MS vs MEd?

Good evening to everyone....
It has been a little while since I have last posted on here, no offense to all - but I have been very busy finishing up my Master's @ Montana State University. I will be graduating this summer (July) when I go to Bozeman to present my capstone/thesis project.

My question here today, and I am a little confused on a couple of titles of graduate degrees, and if they are similar in nature or not. I am considering after a years rest going for a second Master's - but I want to make sure that I am not getting the exact same degree - but I would not mind if it parallels or compliments the one I will be obtaining here soon.

The graduate degree I will have from Montana State Univeristy will be a Master of Science in (Earth) Science Education: 18 grad hrs in Earth Sciences (with secondary education elements) and 12 hrs in Action Research in Education.

The other graduate degrees that I am looking at:
- Mississippi State Univeristy, a Master of Science in Geosciences: 36 semester hours in Meteor. Geo. Ocean. Environ. Astron. (with an emphasis in Educational Applications)

- Penn State, Master of Education in Earth Sciences; 18 hours in Geosciences (self designed), 12 Educational Applications/theory

I am wondering if I would be repeating the same degree if I choose any of the above? Can anyone offer me a little clarification?

Thanks.

Jay

 

My suggestion is to consider earning a second masters degree in a different subject area than your first - you can probably keep up to date about earth science/education by reading appropriate journals, attending conferences, and joining an appropriate professional body - much formal education becomes obsolete as time passes.

If you are working in public education how about an MPA.

Have you considered the CSUDH MA HUX degree (you could weave in history of science).

Or if you want a master/doctorate in astronomy by DL see http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/mathphys/astronomy/masters.shtml

Should you change career paths a different degree is always helpfull.

 

Well, the other Master's degree (online) I had considered was from Nova... MS in Environmental Education, this focuses more on Environmental Sciences & Environmental Education. http://www.nova.edu/ocean/disted/msee.html
Which in parallels my Earth Science, because I have a major focuses on Geology and Meteorology. Though I have only one oceanography course in my studies, and was really interesting. Which I do have an interest in environmental sciences...

Does anyone think that this would be benefitical and compliment my (soon to be) existing Master's?

To answer about the docorate degree... I am really on the fence about a docorate, plus, I really would only be interested in online/DL format. Plus, I cannot find a doctorate degree in science education...and I am not too interested in getting a doctorate in just education (which I have thought about before)...but, a doctorate does take a long time to complete and I do not really want to spend 4-5 years working on a doctorate...a second Masters' I could complete within a couple of years.

Advise, comments, suggestions????

Thanks
Jay

 

Well, the other Master's degree (online) I had considered was from Nova... MS in Environmental Education, this focuses more on Environmental Sciences & Environmental Education. http://www.nova.edu/ocean/disted/msee.html
Which in parallels my Earth Science, because I have a major focuses on Geology and Meteorology. Though I have only one oceanography course in my studies, and was really interesting. Which I do have an interest in environmental sciences...

Does anyone think that this would be benefitical and compliment my (soon to be) existing Master's?

To answer about the docorate degree... I am really on the fence about a docorate, plus, I really would only be interested in online/DL format. Plus, I cannot find a doctorate degree in science education...and I am not too interested in getting a doctorate in just education (which I have thought about before)...but, a doctorate does take a long time to complete and I do not really want to spend 4-5 years working on a doctorate...a second Masters' I could complete within a couple of years.

Advise, comments, suggestions????

Thanks

 

It is hard to suggest advice without knowing your career path and goals. But if you are in the educational field have you looked into an Ed.S. degree?

 

I am in education. Currently I teach HS Earth/Space Science, I plan on moving into post-secondary education in the near future.
I have looked into Ed.S. degree's - but I really have no interest in obtaining a degree that focuses on educational curriculum/teaching or whatnot.
I am very interested in expanding my science content area. As mentioned before my undergrad and grad degrees focus on earth science content (geology/meteorology)....

Seeing that I recently discovered that there is another MS in Environmental Science & Education, I wanting to see that if this new MS "seems" like it would compliment my MS in Earth Science Education that I would be obtaining this summer?

The way I look at it, is that I cannot find a doctorate in science eduation, plus I am not to keen on the time frame for a doctorate either, not to mention that I look at Ed.S. degrees (which I have investigated the course work and such) and think about what am I really going to do with a degree like that? I have no interest in developing a whole curriculum or be a chair or be an administrator in education - I enjoy teaching and want to expand my science content to make me marketable and for personal growth.

Advise/Comments/Suggestions???

Thanks.
Jay

 

When you say post-secondary education, I assume you mean some kind of junior college or tech school or university teaching? A lot will depend on local markets--do your local colleges need earth science instructors?

A doctorate will raise your profile for college teaching, but at the junior college level in the sciences it might not matter--I had a friend who was a junior college math instructor, and he was sure that a PhD would not have helped him at that level.

A doctorate is a ton of work, and I would not start a doctoral program unless you really knew you wanted it. If you remain in the high school system, I would double check your pay system and see what degrees help you the most. I know in one public school system in rural Illinois, many of the teachers do a second masters, because that has an incredible effect on base pay (and if they do it in some kind of educational administration, they get both the raise and the chance to move into administration roles).

 

Yes, I am referring to community college level academics.
Yes in my region science instructors at the cc level (f/t or adjunct) are in demand as well.

As far as a doctorate - like I mentioned before I am just not interested in pursuing one, because of the limited online schools available, especially the type of doc degree is not available. Plus, I made a promise to my wife/family that I would eventually stop at some point with my education. After long discussions, I think she can handle me obtaining another Master's (which would take a couple years), but a Doctorate being anywhere from 4-6 years is way too much time....plus I really don't want to devote 4-6 years on one degree... a man has his breaking points you know.

But I am interested in knowing if obtaining a MS in Environmental Science/Education from Nova would compliment to the MS in Earth Science Education?
I am thinking it will, because one is in Earth Science and this other one is in Environmental....but if I was to apply to colleges for positions, and on my CV it showed 2 Master's degrees, one in Earth Science Edu, and the other in Environmental Science Edu....would that appear to be complimentary and not repeatative?
In the district that I teach, there is a pay scale increase for those who obtain advanced degrees, and such.......

Thanks/