Expert: Debba Robinson - 4/12/2007

Question
Hi Debba how are you? I need to get advice on teaching.
I'm a college student who should be graduating next year with a degree in English. I'm planning on getting the Masters as well. I want to teach college with a Masters for the mean-time, then down the road I'll go for the PhD.  Is that a good idea?  

Answer
Hello, Diane.  I'm fine, but harried!  Report card week is difficult on a good day, but sometimes Murphy's Law just takes over.  Anyway, the worst of it is past, I believe, and the parents will be pleased with their children's reports.  As the head of the school, I carry a large part of the load, since I must proofread every report card, format and print them.  But, this is probably more than you wanted to know!  = )

In any case, to teach in a university, I think it is best to get your MA right away ... since I think many require that for their profs.  As an elementary teacher, I wanted to get some experience first so I had something on which to build the higher level courses.  I taught 6 years before I went back and was glad I did.  People who had not yet taught had so many unrealistic questions that would have been non-issues had they had experience.

So, getting your PhD after working for a time makes PERFECT sense.  You may find that your undergrad and graduate work prepare you well for starting out, but if you give yourself some experience, you will be able to ascertain if you want your PhD to follow suit, or go off in a different direction.  

Do you have your post graduate school lined up?  Have you asked them for THEIR advice?  You should have an advisor to whom you can go and I strongly urge you to pose this very question to as many people at the university level that you can find.  Teaching at that level is FAR from my expertise and you may find they have knowledge that goes beyond my basic level.

Best of luck to you!

Debba