MLS, MLA, etc.

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Michael, Mar 14, 2011.

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  1. Michael

    Michael Member

    What good is a Master of Liberal Studies, or a Master of Liberal Arts, etc.? What can you do with such a degree?
     
  2. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Would you like fries with that?
     
  3. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    In all seriousness, they can prepare you for doctoral programs. Beyond that, some jobs give automatic pay increases if you hold an advanced degree, so in some instances it may qualify you for a pay raise. I would say the majority of people that I know of in the ALM program at HES are simply doing it for personal enrichment (and to say they are Harvard alums).
     
  4. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    It would be a worthy goal to earn a MLS or a MLA; you would acquire a great deal of knowledge on a number of subjects. You would be following what Plato and other great minds have suggested by knowing a great deal about many things. However, in our pragmatic society, I'm not sure that those degrees would offer any significant job opportunities.
     
  5. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

    Generally I agree to the posters above. In terms of increasing your job-finding/keeping prospects, having a more traditional MBA, MSc, MA, etc (as appropriate to your field) would be much more useful.

    However, I think there are at least a few exceptions. Ex, a professional web developer wants to learn more about his/her craft, personal fulfillment, AND add another credential to his resume/cv to add credibility to him/herself to potential clients. In this case, a degree like FHSU's Master of Liberal Studies (Web Development) might be a good choice:
    Concentration in Web Development - Fort Hays State University
     
  6. Michael

    Michael Member

    I agree with the replies that all of you have made here.

    After much reading and much thought, I have decided that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to get a MLS or MLA. I was about to go for Baker U.'s MLA, but then I found out that they wouldn't cross-list their courses on your transcript, even though they're cross-listed in the course descriptions. WNMU does this for their English/Writing courses. So, if I went with Baker, I'd have to end up taking more than the required 12 courses, if I wanted to be qualified to teach at a community college in two areas.

    That leaves me with either the MAIS from WNMU in English/Writing, or a MA in Theology -- or Campbellsville U.'s MTh -- or National U.'s MFA in creative writing.

    I love theology, but since I wanted a degree for teaching purposes, I don't believe a theology master's would do much for me. WNMU's MAIS might do more in the way of getting me a community college job, but in either of these two cases I'd need to go on for a doctorate to give me a better chance of getting a job, and at age 56, I just think it would take too long to make getting a doctorate practical. That leaves National's MFA. Problem with that for me is the cost. I've been looking for free money but not having much luck. Might be that the only option is loans -- and big debt. That doesn't seem too wise in my circumstances, either.

    So, I'm not much closer to making a decision. National might be the best choice of those I've mentioned, just don't know.

    One positive step -- I enrolled in and have finished a writing graduate-level course (print-based) from Adams State College; this was a good experience! I'm about to start on my second one; this will at least renew my teacher's certificate.

    Thanks to everyone for your input so far. I welcome any more comments.
     
  7. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    If you are in it for the education, one allows you to explore a wide range of subjects, suited to your interests, at the graduate level. Well, that goes without saying, huh?

    As far as employment, I can give you the perspective of an interpreter, but I'm sure that there are many other fields where this has similar applications. It's nice to be able to add letters after your name on your business card, and often times just having a graduate degree in anything at all enhances your perceived suitability for the job. It could be a bargaining chip for contract negotiations- higher level degrees mean higher levels of pay. For certain professional certifications (eg, The American Translators Association), a Master's degree, from anywhere, in anything, is required for eligibility.

    I have noticed that nearly all of the people who publish articles in our trade journals and who conduct workshops have Master's degrees, and in any which field you can imagine. A Liberal Arts/Studies degree would work just fine for that purpose.

    Lastly, can someone comment on working in K-12 education with an MLA/MLS/etc? I have heard of situations where a Bachelor's degree in a subject is all that is required to teach it in High School or Middle School, but a Master's degree, of any sort, is required for permanent employment.

    Have you looked at Amberton's Master of Arts in Professional Development? It is basically a liberal studies degree, but with a much nicer sounding name. Inexpensive, too.
     
  8. Michael

    Michael Member

    I looked at the Amberton degree. They say you can take courses in Religion, but I don't see any religion courses offered. I believe if I wanted to get a degree in religion, I would opt for the MA, or Campbellsville's MTh.
     
  9. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    I started the WNMU MAIS for teaching purposes as well. I also took a few courses through APU. I'll be finishing my MAIS in May (if they ever get me information about the comps...) and then I'll be taking a break!

    The WNMU MAIS definitely helped me move into community college teaching. I've picked up PLS 211-212 US Govern face to face, HIS 121-122 US History face to face, HIS 121-122 hybrid, and recently PLS 211 online.

    One observation about my community college. Many of the faculty do NOT have doctorates. They have at least a masters, and many of them, like myself, have a masters and then some. The dean even told me once that she encourages present faculty to "pick up" another discipline by getting the extra 18 hours. I suppose from a fiscal standpoint it's cheaper to hire an MA than a PhD.

    -Matt
     
  10. Michael

    Michael Member

    Matt, will you at some point get a doctorate?

    For you personally ( and anyone else interested in college teaching), would you rather have a MA in two subject areas or a terminal degree in one area?
     
  11. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    For right now, an MA in two areas is better. My community college doesn't seem to care about our highest degree. They just want us to have at least the minimum. I live in a rural area, so there aren't an excess of PhDs lying around. As long as the college meets the minimum requirements to make SACS happy, that's okay.

    Now if I were hired full-time, I'd probably get a PhD so I could move up in rank.

    -Matt
     
  12. Michael

    Michael Member

    So, you're an adjunct now?

    If you went for a PhD, which area would you get it in?
     
  13. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    Yes, I'm an adjunct now. And I have no idea what I'd get a PhD in. My primary career is that of a high school teacher, and the soul in me says that perhaps I need to get an admin license and PhD in Education to help bring about positive change in public education... but I think that may be too idealistic. But if I were to get hired by the community college, I'd go for a content area. History is a passion, but I think I'd have more fun with political science.

    -Matt

    -Matt
     
  14. Michael

    Michael Member

    If you eventually go for a PhD, would it likely be on-campus or DL?
     
  15. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    I think it would depend on what the subject was. If it was in education, I'd probably do DL. I've had my eye on Walden's PhD in Education with an emphasis in Leadership & Policy. If I went for History or Political Science, I'd want to do an on campus program, but that'd require that we move. The University of Delaware has a nice history program, and that's where my wife is from, so I could see us moving there. As for political science, those options are more limited. UVA has a nice program, but I'm not really a fan of Charlottesville... too many hippies, hahaha.

    -Matt
     
  16. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    Even with the hippies, Charlottesville is awesome. For a college campus it is rather conservative.
     
  17. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    Funny, my friends who went there would disagree. And I'm just kidding about the hippies. I just got turned off when I've visited the campus. Most of the students and instructors I talked to were too arrogant for my taste. I understand that it's a very good school, but I don't want to take classes with a bunch of people who have sticks up there butt and think they're better than everyone else.

    -Matt
     
  18. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    I actually will agree with this, at least in regards to a lot of Darden and Law School students, but I wouldn't apply that label to the entire (or even the majority) of the student body as a whole. I have several friends that did their undergrad at UVA as well as two close friends that are Darden grads and they are all stand up guys/gals. Overall I give Charlottesville high marks (it doesn't hurt that I'm a huge TJ fan and Monticello is so close, as well as the wineries).
     
  19. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    That could be why I'm NOT a fan. I never really liked Jefferson! :laughing:

    -Matt
     
  20. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    What are you, a communist???
     

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