Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word weird as: “of strange or extraordinary character.” This principal has spent almost a decade hiring people and going through resumes mostly at the campus-level (sometimes on a committee at the district-level) and has rarely seen a person with two master’s degrees. This would lead me to say, yes, having two master’s degrees is weird; it is strange and extraordinary. It can make one marketable and be used as a springboard to a doctorate degree.
In an informal discussion with administrators about this topic, many of the responders who had two master’s degrees talked about the desire to be able to compete for different jobs, pursue doctorate degrees, and switch gears with the direction they wanted to go in their educational career.
The Benefits of Getting Two Master’s Degrees
The first benefit of two master’s degrees was the options it presented to the possessor of two master’s degrees. For example, one person who at first had a special education master’s degree found that they would only open for sure to be directed to a handful of jobs, mainly as a special education director for a district or with a regional service center.
Please note, in the state I work, Texas, a master’s degree is required to be an administrator. It is not specified what kind of masters it has to be: just have one. This person then went back and got a master’s degree in educational administration. This opened many more doors to the person and started getting more looks into campus and central office administration.
This is similar to another example of a person who earned a master’s in educational technology, but later went into a curriculum and instruction master’s degree to go a totally different route in their education career. They felt they were pigeon-held only into technology-driven positions for their advancement.
Other responders mentioned that between their two master’s degrees, it put them within striking distance of a doctorate degree with relative ease. Of course, more tuition was still involved, but the distance was doable in reaching a doctorate.
Things to Consider Before Pursuing Two Master’s Degree
Cost
This leads our list of items to consider when pursuing a master’s degree, this conversation cannot happen without this consideration. According to FinAid.org, the average cost of master’s degree for students is between $30,000 and $120,000. The cost varies depending on the university and the master’s program itself. When it comes to cost, this takes a lot of research and careful consideration.
Between the place you are pursuing your masters and the cost involved in a second master’s degree, one should consider the cost in pursuing a doctorate degree as well.
Salary Differential
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020, the median weekly earnings for a master’s degree is $1,545 compared to $1,305 with a bachelor’s degree. The he highest median weekly earnings come with a doctorate degree: $1,885.
From a financial standpoint, the return-on-investment leans toward a doctorate versus a second master’s degree.
Hours Needed
The average master’s program requires 32 to 36 credit hours, which translates to about eight to 10 courses and one to two years. But some master’s programs require as many as 60 credits. The average doctorate degree requires 58-120 hours and three to seven years to complete.
Based on these averages two master’s degrees could easily one doctorate degree when based simply on the hours and time to complete.
Opportunity also plays into the decision to pursue one or even two master’s degrees.
For example, I have two very talented teachers at my campus who are young, recently married and are considering pursuing a master’s degree. They don’t have kids of their own yet, finances may be short since they are recently married, but right now is the best time to get their master’s degree.
In a few years, they will have kids of their own, and other life events will keep having them potentially put off going after their master’s degree. The opportunity is likely now.
In my own personal experience, I was able to go a fifth year and earn my master’s degree.
Many teachers I was working with five to seven years later were going back to get theirs and they were juggling being married, their own kids, and their own workload. Timing of pursuing these degrees is another important consideration.
Personal Questions to Consider
As with most life decisions, it helps to have few key questions to quickly think about before diving in. If you were in my office asking about pursuing two master’s degrees these are the questions I would ask you:
- What do you want to be doing in five to ten years? If the master’s degree helps you achieve that goal, it is worth considering
- Does the salary increase with another master’s in the long run pay for the master’s degree?
- Before pursuing a first or second master’s degree, if a doctorate is something you desire, can you use the master’s credits/hours toward a doctorate later in your career?
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