Possible future programs

I am looking at possible future degree program, just something to take classes so I can get a tax deduction, keep learning, add a strong name to my resume, and a bonus would be to open additional doors for adjunct opportunities. I am also favoring the “local feel” of a degree to combat any DL bias.

I do plan to get some work published and if I start something it will be in the fall of 2011 and I will take it really slow. All of these would cost under $15K and I would go slow and take up to 5 years to complete them. At this point it is all just a consideration and I may decide to do nothing...just thinking. Here are some of the options I have worked it down to. Any suggestions?

MPA – Troy University Concentration: Healthcare Administration – I work in healthcare, Troy is a good name (local campus in Tampa) and an MPA can work well for adjunct work.

MA – University of South Florida Concentration: Career and Technical Education – Local school, great name, not much of an option for adjunct work with this one but the school name is great.

MNM - University of Central Florida Concentration: Non-Profit Management – Great school name (somewhat local) and possible adjunct work as a result but I am not sure.

MHSc – Nova Southeastern University Concentration: Healthcare Leadership - Great school name (somewhat local) and possible adjunct work as a result but I am not sure.

MS – St Leo University Concentration: Instructional Design – local private non-profit and has been around for 100 years. They seem easy to work with and great customer service. I am not sure about how useful the degree would be for adjunct work but it looks like fun.

MLS – Fort Hayes State College Concentration – Human Resource Management - good name (not local) and I am not sure about how useful the degree would be for adjunct work.

MA – Amberton University Concentration – Professional Development - good name (not local) and I am not sure about how useful the degree would be for adjunct work.

 

I don't recall all your degrees but how about taking a graduate degree in writing and then write some books. My neighbor (a retired college professor) writes colleges textbooks and does very well financially.

 

I like the suggestion but that really does not spark my interest. I am looking at something that I will love and is not business related and pay out of pocket OR something that is somewhat business related and will get tuition assistance.

 

Is your employer sponsored education benefit unlimited so you can get as many degrees as your stamina will allow? If so, that is such a great deal! Sorry I can't advise you on those kinds of schools.

 

It is $5K per year and no limits have been placed such as they will only pay for one degree at each level or something like that.

 

That rocks!

 

I can't obviously make the decision for you here, but I would probably go with the MPA from Troy. Not only is it in a field you already comfortable with, I think there will always be a place for admin degrees (especially in the healthcare field). Looking at various job boards, I also see a call for pub admin work in the teaching field. You could probably even look into that DPA from Valdosta afterwards, too, as it would seemingly be a natural progression. You could probably tailor it to fit a healthcare focus based on research if that's what you wanted to do.

Depending on what you want to do, or teach, specifically, I would kinda shy away from any of the education-related degrees (i.e. instructional design, tech/career ed) simply because most places are going to want Ed.D. or Ph.D. in many cases even for adjuncts since they are so plentiful. I don't necessarily think it's a terrible idea, though, to be honest, because those could work into something else. From personal experience, you don't want anything to do with HR unless you are a masochist (run far, far away), and the Amberton degree is going to probably get you adjunct teaching intro/entry stuff like Introduction to Online Learning. I think the Nova degree would be a fantastic degree, but I honestly think you're gonna get some DL bias there. Based on your qualifications already, though, it might function just as well (or better) than the MPA. I would probably still go with Troy though, but that's just my non-fully-researched opinion.

Not a bad selection of degrees, honestly, it just really all depends on what you need/want, and are looking to use it for. If you're wanting to adjunct, what are you wanting to teach, specifically? Does it matter? Or do you just want to teach? Maybe considering these questions, too, might help narrow the field for you.

Hope I helped a little somewhere in there.

 

PhD in history at a future online program at a future date to be determined.

 

I second that motion.

 

My employer offers 100% tuition reimbursement with no annual or lifetime cap. You have to get your manager (and director) to approve the program, but up until recently they have been pretty reasonable (e.g. my B.S. is in Behavioral Science and my company paid for it). However, with the economic downturn and subsuquent belt tightening, they are now taking hard look at each degree program. I should have been a bit more aggressive in completing my degree (B.S. only took a year, but my A.S. took 14 years, albeit not sequentially).

 

Randell,

Since you already have a graduate certificate from UFL, why not keep going and complete the M.S. in Pharmacy?

 

I started in that last year in Feb and the work load was overwhelming with required login's twice a week on Sun and Wed at 730PM for a live class. Also, the cost went up to $2K per class.

 

No sorry - but there are other positions.

 

Maybe when I grow up I will have the answers to these questions

 

Seriously, take a break for a while.

 

Hehe. I know precisely what you mean.

 

Oh, I plan to and I was just thinking of Fall of 2011. A one year break is what I need. I may never do anything else! I am looking at the certificate program from UCF in PA - 18 credits.