I've completed the MS Ed program in Online Teaching and Learning at Cal State Hayward and am considering going on for a second Masters to become a "content expert." In looking at programs, I've ran across a couple of DETC certified schools that look interesting. One in particular, Columbia Southern University looks like a good flexible program that appeals to me. My question is, if I want to teach at the Tech School/Comunity College level with an MS Ed from Cal State Hayward (RA) and something like Columbia Southern University (DETC), on my resume--how will it be percieved? Will it be detremential or not make much of a difference--or what? Thanks!
Check with the accreditor for the schools you want to teach as an instructor. I have a MBA from Columbia Southern and while it works for my employer it did not work for qualifying to teach the subject at the college level so I had to supplant it with a RA Masters. The degree was still accepted as credible just didn't meet the accreditor's requirements of 18 RA graduate hours in the subject. If you are looking at strictly technical colleges it may not be an issue. I adjuncted at a technical college many years ago and the only thing required was a bachelors. Here again, the safest course of action is to check with the accreditor then the school for the relevant policy. I think the quickest route would be to acquire a graduate certificate that included 18 Regionally Accredited hours in the subject. Regards, Kevin
Kevin is correct, it depends entirely upon the school and their accreditor. The technical college I adjunct for used to accept DETC degrees. However, they are making a bid for RA and now require a minimum of an RA bachelors for technical courses and an RA masters for certain core classes.
Indeed, check. At UoP, for example, your first master's (the RA one) would qualify you to teach for the school. But if you wanted to teach in the area of the second master's (the DETC-accredited one), you couldn't use any of those credits to get approved to teach related courses. Thus, it would do you no good. This is the reality of DETC accreditation. Again, you'll need to check and/or take your chances. No assurances, I'm afraid, will do.