Is it easier to get a teaching job with a Masters degree?

Question

The info: I'm a Junior in college now and prepared to get my Bachelor's Degree, but my school has this special program where I can stay for an extra year and get my Master's Degree. I want to teach Social Studies in High School.

The dilemma: If I get the MA, I'm afraid schools will tell me I'm "overqualified" and won't want to hire me because they'd have to pay me more right from the start, when they can pay a teacher with a BA less to do the same thing. BUT if I get the MA, they might see me as better than all the teachers that only got a BA and would be more willing to hire me, assuming I'm going to be a better teacher.

Other dilemma: If I do get a job with the BA, I'm afraid they'll be quick to let me go if I don't do a good enough job because there's teachers with BAs everywhere, I'm no one special. BUT if I have the MA, they also might have higher expectations for me, and let me go if I don't live up to them and assume they could pay someone with a BA to do the same thing.

I’d like to teach in Pennsylvania in the suburbs near Philadelphia (that’s where I’m from). But from what I hear, there are so many teachers and not enough open positions. Schools can easily get 200-300 applications for one social studies position. And I don’t know if I’d make it in that tough of a job market. I heard a while ago that Maryland has a teacher shortage though. Is that true? Does anyone have any experience in getting a teaching job in PA or the surrounding states? Is the job market really that hard to get into? And will a MA make me “overqualified” or help me stand out from the rest? Help!! I need to decide by next month if I want to do the Master’s program or not.

Thanks!!!

Answer 1

I would hold off of going for that masters just yet. Many schools will tell you that you are overqualified and statistically shown people in general with their masters are less likely to get a job. Solution get a teaching job and recieve tenor then work on you master online.

Also it has been shown that if you are trying to get hired with a masters and there is someone with two years of expirence (the two you could have gotten while you were working on your masters) they will hire the person with the ba degree because of the expirence.

Answer 2

A lot of times with obtaining your master's degree you have to apply the theories you study in class and then report back on them. That is hard to do if you don't already have a teaching position. Also, getting your master's while you are teaching opens your eyes to new ideas to try in the classroom. You probably already have a lot of ideas just from the years you have already put into school, and it is very easy to confuse yourself with what you want to do if you have too many ideas at one time. You have to continue your education regardless of what degrees you start your career with, so why start off with a master's? I suggest starting your teaching career with a bachelor's degree and then going after your master's degree after you have been teaching for a year or so. It is harder to get a master's while working just because of the time involved with both, but it is doable. Something you may want to consider: call a few school districts around you and see what they prefer...a first year teacher with a bachelor's degree or a master's degree. If they want you to have the master's before they will higher you, then it would be best to get the master's first. Make sure you ask for human resources to get the best answer. Best of luck to you!

Answer 3

Get the Master's while you're on a roll. The first answer had a valid point in that you can always finish once you land the job while you're working on the degree, thus giving the district the option of hiring you in on the lower pay scale, but regardless of that, if there are layoffs, the newest hires get cut first. In that situation the Master's degree might give you an edge over other new teachers with B.A degrees.

Maryland needs good teachers, and there is usually a demand for good teachers in DC if you're up to that challenge. Delaware might be another place to look.

Good luck, whatever you choose! I admire anyone who chooses to be an educator these days!

Answer 4

You should start substitute teaching now. You should teach for at least a year before getting your masters. What if you teach for a year or two and find out that it is not your thing. It is very common for people to do. I was in Law Enforcement then decided to be a teacher and received my masters in special education. Changing careers is becoming more the norm any more. Try teaching you may want to get your masters in another field.

Answer 5

In contrast to what everyone else thinks, I think you should hold off for a little while on your Master's. Once you have some practical experience under your belt, the Master's work will have more meaning.

On a side note, there are states that are HURTING for teachers. Are you willing to relocate across the country? I live in Las Vegas and we started the school year short about 500+ teachers.

Answer 6

It should help you stand out from the rest, but you might want to expand where you search for a teaching job. There are a lot of places desperate for qualified teachers. Go for your Masters while you're young. I'm still trying to finish mine at 38, and it's a pain in the butt trying to work, take care of my family and finish my masters all at the same time.

Answer 7

In the district I'm in, it would be a better choice to do your master's coursework BUT hold off on doing your thesis paper. The schools would have to pay you more as a new teacher, so most won't hire you because of that. My advise is to get a position than a year or so later, finish up your master's.

Answer 8

I think Teresa is right- get hired while you're finishing your school work. Then finish and get the pay raise. That way, you'd be able to tell the person who hires you that you will be done, but they don't have to worry about the cost so much.

With the highly qualified teacher requirement for professional development, most teachers get master's degrees anyway, so it will help you get over that first hurdle of professional development hours.