What is the best Masters degree for getting a part time job teaching for a college? I am looking at a MS in buisness, would that work? Also would like to get a dgree that will help me get a job once I retire if the college thing is not available for a while. Any suggestions?

quote:

Originally posted by kaneswaney:
What is the best Masters degree for getting a part time job teaching for a college? I am looking at a MS in buisness, would that work? Also would like to get a dgree that will help me get a job once I retire if the college thing is not available for a while. Any suggestions?

If you are looking to teach business at jr college level, then an MBA is the degree. You could also have an MPA or MS in Economics and teach that subject. Most teaching positions at four year colleges require a doctorate degree like a PHD or DBA.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <dmuhler>,

Community College requires a Masters, but you can teach anything that you have a degree in, including what your AA, BA, BS, MS, MBA, MA is in. So if you have an MA in Philosophy and a BA in History, you can teach Philosophy or History at a Community College

I had the same aspirations as you do. I wanted to be able to keep my current career field and teach some college courses at the local community college at night. I've had a bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice since 1996, but I wanted to expand my study. I therefore obtained a Masters in Political Science. Luckily, I pursued my degree at a teachers college close to my home. I told my advisor why I wanted my masters and he suggest that I take some graduate courses in education. There are numerous people out there willing to teach part-time, and a lot of them had teaching experience. What gave me an edge was that not only did I have a degree in the subject I planned to teach, but I also had numerous graduate courses in education. I was lucky. Because I was at a teachers college, I worked out a deal where I ould get a degree in political science and a Master's in Education (M.ed). I'm not saying you should get two masters, but if you want to teach business get your MBA. Also take a few education courses as electives or during the summer. I am not saying it will definately work for you, but it worked for me

I just wrapped up my MA in Political Science in December, and am teaching (adjunct) at a University and a community college. I have found that any teaching at the college level requires the Master's, with at least 18 grad hours in whatever field you are wanting to teach.

As to waht field to obtain the degree in--go with what you enjoy.

I taught at the Chattahoochee Valley Community College for two semesters with an M.B.A. while I was stationed at Ft. Benning. Here in the Greenville, SC area, there are several major colleges and none of the CC's will hire an instructor in the business field with only an M.B.A. since there are so many PhD graduates and candidates around available for teaching.

So, it will probably depend upon where you are located. If you are near a big univerisity in a nice place like San Diego or Madison, WI, it would be harder than a place that is farther away from a big school with a PhD program.

As far as teaching goes, the career fields that have the best pay for teaching is Medicine, Legal and Business fields, as there is so much outside employement that is highly lucrative in those fields competing with the teaching field. Subject like English, History, the Arts, have the lowest pay, as there are not as many high paying jobs to compete with the schools. Criminal Justice degrees, plus experience are big these days too, as many police forces are moving toward officers with degrees these days.

I knew of several Masters degree holders who were full time at Columbus State University in Columbus, GA, and the schools was paying for their PhD while they were teaching there, so that might be a consideration in your area if you can snag a job like that.

Personally, I just started a PhD in Business Administration, specializing in International Business and Management, and I hope to teach full time when I graduate and am tired of the travel that my current job offers. That will be, hopefully, quite a while in the future as I like the travel and experience now. I'll probably teach part time in the mean time, online likely as I can do that from anywhere that has the internet.

I certainly hope my optimism holds out, as I've wanted to teach a a Community College (any CC) when I return to Texas (Fort Worth area). I have a bachelors in Adult Education and an MBA, with teaching experience at a military academy (Air Force Security Forces)and visiting teaching experience. This is what I want to do as a culminating experience just prior to going fishing. Do you think there's any hope for me at a Community College in Texas?

I believe that you should be okay with that, so long as you meet their requirements for the specific classes they have available. Some CC's specialize in accounting, which an MBA may not have enough credits in that field to qualify you. I would look at the specific schools you are interested in, see what classes they offer and then try to be qualified for as many as you can reasonable fit into. If you are on active duty, you may be able to get TA for taking classes beyond the ones you already have to fill in the areas you identified as needed in your target schools.

With that, if you are getting TA, and have the desire, why not get a PhD? That would enable you to be accepted 4 year colleges and universities in addition to being a top choice at a CC. The average pay for a professor at a good university is around $30,000 to $50,000 more than that at a CC, so it would pay for itself in less than year if you went that route.

The university I attend has a unit cost of $250 if you are receiving TA, $285 if you are in the military but not receiving TA. When you do the math, that shows a total cost for the PhD, excluding books, to be right around $15,000 for the whole program. And it is 100% online, which means you can take it anywhere. I am heading to the Far East for two weeks on a business trip soon, and I will have no break in my class schedule, and will be able to fully participate even when I am on another continent.

Also you can teach at the High School, with a MD you salary will be higher + bonus, and a lots of school system looking for military retired, because the're well prepare for this field.

quote:

Originally posted by kaneswaney:
What is the best Masters degree for getting a part time job teaching for a college? I am looking at a MS in buisness, would that work? Also would like to get a dgree that will help me get a job once I retire if the college thing is not available for a while. Any suggestions?

Right now partner, ANY Masters degree (except cake decorating! And even then they'd probably hire you at a Community college). I have a bachelors in Adult Education and an MBA and hope to teach several courses; ethics, economics, statistics, and Managerial Accounting. But I'd prefer to teach criminal justice introductory courses like crime scene processing, search and seizure, rules of evidence, etc. It depends on the college or universities' requirements. Subject area expertise is important. They are looking for humanities, earth sccience, mathematics (heavy looking!) agriculture (yes foodies rule), and several other fields. Your best bet would be to sign up online with a Community College Registry. Sharpen up your resume, put your "name" out there. I've done this over 10 years ago and received some great "hits"! I just didn't want to move right then. Now I'm ready and I'm moving back to Texas! Think of the area you would prefer and then indicate that when you register (free, no cost, Nada!). I really thin it will re-enforce your idea of teaching and at a place you pick! You can also check with the school where you're currently enrolled. If you've finished, check with your alumni! Good luck! Almost every Community College is hungry for people who want to stand behind the podium or mingle with the kiddies! Some of those kiddies are as old as we are! Learning is a life long process! So get movin troop! Someebody out there wants what chu got! Cause they can't get it anyplace else!

Kaneswaney - There is always a need for mathmatics and the sciences instructors. Although I have an advanced degree i never wanted to teach but know that In the gainesville, FL area UF pays instructors about $4,000/course per term. Community colleges in the area pay $2,000-3,000 I'm told.

quote:

Originally posted by 3275347:
Community College requires a Masters, but you can teach anything that you have a degree in, including what your AA, BA, BS, MS, MBA, MA is in. So if you have an MA in Philosophy and a BA in History, you can teach Philosophy or History at a Community College

I'm preparing to retire from state service (California) and go back home (Texas). I've been toying with teaching at a community college (if they'll have me) and I have a degree in adult education and an MBA. I'm soon to enroll in a Project Management Certification Program so I can have my ducks lined up. Nope, I haven't stopped learning and feel that a community college would be the best setting to stay in mental "shape". What are the current chances of an old retired war dog teaching at a community college? I just don't want to go fishin all the time. I want to stay in the thick of it! Til I die!

Thanks for the advice. I just finished my first class on the way to my MBA. TA covers full cost of each course at Wilmington University, they only charge $725 a course for AD. I should be done before retirement, get a job in buisness and do some teaching once I get some experience.
2 years from retirement