Does another MS degree matter for adjunct positions?

Discussion in 'Online & DL Teaching' started by Randell1234, Aug 31, 2008.

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  1. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Most people say the most important degree is the highest one you earn. If I went to University of Florida for an MS after I completed my PhD, would it help with gaining adjunct positions or even with a fulltime position as an online instructor. I am not intreested in a traditional - in the class- teaching job.

    I am thinking that a big name MS will help me gain teaching positions but then I wonder...

    Here are a couple of thoughts-
    It does not matter if I get an MS after my PhD, the PhD is what counts.
    It does not matter where the degree is from (TUI/NCU) as long as the degree is RA because I have teaching experience.
    It matters more on the corporate experience and courses you are qualified to teach verses the school you graduated from.

    Any suggestions or feedback?
     
  2. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I teach at several institutions online and I see a trend towards a PhD as the minimum requirement for online adjunct positions.

    I would say that the MS will matter after your PhD only if it is an different field than your PhD since it can open you the doors to teach courses in a different area. However, I think for this purpose a graduate certificate would be more than enough.

    It matters where you got your degree from, at the end of the day schools want to put in their catalogs adjuncts with PhDs from better schools in order to attract students. Schools would want to have diversity in their catalogs so if schools like NCU or TUI graduate more than average number of PhDs then this will have an impact on your job search since a school with too many existing adjuncts with PhDs from NCU or TUI will be less likely to hire PhDs from these schools. However, I don;t think it would change much to have a MS from a better school than your PhD since most schools tend to publish your highest degree in the catalog.

    Corporate experience is very important and will play an important role when looking for adjunct work. However, most of the online adjunct hiring managers won't bother to verify your corporate experience so I can see that most of the applicants might tend to inflate their CVs without risking getting caught. I think that most hiring managers expect to hire adjuncts with experience so having it won't put you on top of the list but just in the candidate list.

    In my opinion, the ideal online adjunct is someone with working experience, an accredited PhD and with enough graduate credits to teach a diversity of courses rather than just few.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 1, 2008
  3. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I always think it's a good idea to add a "name brand" to your resume, but I'm not sure another graduate degree would be necessary. You already have the UF name with your grad certificate which I think may be enough.
     
  4. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    I have several acquaintances in academia - they all say one of the important things is publishing - either papers or books - in ones subject area. So perhaps this is more important than an additional degree.

    One acquaintance cites membership in professional societies as an important item on his resume.

    Perhaps those in academia can verify the above.
     
  5. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    For a full time tenure track position this is the case, but for most adjunct positions corporate experience is more relevant than publications. Most schools look for adjuncts that can satisfy the accreditation requirements in terms of credits in their transcript and level of degree. Publication requirements are almost not the case for adjuncts.
     
  6. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    This is good feedback - thanks. I think I may shift gears and plan to take some finance classes at TUI which will count towards an MBA in Finance. Since I have my MS from them under the old track, I already have ETH501 - Business Ethics, MGT501 - Management and Organizational Behavior, and MKT501 - Strategic Marketing which will give me some wiggle room.

    I may take a few heathcare classes as electives since I was told I would need 36 new credits for an MBA. Combining those healthcare classes with the ones I have I will earn an MBA - Finance and be qualified to teach
    Information Technology, Management, Finance, and Healthcare Administration plus have experience in all of them. I thnk that will put me in a great position to be an asset to any school.

    Just looking to the future to set myself up to drop out of the corporate world one day...or maybe not
     
  7. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I think that this combination should give you enough work for a while. I teach Computer Engineering, Information Systems and Operations Management and get enough work to keep me busy.
     
  8. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    If I was going to hire you to teach as one of my adjunct faculty, I would count a UMUC, Walden, Capella, TouroUI or NCU degree as an advantage, since I oversee my university's online courses and programs. Solid teaching experience and corporate experience will definitely give you a leg up on the competition. Publishing is nice but, as RFValve states, it is not a high priority in the recruiting of adjuncts. Online course development and online and face-to-face teaching experience are what we look for.
     
  9. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    Hey Anthony,

    Along those lines, any need for an MBA/CPA combination with online and onground teaching experience at UOP to teach a few online courses for you?

    I'm active at UOP now but can always stand a few more assignments.
     
  10. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Here's a little tip I found out on my own; the more UoP faculty workshops you participate in and complete, the more courses you'll be offered. I had a stretch last year where I didn't have any courses assigned so I took a bunch of workshops out of interest and boredom; almost immediately afterwards the course solitications started coming in, and haven't stopped.

    I now try to do at least one workshop per month, more if the subjects really interest me, and I'm being solicited for courses constantly.
     
  11. DBA_Curious

    DBA_Curious New Member

    Oh gosh! I get more than I can handle from UOP. I should've phrased that better. I meant I'd love to have the opportunity to facilitate elsewhere. I don't think I've been under the maximum of 4 courses per quarter in years. Of course, doing ground and online helps as well.

    What I should've written was that I'd love to try facilitating at a different school to see what else I can learn from the process.
     
  12. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    Send me a private message and I will give you an e-mail address where you may send us your vita.
     

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