Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

Gentlemen, I respect your opinions, but in my book, a university providing an MA after merely 8 months of classes, and with no thesis/project is just in it for the money grab. Whether or not such an institution is thought of as a degree mill based on other degrees they offer doesn't matter. That particular MA offering is quite sad.

Personally, I feel it's better for the Korean education officials at places like GEPIK, or universities, to discuss whether or not they feel such an quick MA program without a thesis/project would meet their qualifications for hiring, or for a raise. I'm sure, with the way things are tightening up in the job market, they'll begin to be more discriminatory. What's important is that it is being discussed.

Other than that, I agree that we disagree.

Good day.

[Thiuda]

[rt]

Just remember that most people were saying that all distance MA's were nothing more than diploma mills up until recently (and most still are saying so). But I know the truth, for I have earned degrees both ways (on campus and via distance).

Personally, I never thought of my distance (non thesis) MA as anything more than a way to getr better jobs and earn more money (and consistently so, I might add). After all, that is what it is all about isn't it?

Sure, on some metaphysical plane you could argue about education just for the sake of education, but let's be honest - most, if not all, schools are in business to earn money (as are the students who study in them and the teachers who teach in them) right?

Anyway, it has worked for me so far, and if it ever gets to the point where the universities tell me that I am not worthy because I did the practicum route rather than the thesis route then I will just go back to practicing law. It's a no brainer!

Good luck with the thesis, by the way. I hope it proves helpful down the road. Better you than me! And look on the bright side: at least you don't have to take some god-forsaken state exam afterwards (like my bar exam many years ago!)

[rt]

Forgot to add this: sorry, I don't know what GEPIK is cause I've never worked at anything but universities since I began teaching in 1996. So far no problem getting good jobs with my USQ MA (or even before I got the MA, for that matter, but there again I got in before the market got so competetive). Perhaps you would have been better served by going back home and doing your MA at an Ivy league school (or perhaps you are doing so??).

[rt]

And my last point: Not only was I on the hiring committee of my university for the last two semesters, I was in charge of it. And guess what? Three of the five people we hired had USQ MA's (and many years of Korea experience, plus peer reviewed publications, and other advanced degrees, etc).

The USQ MA was just part of the total package, I guess you could say. Don't put too much emphasis on an MA (or the school it comes from for that matter).

[Wad]

One could also easily argue on the same basis that universities (e.g. Canada, U.S.A., etc.) that require 4 years bachelors degrees, or 5 years honors, are the only legitimate bachelor's degrees.

And those other commonwealth countries (e.g. England, Australia, New Zealand, etc.) that offer 3 year bachelor degrees are just sub-standard.

Then we can also start to look at the rankings of the universities. Only tier 1 universities would be considered as offering legitimate degrees.

The way I see it there just isn't enough money in ESL to justify doing an ivy league master's degree.

I'm at the top of my game anyways, you just cant do any better in terms of working conditions and wages. And I've done all this with a 4 year bachelor's degree from Canada, and two master's degrees from UNE and USQ.

[El Macho]

My MLitt in English Language Teaching is from the University of St Andrews. We are required to write a thesis and have mandatory ESOL classroom observations.

[nathanrutledge]

Well, my --- is bigger than yours...

[PRagic]

Hmmm. All I know is that a buddy of mine with an MA from USQ is now completing his Ph.D. at UBC, fully funded. Guess that might throw a wrench in some of the arguments made in this thread thus far.

[bassexpander]

[PRagic]

Nope, no thesis. 8 courses, I believe it was. But he did have a load of experience at the secondary and post-secondary levels, so maybe that helped him out.