Online adjunct -- preparation for

As I have mentioned, I'm currently in an MFA in creative writing degree; I wanted to use it for teaching purposes, but I have realized that since I'm almost 60 years old (February), the only way I'll probably be able to teach on the college level is as an online adjunct. I plan to continue my public school SPED teaching job until I am 63, so three more years after this one -- if I can hold out physically, and that's a big 'if'.

Anyway, I'm trying to decide now if I should continue the MFA; in the next couple of weeks, I'll have completed six courses toward the 16 courses required. I am wondering if I should continue with this degree, or if I should stop now with 18 hours in writing and pursue a 10-or 12-course master's in theological studies. That way, I could adjunct online in theology, or creative writing.

My question is this: If you were in my shoes and had my goals, would get the MFA and then add 18 hours in theology/Bible, or would you stop now with 18 hours in writing and get a master's in theology. If the first route, I'm looking at 10 more writing courses, plus 6 theology courses; with the second route, I'd be looking at 10 or 12 theology courses, having already completed 6 writing courses. The ideal might be to find a master's where I could combine 18 hours in writing with 18 in theology, but I have never been able to find that.

Which of these options would give me the better chance of landing an online adjunct college teaching position? I'm looking to do this after I retire from public school teaching. I can't make it on what I'll be drawing from Social Security, and I have virtually no retirement income saved; I withdrew it all when I quit teaching in 2006.

 

Hi Michael if I were you I will continue and finish the MFA and then add the theology credits later on. The reason I say this is because the MFA is considered a terminal degree, so you will potentionally get more utility out of the MFA. I say this with added bias of course. I too have a nationally accredited MFA degree, and I'm currently schedule to start my Low-residency MFA program in January (this time from an RA school). My nationally accredited MFA focused in screenwriting and writing for vide games, whereas this new MFA program focuses on fiction writing. So my advice to you is finish the MFA, then add the theology courses. Just my 2 cents, good luck to you. And oh by the way, you are still young.

 

Thank you very much, Koolcypher, for your response. Yes, the advantage of what you suggest is that the MFA is a terminal degree. What gives me pause in doing it the way you suggest are two factors: time and money. It would cost more and take longer, and those are big factors to me. Still, I want to do what will give me the best chance of getting an online adjunct position, in the areas I'm interested in.

Good luck with you low-residency MFA!

 

I completely understand your concerns with regards to time and money. I ended up losing a year in doing my NA MFA as opposed to the RA MFA. Furthermore, you will get more utility out of your MFA. You could teach in writing at en English department, business writing, you could also be hired as a writing coach for the university's writing center. Most, if not all, universities have a writing center where they provide writing coaching/mentoring to their students. You could be a technical writer, editor, in short the MFA gives you more flexibility. Plus you do have teaching experience and that is a huge advantage. I know that time and money gets in the way. You could be hired as a writing adjunct and then take graduate theology courses at the university you adjunct for (if offered of course), or take courses elsewhere. Saint Joseph's College of Maine offers graduate Theology courses for $335 a credit hour. I know they are not the lowest, however, they are not the most expensive either. You say you have three years left. That means that you could potentially finish your MFA and have 18 credit hours in Theology within that timeframe. As far as the money issue goes, only you can answer that question as only you know what you can budget for. If you can manage to set aside $3000 per year after you finish your MFA, then you could get the 18 credits in Theology from Saint Joseph's College within two years and within the $6000 range.