Switching careers from a video journalist to a teacher. Do I need a Master's in Education?

Question

I am 23 and in my first job post grad school. I have a B.S. in Print Journalism and a M.S. in New Media. In 2 years I am going to resign from my job and go back to school to get my credential as an high school English and Journalism teacher. I want to do somethign where I feel like I'm making a difference and doing something with a purpose that is helping and impacting someone's life. I love to help people and teach people new things and make stuff come alive to someone. I love to read and write and plan things. With teaching I can be creative and integrate Internet into lesson plans about literature and to teach about journalism and new media. The journalism business is not doing that for me and job security is very uncertain in this industry. With all that said, I am going to do a credential program at a local university where I will get endorsed in English. Starting next year I will be taking all the pre-reqs needed to do this program in 2 years. Do I need to get a Masters in Education, since I already have a Masters. I was told that I didn't really need to because all that matters is that I have an advanced degree and that will add more money to my teaching salary. But, I wanted to hear what other people think on should I get another Masters.

Answer 1

If higher pay is something you are looking for, here's some advice that might help you.  In the state I live and work in, the only difference in pay between a bachelors and a masters is typically $500.00 to $3000.00 per year.  This is not a very good payoff for all that you have paid for a masters (and may potentially pay in the future should you go for another one).  This is for just plain jane teaching jobs.  However, there are some positions in the teaching area that require or prefer masters degrees - school counselors, diagnosticians, curriculum coordinators, administrators.  But this doesn't necessarily sound like what you are looking for.  So as for obtaining another masters, it all depends on whether or not you want to obtain another degree.  Obtaining teacher certification can be done without getting another degree.  You can do this by going through alternative certification.  These are programs designed for people who have degrees that are not in teaching but want to become teachers.  They help you prepare for certification classes and provide you with the "meat" of teaching degree programs by having you observe in schools and teaching you how to be a teacher.  The one I went through lasted about a year and a half, but I was employed by a school for a year of this.

Should you choose to go for another masters, you need to make sure the degree program offers you what is called "initial certification."  Many but not all masters in education programs do.  This will make sure you are qualified to teach.  Believe it or not, having an education degree is not automatic qualification - you have to be certified.

One other suggestion, have you thought about teaching at the college level?  Even junior college level?  To be qualified, you have to have 18 graduate hours in the field you want to teach in.  Just another option to think about!

Feel free to email me if you have more specific questions.

Answer 2

My mom is a teacher, she only has her bachelors. I think it's a bit of a Catch 22 because it's good for a potential teacher to have a masters, but at the same time a school may not want to pay the teacher more because of their advanced degree.

I didn't know video journalism was an actual job, I thought of going into that position too. God bless whatever choice you're lead to! :)