Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mikeinasia]

My university (Dong-Seo University) is not going to reconise my coursework Master in TESOL. It was done on campus, over 2 semesters, while taking 4 courses each semester. Dong-Seo University claims that it was done too quickly, and that their is no thesis, so they will not condsider it a true Masters degree. It was done at the University of Southern Queensland, in Toowoomba, Australia. I actually did it on campus so that it would not only add legitimacy to the degree, but also so that I could quickly re-enter the workforce.

Are their other teachers out there at different universities who have had their degrees' reconised? What kinds of degrees' are we talking about?


Thanks.

Yours truly,

Michael Lesser
[email protected]

[cubanlord]

[icicle]

I am also from Australia. His University is definitely an accredited university. Studying full time with 4 subjects each semester is normal load for a Masters degree ... It is no small amount of work ... Many people do not study full time with Masters degrees and so take longer. I did my Masters degree at a different (but similar) university in an education field with a similar work load and like him studied on campus so I could get it finished in the year.
There are two different types of Masters degrees: Coursework and Research. But both are Masters degrees. Some Coursework Masters are a mixture of the two or include research subjects which prepare you for Phd study in the field. Mine is a bit like that. It is definitely not a light weight option. To do it in the year takes a lot of work and leaves not much time for anything else.

Icicle

[ilovebdt]

What MAs do the other teachers at your uni have.
Has anyone else done the 100% coursework route aswell?

In England, there are two types of MA. One is taught and the other is done by research. They are both as good as each other.


ilovebdt

[SuperHero]

sorry to hear about your troubles. USQ has a bad rep for quality in the area of Linguistics graduate work.

[VanIslander]

A thesis is a necessary condition of respect in the academic community.

But in professional degrees, course-based programs are so often taken that you'd think it was respected enough, especially since research and original thought are not central to the skills being taught.

That said, USQ does have a bad rep for cranking out so many graduates with little minimum standards: quality of grads vary greatly from there, it is often noted online.

Perhaps consider teaching in a country in Southeast Asia, where any M.A. is considered good enough. Or chalk your degree up to a good experience, and education as a value in itself, and be a better teacher as a result of it, whatever employers say!

Good luck whatever.

[skdragon]

Sorry to hear about your situation!
It is unfortunate that USQ has done what they have done on the distance learning front, which has led to the current reputation it has (right or wrong) now got for itself.

Just be thankful you didn't get the on campus Coursework Masters from UNSW. They, I guess due to funding cuts and at an attept to grab up students, have dropped the MA load down to 6 courses.

You must remember that most Korean universities will expect an MA to follow the American model, mostly courswork and theis. In Australia, that is a Masters with Thesis program. From memory, I think USQ does offer that. Is it MA (Honors)?

Either way, I would direct some of your previous USQ profs to this thread and let them know about the decision your uni has made regarding the USQ MA.

[BS.Dos.]

[aarontendo]

Meaning 30 semester hours of coursework. Full time is usually around 9 semester credit hours a term for graduate work.

[zappadelta]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Yeesh.

[cubanlord]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

M'lord, have you ever considered that you might not know absolutely everything about everything?

[mikeinasia]

Thank you for all of your replies, except for Pyongshin Sangja.

If you are working in Korea, what universities or other schools in Korea have accepted your Master in TESOL degrees?

What TESOL degrees and English first language universities have been reconised by your university and school in Korea?

Thanks.

Mike Lesser
[email protected]

[Keepongoing]

My MA TESOL was a 2 year reseident degree (39 semester hours) at San Jose State. We could do a thesis or comprehensive exam which entailed answering 3 questions received on Friday and turning it in on a Monday. It was a 30 page research paper.