<p>I'm an elementary school teacher, currently in a M.ed program for reading. I will graduate in about a year. I'm looking at a Phd in language and literacy, a Phd in Library Science or a MLS in library science. At the current moment, I'm not looking to move into teaching at the university level, but I would like to in the future.
Which option would have the best returns for me?</p>
<p>TIA!
Kiki</p>
<p>Well, it depends on what you want to do. Typically, you decide on a career first and then get the graduate degree you need, not the other way around.</p>
<p>If you want to be a librarian, an MLS is probably a good choice. With your M.Ed in reading and your teaching experience, you may be a good candidate for a librarian in K-12 schools (especially elementary schools).</p>
<p>A PhD is primarily a research degree. Are you interested in research on language and literacy or library science? Even if you do not want to teach on the university level, are you interested in a career in educational research and scholarship? If that’s your interest then the PhD is what you need, but if you don’t want to do that - or don’t want to do that right now - then a PhD is a waste of time for you.</p>
<p>I do want to be a librarian, I just worry about the job market. I know the “experts” say it’s a growing field, but I just don’t see it here in Texas. I just keep looking at it because I love books and love to research (hence the through that a PhD might be up my alley). Reading and writing are my subjects to teach, but I worry about getting hired at a university level with only a few years of classroom experience, or being a classroom teacher with a PhD.</p>
<p>My GRE was reasonable for a person in my field, but about 10 points low for getting into a top-tier program. My undergrad GPA was 3.96, and a 3.7 in grad with 9 hours.</p>