4th Masters?

Oh yes!!! Absolutely!!! But as long as I'm a cop, I can't commit to any traditional teaching at my local community college (I have no interest in teaching at our local university, though I might change my mind later). To teach in a traditional format, one must have a predictable schedule to teach traditional courses. With that in mind, I will probably commit to teaching at an online college or university for a little extra cash. I currently teach a driver improvement course, but it isn't a collegiate class and I can basically write my own ticket by telling them what days I want to teach; thus, it can be jockeyed around my crazy full-time cop job.

There also comes a time when one must begin giving back to the community what one has learned over the years. While it's good to have the attitude of a lifelong student, eventually one gathers enough knlowledge where he becomes more of an asset as a leader or a provider or a teacher -- as opposed to remaining a student. And having the correct academic credentials can help to put one in a position where he can return to society some of the knowledge that he has gathered.

 

I'm doing a lot of thinking about teaching, as well. I could see myself teaching Christian counseling or youth ministry courses somewhere- -perhaps DL classes. I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about giving back. For me the process of doing doctoral work has facilitated the discovery of new strengths and interests that I can use to give back to the community. It's been a very positive experience. Best wishes and blessings for your doctoral studies!

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Thank you all for the feedback! My career goals are to do consulting work as a Project\Progam Manager and to teach part time as an adjunct in the evening, online, or between contracts. Let’s forget the law school idea. As Ted mentioned, I would not have to list each degree on my resume. My question now is based on my career goals, which plan would have more utility. I am inclined to go with Plan A, as it is more affordable and would take less time. Again I would very much like to hear your feedback. I would also like to hear feedback on GW verse University of Wisconsin Platteville.

Plan A
MBA - Liberty University
M.S. in Project Management - George Washington University (9credit advanced standing) or University of Wisconsin Platteville (15 credit advanced standing) – employer paid – earns PDU’s to maintain PMP certification.
Advanced Project Management Certificate - Stanford University – not employer paid (cost $5,370)

Plan B
MBA - Liberty University
DBA – Nova or NCU - not employer paid (cost $25, 000 plus NCU, $40,000 plus)

 

The resume would have to match the application though. When the application says to list ALL schools attended and then you sign your name on the bottom saying everything is true...I guess in the private sector you might not have to do an actual application for some jobs? Not that you are advocating this but I cannot imagine being untruthful on an application! If anyone would get caught, it would be me.
BrianH

 

Think about this for a moment:

If you only list the relevant degrees/schools on your resume, then you could say with 100% truthfulness that you did, in fact, attend ALL of them. Hummmm, maybe I've been hanging around defense attorneys for too long????

 

Would you also suggest that an individual list every job they have held including the Macdonald’s that they worked for in high School?

 

I once walked out of a job interview because I was asked to fill out an application written in the most ridiculous legal-ese I had ever seen. I say that a position really worth even one master's degree would not require such an application.

 

I'm not an HR guy but I don't mind saying that I've always assumed that that little sentence in fine print at the end of the application that says something like, "I promise that all the information I've provide is accurate and true..." was there primarily to catch people who are claiming some credential or experience that they do not really have. It seems to me a stretch to say that you must include everything. My Associates degree appears neither on my resume nor on employment applications. Why? It's not relevant. If someone asked me in an interview I'd gladly confirm that I earned an Associates degree once upon a time but, so what? I can easily imagine someday earning a degree that is irrelevant to any employment position I might have. I'd love to have a degree in English Literature, for example. I can not promise though that I'd include it on my resume in all cases (at last count, I had six versions of my resume on file). So, with all that being said it is perhaps less than surprising if I answer Mr. Tongues question by simply saying, "No."
Jack

 

I would fill in all the lines, there are not usually enough to go back that far. But if there is enough, yes. I check references for my district, not listing a job in that time frame gets you in the trash.
BrianH

 

IMO, if the job involves how you work with others, following company rules, etc...and most jobs do.... It matters and I want to know if there have been any problems anywhere. So I check everything I can.
BrianH

 

I sincerely doubt the omission of a second or third graduate degree would negativley impact an applicant's chances of landing a job. I can't see how a future employer would find out or even care. Most grown-up jobs (let's not count McDonalds) do require an "application" on the first day but I have never been asked to fill out anything other than name and address.

On a personal note, I would not want to work for a company that is so strict they would discipline an employee for having too much education and not disclosing such.

 

Whatever happened to ole brudda Huber?

 

Prospective employers are only interested in relevant degrees and relevant experience. I don't mean to hurt your feelings or anything, but employers do not wish to know your entire life story, just whether such education and experience as you have would predict your ability to do the job offered. The line where you sign off that this is true and correct information merely certifies that you are not claiming degrees/experience that you don't have.

 

I agree. IMO listing irrelevant employment and educational experiences may suggest a lack of focus and seem a little flakey.

 

The University of Southern Queensland has a DBA in Project Management. I think this could have more utility than a fourth master's degree.

The M.Ed and MBA are good credentials for training and consulting or teaching. The DBA could open the doors for consulting and teaching at the University level. A fourth Master's would hardly add any value to your CV. In case, a Post MBA in Project Management or certificate would do the job.