|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
  |
|
Education Education has become a much-discussed topic among politicians and social activists these days. Anyone interested in becoming personally involved in reforming educational practices, raising school standards, and providing support to students may want to consider getting an advanced degree in education. In terms of philosophy, graduate programs in education tend to be extremely liberal, and focus heavily on the general problem of how best to provide all members of our racially and culturally diverse society with the learning they need to thrive and succeed. To this end, graduate programs in education offer the opportunity to pursue three basic kinds of degrees: a Masters of Education or Masters of teaching (Ed.M./M.T.); a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.); and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Some schools offer other specialized degrees as well. Which degree should you pursue? It depends on your career goals. Depending on the program completed, someone with a master's degree would be qualified to serve as an elementary or secondary school teacher, a school administrator, an education policy analyst, an ESL teacher, or a language/literacy specialist. Masters of Teaching degrees are available for practically every discipline--social studies, English, special education, physical education, etc.--so that you can acquire expertise in any area you might choose. Ed.D. programs are more ambitious, and are designed to teach the up-and-coming leaders of America's schools how to use the newest findings in educational research to create new (and more effective) school policies. Holders of the Ed.D. would be prepared for high administrative positions at K-12 schools (such as principal or superintendent), and would be ready to initiate and develop new curricula for their students. Instead of working in secondary education, some Ed.D. recipients become administrators at colleges or universities. While the Ed.D. is a "practical" degree, the Ph.D. is a more "academic" one. Ph.D.s are trained to do the research that school leaders (who are often Ed.D.s) use in reforming school policies and procedures. Ph.D.s also form the core of the academics who teach education courses at colleges and universities. Should I Get a Ph.D. in Education? In theory, getting a Ph.D. in education offers the perfect preparation for a career as an academic. In fact, however, getting an academic job at a School of Education has become quite difficult. As is the case in most other academic disciplines, there are too many Ph.D.s in education and not enough college level teaching jobs for them. If you go for a Ph.D., be aware that you will need to publish articles, present papers at conferences, and acquire significant teaching experience as a graduate student in order to compete successfully on the academic job market. On the brighter side, keep in mind that a Ph.D. in education will qualify you to do more than just teach. Government agencies (both state and federal) and non-profit organizations tend to hire Ph.D.s to conduct research and oversee the creation of new policy initiatives on education. If your ambition is to work in a school as an upper-level administrator, however, an Ed.D. may actually be the right degree for you.
As Penn students, you have access to the resources at Penn's Graduate School of Education to help you see if an advanced degree in education seems interesting, and if so, which degree best suits your needs. There are also undergraduate education courses that you could take (or perhaps audit) in order to begin exploring the field. Choosing a Graduate School How do you know which graduate school is right for you? In part, the decision will be determined by the degree you plan to pursue. For example, some schools offer an Ed.M. in curriculum development; some don't. Some schools offer both Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs; some offer just the Ed.D., and some offer neither. You'll have to do a little investigating in order to figure out which graduate programs grant the degree that you want. Peterson's Guide to Graduate Programs in Education (which can be found in the CPPS library) provides an extensive listing of the various degrees conferred by each of the graduate schools in the United States. Once you have a list of potential schools, check out their Web cites or their course catalogues to see whether their academic programs seem interesting to you.
The Curriculum In addition to fulfilling the master's requirements, those pursuing a doctorate will have to complete a dissertation--a piece of original research that contributes some new knowledge to a particular field in education. You will design your dissertation proposal with the help of an advisor, who will guide you through the process of doing your research and writing up your findings. Once you have finished the dissertation, you will have to "defend" it in front a panel of your colleagues and address any questions they might have about your work. Depending on your topic, completing the dissertation takes 2-4 years. New Pathways in Education Technological advances have opened up a whole new range of specialties for aspiring educators. People who have a knack for computers and an interest in education are in demand these days for developing Web cites and other interactive modules that can be used in classrooms. And as distance learning becomes more popular, there is a greater need for individuals who can develop courses that can be easily taught via video transmission. Many schools of education are keeping pace with these new fields, and now offer degree programs tailored for those who want to combine technology and education in their future careers. The Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, for instance, offers a Technology in Education master's program, which includes courses like "Educational Software Project Design," "Multimedia and the Developing Child," and "New Technologies for Second Language Acquisition."
Getting into an Advanced Degree Program Undergraduates at Penn who want to get a master's degree in education may submatriculate into Penn's Graduate School of Education. This means that qualified juniors and seniors can take courses at the Graduate School for credit toward their master's degree while they complete their bachelor's degree. Anyone interested in submatriculating should contact the Graduate School of Education in order to obtain the requisite application forms.
For those of you who take the more traditional route and choose to complete your bachelor's degree before moving on to graduate school, keep the following in mind: Admissions committees look favorably upon applicants who already have some experience working within a school environment. This is especially so for doctoral programs. Since so much of the curriculum at a school of education revolves around discussing the problems confronted by elementary and secondary schools, it is indeed helpful to have had some experience with the frustrations (and the joys) of teaching before beginning your graduate studies. This does not mean that it is impossible to get into a graduate program without teaching experience, but your chances will likely improve if you work in a school for a few years after graduating from Penn. Whether you plan to enter a doctoral or a master's program, you will probably have to take the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) General Test, which is similar to the SAT. Be aware, however, that not all schools require the GRE; so don't sign up to take the test until you check to see if the schools to which you are applying demand it. As is the case in other graduate programs, education schools are very interested in hearing about why you want to pursue an advanced degree. Your personal statement will therefore be quite influential in determining whether or not the admissions committees give you their stamp of approval. The personal statement will have to provide a clear vision as to how getting a master's degree or doctorate will enhance your abilities as an educator or administrator. All the more reason, then, for you to gain some experience working at a school before applying to graduate programs. Full-Time or Part-Time? Many people who get an advanced degree in education do so on a part-time basis, while continuing to work as a teacher or administrator. Of course, going part-time to graduate school prolongs the time it takes to earn the advanced degree. On the brighter side, part-time students are spared the problem of looking for a job once their degree program is over. And for most graduate programs, going part-time will not hurt your chances of getting financial aid. Whether you pursue your degree part-time or full-time, though, in the end you will receive the training necessary to function more effectively as a teacher and school leader.
© Career Services, University of Pennsylvania. Not to be copied or distributed without permission.
|