(I wasn't sure which forum this should be in, so I apologize for the repost) I took a little trip mountain biking with some friends in the beautiful yet political unstable Bay Area today with some friends. As we stopped to view the surroundings and relax for a few minutes the conversation of graduate degrees came up. I told my friend that I had been researching Ed.D.'s to see if that was the right step for me at this time, etc. I also told her that I was going to do it online if possible. She told me that she had actually applied to do an M.S. in Biology through Western Kentucky University. I wasn't sure how this worked since most hard science degrees require a lab component...but anyway, part of her reasoning is to teach undergrad classes at one of the local schools. My question, for those of you that have experience hiring people (I've learned there are at least 2 or 3 of you here), would the fact that her degree was online hurt her at all? The only way a potential employer would know is by looking at the dates and realize that she couldn't have been in Kentucky and San Francisco at the same time. Western Kentucky is a fully accredited (RA) school, and they say the degree is the exact same as the campus M.S., minus the thesis. Even if they realized she did it through distance education , would they hold that against her? Thanks in advance. And by the way, the site has been a tremendous help. I think you guys help people save a lot of money and time with the info you bring.
Probably not - the requirement for teaching in SF is a BS + teacher certification. The knowledge earned with her masters might help her earn a single subject teaching credential. I don't know about SF but in other California school districts seniority counts for more than a masters in pay (according to an acquaintance several years ago).
