Diploma or Masters?

[markholmes]

I will complete my elementary B.Ed. in July this year and am looking for the next step, as far as qualifications go. I want to be working in an international school within four years.

Here in British Columbia, if you complete a post-baccalaureate diploma (PBD) or a Masters it bumps you up the pay scale quite a lot. The difference in pay between the diploma (usually in a specialization - Art, Math, Special Ed., etc) or a Masters is minimal (about $200 a year). Both are respected.

I have noticed that most international school contracts only pay extra for Masters and not specialized post B.Ed. diplomas, so I am wondering if I should go straight for a Masters and not bother with a diploma. I feel a diploma would actually be of more use in the classroom (greater practical application), however I will be a 41 year old male elementary school teacher and am looking to progress as fast as I can.

If I went straight for the Masters I would probably wait a year before starting it, as people have mentioned, having a Masters without sufficient classroom experience may be looked upon with suspicion. I would start the diploma straight after the B.Ed.

Any thoughts?

[Overhere]

I don't believe anyone would look suspiciously at a Masters without classroom experience. Though experience might be more useful than a masters when trying to get a job overseas.

Payscales vary widely at overseas schools. At my previous school my masters earned $80/month more than my wife's diploma. At my current school its about $300 more per month.

I guess it comes down to how fast you want to be working overseas and whether you get hired at a school where having advanced degrees is significantly rewarded on the payscale.

The other option is to look for a job overseas and then do your masters. Many schools offer different kinds of support to staff going to school.

[steventon]

Hi

My advice - definitely do the Masters. It has much more 'kudos' around the world than a diploma has....I have both and the diploma is hardly noticed on my CV, whereas the Masters results in instant positive feedback....

Good luck!

[dmdam0905]

IMHO A Master's degree will pay for itself more quickly (you will recoup the monetary investment) and a PhD program is not going to admit you without the MA...even if you don't see one in your future, better to save yourself a step. It always seems like just another hoop to jump through. You will work just as hard for one as the other, you might as well do the MA.

[markholmes]

Thanks guys.

I guess it is a Masters then, although most programs here won't take you until you've done a year of teaching (which is probably a good thing I guess).

I am currently thinking of an M.Ed. in Math Education (bearing in mind my first degree is Geography) or a Masters of Educational Technology.

Any thoughts on opprtunities for either of these? Would one be worth more than the other?

[dmdam0905]

Math no question, unless you wouldn't want to teach it.

[JISAlum]

[quote="markholmes"]Thanks guys.

I guess it is a Masters then, although most programs here won't take you until you've done a year of teaching (which is probably a good thing I guess).

I am currently thinking of an M.Ed. in Math Education (bearing in mind my first degree is Geography) or a Masters of Educational Technology.

Any thoughts on opprtunities for either of these? Would one be worth more than the other?[/quote]

I'm a District Tech Director. We've got 4 schools. We have 4, non-teaching positions that don't pay well. In many districts the tech position is not a teaching position. You also have only one per school.

Each school has several math positions, which are of course, certified positions. Unless you really like tech, Math gives you more options.

[Overhere]

Tech integrationists are a dime a dozen, go for the math