with the research focusing on sports management, don't be discouraged, you have the degree!!! (almost ;) )
     

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