International DL degrees and teaching at a community college?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Gregory Gulick DO, Sep 28, 2005.

Loading...
  1. Gregory Gulick DO

    Gregory Gulick DO New Member

    I know many of you have experience serving on the faculty of community colleges, so I just wanted to ask if anyone knows how the international graduate degrees fair for those seeking to serve as an adjunct professor at a community college?

    Personally, I'd like to be able to teach an introductory astronomy course at a community college and was wondering if the graduate degrees from Swinburne University of Technology (MS) or John Cook University (MS, DoA, PhD) degrees would qualify someone for such a position?

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. boydston

    boydston New Member

    I suspect so, if you were in California. Every state is going to be a little different. Ask around in the community where you would like to teach.
     
  3. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    John Cook University? Or James Cook University?
     
  4. JamesK

    JamesK New Member

    Re: Re: International DL degrees and teaching at a community college?

    John Cook, after the chap who discovered Australia, just like Christian Columbas, the man who discovered America :p.
     
  5. Gregory Gulick DO

    Gregory Gulick DO New Member

    James Cook. :) I'm real close with the guy, so he let's me call him John. :D
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Technically, yes. Such a degree should "fill the square." But actual hiring decisions are more complicated than that. Let's look at it from two perspectives, one where the degree is the qualifying credential (like a master's), and one where the degree is a further qualification (like a doctorate).

    When using a foreign degree to qualify to teach, you might run into "NIH" ("Not Invented Here"). Even though your degree is legitimate and your learning real, some people are going to balk simply because you're taking them out of their comfort zone. Be prepared for inane prejudice. Also, many foreign schools offer graduate degrees by thesis only, which inhibits your ability to qualify to teach courses. (Such qualifications often involve evaluating your degree program coursework.) Speaking of which, even if your school offers courses, it might not offer transcripts, which can muddy the waters as well.

    Regarding a doctorate, the cautions about foreign degrees still apply, but they're not as debilitating because you've already got a qualifying credential. (Assuming you have a relevant master's.) You still have the prejudices to deal with, however, and if your doctorate doesn't have coursework and/or transcripts, you might still run into difficulties.

    In a true and just world, you should have no difficulty using such a degree to teach at a community college. But don't expect universal enlightenment, and be prepared to make your case whenever you can.
     
  7. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    Wouldn't a first step be getting the foreign credential evaluated by whatever evaluator the community college uses (or, if it doesn't use one, then using one that it's sure to respect... such as, for example, AACRAO, or maybe one of the NACES member agencies)? If such an evaluator said, "Yes, this degree is equivalent to a US, regionally-accredited masters degree in this subject; and, moreover, the classic minimum 18 credit hours in the subject-to-be-taught that is typically required in order to teach said subject at the undergraduate level are present," wouldn't it then be a little easier to make the case?
     

Share This Page