Dual Degree Programs Forum

[nyjag22]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a school that offers dual degrees with J.D. (obviously) and M.A. in Education. Preferably in the northeast. I have no chance of getting into a T14, but T1 is definitely possible. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Teoeo]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a school that offers dual degrees with J.D. (obviously) and M.A. in Education. Preferably in the northeast. I have no chance of getting into a T14, but T1 is definitely possible. Thanks in advance for your help!

Um, just go through the schools ranked 15-50 in the northeast and go to their websites...

[terpette]

pretty sure GW has one

[vanwinkle]

Why do you want the MA in Education? That's an important question to ask. It may not accomplish what you think it will. I bring this up because I looked into a joint degree program (not Education, but Sociology) and ended up sorely disappointed.

[nyjag22]

I'm interested in getting a Master of Arts in Education because I want to teach secondary school social studies after law school. I'm thinking of practicing law for a while and then having a second career as a teacher. I know a lot of you would probably scoff at this idea, but I really want to do both. If I can get the two degrees done at the same time, then it would make the process that much easier in the future.

[darknightbegins]

You couldn't get a job teaching social studies with just a law degree and some teaching certification courses?

[vexion]

You can get a job teaching high school social studies with just a BA and an ongoing night course towards an MA in education. At least, that's the way it is in Kentucky. They'll let you start teaching under the condition that you're enrolled towards an education degree.

[Lonagan]

You might find in a number of districts that the J.D. will be enough. I know a master's level degree in subject area is enough in some districts.

The real question should be where your passion really is. If you really just want to practice law for a few years before going into teaching I think that could call into question the wisdom of getting the J.D. Is there something specific you want to achieve in law in only a few years? Or is your real passion teaching, but you can't give up on the thought of being a lawyer? It's not that there is anything wrong with wanting to be a lawyer, but if teaching is what you really want then a master's in education is going to be a lot more cost effective, especially considering your eventual earning goal would be a teacher's salary.

[PLATONiC]

I personally find that dual degrees can be an intellectually enriching experience, especially if it's not the typical JD/MBA route. I just think that it requires some good planning ahead if I were to embark on that journey. But here's a really funny thread on the topic:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... uel+degree

[pilawpcv]

You might find this general intro to JD/MA's helpful: http://www.top-law-schools.com/introduc ... egree.html

More specifically, I know people in BC's JD/MA in Education program, and they really like it.

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[vanwinkle]

The real question should be where your passion really is. If you really just want to practice law for a few years before going into teaching I think that could call into question the wisdom of getting the J.D. Is there something specific you want to achieve in law in only a few years? Or is your real passion teaching, but you can't give up on the thought of being a lawyer? It's not that there is anything wrong with wanting to be a lawyer, but if teaching is what you really want then a master's in education is going to be a lot more cost effective, especially considering your eventual earning goal would be a teacher's salary.

This. If you want to teach, go and teach. You can teach with a BA, there are schools out there that will take you with a BA, and some will even pay for you to get your MA while you teach. That way you'll be taking on less debt and building up seniority in the teaching system (which increases your pay) much faster.

[nyjag22]

Thanks for all who have posted thus far!

I should've been more specific, my apologies. I want to have NY state teaching certification, which requires a M.A.

I would like to do public interest law or go JAG corps for several years and then teach. Again, thanks for all of your thoughts!

[vanwinkle]

Thanks for all who have posted thus far!

I should've been more specific, my apologies. I want to have NY state teaching certification, which requires a M.A.

I would like to do public interest law or go JAG corps for several years and then teach. Again, thanks for all of your thoughts!

Don't the NYC schools have a provision where they'll get you provisionally certified as working on your MA and then pay for you to get your MA while you teach there, because they're so desperately short for teachers?

[nyjag22]

That's a good question. I'm not really familiar with NYC public schools (I'm from upstate), but I'm definitely going to look into that.