Which of these three degrees for job?

Very interesting degree program. If I lived close enough, I would seriously consider this degree. But it's far from where I live, and I just can't make the trip for the residency. And you're right, it isn't cheap.

But hey thanks for continuing to try and help me.

 

I've talked with someone at WNMU, and she told me I could do both the English and the Writing concentrations.

 

English as a Second Language?

 

Yes, that would be a good possibility, but I'm confined to my present location for now -- health reasons, and helping take care of an elderly parent.

 

Yes, I just looked. It would be under their MA in Interdisciplinary Studies. GREAT!

 

Not necessarily, in an international school they teach all subjects in English, including literature, social science etc. They require qualified teachers for this. And they pay incredibly well...

 

And their writing courses are listed as English/Writing, which is even better! So if the writing courses also count as English courses, I guess you could have 36 hours in English.

Only drawback I see with WNMU as compared to NU, is that with NU I could be finished in a little over a year and could start anytime, but with WNMU it would take about two years and I couldn't start until January.

 

This might be the reason people pick NU over WNMU. And I guess with the 2 year thing, one could complete two degrees at NU instead of one at WNMU.

 

At NU they told me the English courses were usually one month, but that the CW courses -- seminars and workshops -- were two months.

Combining the two degrees would run the cost up even more.

The creative writing prof told me I could take three cw courses as electives in the English degree and then be able to write a creative thesis.

 

This is a close call, because both programs offer what you need with the classes you want. The one thing is that WNMU will have a MA in Interdisciplinary Studies, which means you will have to explain your encompasses courses; English and Writing. With NU and the MA in English and MA in Creative writing you would not need to explain so much. It it a hard choice I most admit.

Did NU say you could work on both MA's at once?

 

I am not going to lie, this is a hard choice, Michael.

 

I have not asked them that yet, but I will. I didn't even think of it -- figured I'd have to choose just one.

And yes, it is proving to be a very difficult choice.

 

It would not hurt to ask the question. The only thing they could say is no.

So here is how I am looking at it:

MA in Interdisciplinary Studies from WNMU: You can complete the degree in 2 years with several underlining courses in Writing and English.

MA in English/MA in Creative Writing from NU (if they offer dual degrees) 2 plus years for completion with all courses in Writing and English. Or MA in English with several courses in Creative Writing with a CW Thesis; finishing over one year.

Did I sum it up correctly?

 

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/online-dl-teaching/35250-english.html

 

Yes, that's right.

 

I had already discovered that thread -- a good read. But thanks for the link anyway.

 

Okay, just got a reply from NU to this question: "Would it be possible to enroll in both degrees at the same time -- English and CW, or perhaps combine these araes in one degree?"

Answer: "Unfortunately no, but in either program you can take the other's electives if that is any consolation."

 

Let us know your final decision.

 

I will.

I like literature and creative writing, but really have no interest in things like composition and grammar, or Chaucer, Shakespeare, etc. That might limit my teaching opps, but then I might have to take something I don't want to do -- like I did teaching SPED for 14 years.

 

Well, I'm leaning toward National for these reasons:

Shorter time to complete the English degree ( but not the CW degree) -- so I would choose saving time over saving money.

I like the WNMU writing courses better, but I'd have to take more of them, as their degree is 12 courses, as opposed to NU's 10 courses. Also, the exit requirement for the Writing concentration is in addition to the required courses, but at NU the Capstone project is a part of the required courses.

I like the 4-week and 8-week course setup at NU better than the semester-long courses at WNMU; at NU you can concentrate on just one course at a time, finish it in a month, or two, get the credit, and move on to the next one.

Another thing in NU's favor is their degree is an MA in English designation, while WNMU is MA Interdisciplinary Studies, which, as has been pointed out, would require some explaining.

The only thing that continues to bug me is that NU's cost is more than twice as much as WNMU. That's a very important consideration, but I believe, for me at least, the other factors I've mentioned trump that.

I have to say that I somehow feel a more personal connection from WNMU, so I guess I would list that as an intangible factor in WNMU's favor. I wonder if anyone who has had contact or experience with both schools could comment on this last point.