Will I be hireable with a Grad degree in History from AMU/APU?

[chasm636]

I'd really like to go into teaching history at the college level. I am looking to finish up my BA in history from TESC and go on to an MA in history. After looking around at online programs, APU has the best price and a nice looking curriculum. Does anyone have an opinion as to whether or not one would be hireable with a grad degree from APU?

[Yenisei]

Mine is no expert opinion, but it seems to me that with a MA in History, you would be a at a severe disadvantage in competing for an adjunct position at a community college unless, perhaps, you could teach other subjects. History is the best department at APU, that's true, but there would likely be PhDs also applying. More granular factors may be your personal network and your specialization within history.

[Lindagerr]

I don't know a lot about teaching at the college level (except it can be hard to get a foot in the door). i agree with Yenisei having a specialty and then more adaptability might be a good idea.

When you say you want to teach history do you mean American History, World history, etc.

Also I think a few Education classes would be good to add to the mix. Incase the college level does not pan out the education courses would also help your possibilities of teaching at the High School level.

[drewthedude]

You may want to verify this, but I've read somewhere that degrees from "for profit" schools aren't very respected in the academic community - I think the MA in History from AMU/APU would be very effective for personal learning, but not so much to score a great teaching job. I'd look around for an MA from a non-profit - I'm sure you can find one with comparable tuition.

[sanantone]

Fort Hays State University has a Master of Liberal Studies with a concentration in History that is a lot cheaper than APU/AMU. Columbia College has a military history program that's a little more expensive than APUS. I could be wrong, but I believe Sam Houston State University charges distance learning students the same rate rather in or out of state which would make its Master of Arts in History program just a little more expensive. If you look at the online programs within your state, you might find something cheaper. I found a school in Texas that has a slightly cheaper security studies program than AMU and the customer service I get is amazing. I'm not treated like a number when I call up the school. APUS is one of the better for-profits out there, but if you're concerned about acceptability in academia, I'm sure you have other affordable options. At the community college system I attended, I had a few professors with degrees from Capella, University of Phoenix, and the like.

I found 3 more schools.

University of Nebraska Kearney

University of Louisiana - Monroe

Louisiana Tech University

[marianne202]

I have been teaching at the community college level for the last 10 years. To teach in transferable programs you will need to have at least 18 grad hours in your area of specialty to start off. Then RA schools will usually require an RA degree at a minimum. While some do frown on degrees from for-profit schools, especially with the recent DOE statements coming out, but as long as it is an RA degree, most will accept it. Now, my only concern is that most schools will only have one history instructor, as it isn't a big requirement for most transfer degrees. That will mean that your chances of finding a full-time opening are limited. I would recommend that you stack on 18 grad credits in another subject area to increase your chances. Think of your undergrad degree and the requirements such as social sciences, English, math etc and use one of those as your back up credits. While we have multiple instructors in Psych, English, Math etc. we only have one history instructor and he actually ends up teaching some other classes too so he can have a full schedule. Just keep your options open so you don't end up limiting yourself too much. As for teaching at the University level you will need a terminal degree, which is going to be a doctorate, along with some teaching experience to even be considered for a teaching job. Good luck!

[rebel100]

I will throw Western New Mexico University MA Interdisciplinary Studies in the mix Virtual Campus - Online Programs . I just started the program and so far I'm very happy with it. Total cost after tuition and fee's is about $550/3 credits for up to 6 credits per semester out of state, among the most affordable I could find. Strong History/Writing/English/Psych/Criminal Justice and Education options.

Several of my classmates specifically state that they are there hoping to break into teaching CC.

I looked hard at AMU/APU and I think they definitely have a place, but I'm not sure that place is training teachers for CC.

I suspect if you bring enough extra's to the table it wouldn't matter too much where your degree was from provided it was from a RA school. I have a buddy that broke into teaching after assignment as an ROTC instructor to a High School while he was in the Army. He was able to leverage that with a UoP Masters while meeting folks across the spectrum including Middle School/High School and College, the guy pretty much picks and chooses whatever he wants to do as he has become a known reliable quantity. Point is that after the minimal qualifications are met it's up to you to make the right contacts and find the right position.

[sanantone]

I will throw Western New Mexico University MA Interdisciplinary Studies in the mix Virtual Campus - Online Programs . I just started the program and so far I'm very happy with it. Total cost after tuition and fee's is about $550/3 credits for up to 6 credits per semester out of state, among the most affordable I could find. Strong History/Writing/English/Psych/Criminal Justice and Education options.

Several of my classmates specifically state that they are there hoping to break into teaching CC.

I looked hard at AMU/APU and I think they definitely have a place, but I'm not sure that place is training teachers for CC.

I suspect if you bring enough extra's to the table it wouldn't matter too much where your degree was from provided it was from a RA school. I have a buddy that broke into teaching after assignment as an ROTC instructor to a High School while he was in the Army. He was able to leverage that with a UoP Masters while meeting folks across the spectrum including Middle School/High School and College, the guy pretty much picks and chooses whatever he wants to do as he has become a known reliable quantity. Point is that after the minimal qualifications are met it's up to you to make the right contacts and find the right position.

Does WNMU have summer semesters and can one get the discount during those summer semesters? If not, are you planning to take 3 years to finish your degree or are you taking more than 6 credits per semester?

[rebel100]

You can take classes in the Summer, they even have some 4 week classes in the summer session. Discount applies as long as it's less than 6 credits a semester. There is talk every year of the discount going away....but so far so good. If the discount does run out and the cost increase is too severe my backup plan is actually APU/AMU as they should take about 12 credits. My goal right now is to complete 18 credits in Writing/English so that I could conceivably teach at the CC level.

Here is the course list for 2012. http://fuse.wnmu.edu:8080/webtm/sched.jsp anything 500 level or better is MAIS eligible. they require 18 credits in one subject combined with 9/9 or another 18 credits in another subject or 2.

[sanantone]

You can take classes in the Summer, they even have some 4 week classes in the summer session. Discount applies as long as it's less than 6 credits a semester. There is talk every year of the discount going away....but so far so good. If the discount does run out and the cost increase is too severe my backup plan is actually APU/AMU as they should take about 12 credits. My goal right now is to complete 18 credits in Writing/English so that I could conceivably teach at the CC level.

Here is the course list for 2012. http://fuse.wnmu.edu:8080/webtm/sched.jsp anything 500 level or better is MAIS eligible. they require 18 credits in one subject combined with 9/9 or another 18 credits in another subject or 2.

Thanks. I was curious about attending WNMU at one point.