Value of MA in Graphic Design?

[olcvisual]

My design teacher said a MA in Graphic Design is only for people who want to teach. Otherwise potential employers of design jobs perceive candidates with masters degrees as 'overqualified.' Agree or disagree?

[morea]

agree. check out the other threads on the forum that cover 'degree vs. portfolio'.

I haven't lost my mind... it's backed up on disk somewhere.

[defjoe]

MA = ZERO in GD (unless you teach)

3 years experience VS MA in GD

winner... experience

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'
'I'm the damn designer, bitches!'

Check out my indie comic book!
www.assassinsguild.net/ (http://www.assassinsguild.net/)

[Jason Fraker]

The main benefit of having an MFA in GD is that you'll have so many student loan debts, you'll be very eager to work that much harder!!
Plus, you'll have more $.50 words to fling around at AIGA parties...

-Jason

A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can even put on its shoes.
-Mark Twain

[D-Zine]

ROFL @ Jason!

Boobie Island or Bust!

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

In many situations an MA is a requirement to teach. So, in those situations, it is important. I don't know that employers look at someone with their Masters as 'overqualified.' While the education is important to potential employers (I know some firms that will not hire an individual without a degree) the talents/skills you can demonstrate are going to carry more weight than the number of degrees listed on your resume.

- Jeff

:: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Jeff Fisher :: Engineer of Creative Identity
Jeff Fisher LogoMotives (http://www.jfisherlogomotives.com)

:: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Member - HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board :: HOW Design Conference Advisory Board

Author - 'The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success: Ideas and tactics for a killer career' - to be released by HOW Design Books in December 2004.

:: :: :: :: :: :: ::

[spaceddreams]

What about someone who completed a bachelor's in a different field?

[budafist]

I agree. You are better off spending the time required of a MA on real life design experience.

Swap a MA for a internship.

[cmont]

I recently overheard a conversation between two people on the train and they were speaking about experiential teachers vs. MA holding teachers. As it turns out the school I am currently enrolled in and many in the neighborhood have had a hard time finding people with their MA to fill posisitions as teachers retire or pursue new opportunities. So they where discussing how the powers that be have been weighing experience as credit towards being able to teach at a university. Granted the individuals teaching would not be given full course loads but since they are experienced they would be given a job. This seems to be because many people who receive their bachelors in the arts dont see it necessary to go further. And as far as colleges go, a PHD is a requierment for teaching. So as it seems many colleges will probably be lowering their standards for sub par teachers who never really intended on teaching in the first place.

I currenly have one of these teachers teaching my Type 1 class. He also apparently teachers at a very prestigious art school. I fail to see/understand how seeing how since we still haven't been introduced to the fundamentle difference between typefacess eg. serif vs. san-serif. We've been taught no Type history and the asignments we have been doing fail to show any usefulness regarding using type in general.

[budafist]

I found out that a student in my design course was teaching design part time at private design institution (at tertiary level). What's up with that!?! Certainly it has made me cautious of private institutions that set themselves up only to make $$$.

[Samakimoto Graphics]

I also recently found out that a college mate and a lecturer from my college started a private design school in the city... The lecturer has an MA...Still I wonder at the level of training they offer...

And yes, an MA = teaching. I'm planning to do an Masters in somrthing totally different in about 5 years.

[Fantômas]

The main benefit of having an MFA in GD is that you'll have so many student loan debts, you'll be very eager to work that much harder!!
Plus, you'll have more $.50 words to fling around at AIGA parties...

-Jason

A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can even put on its shoes.
-Mark Twain

you sound bitter. :p

[SpugNothuson]

I'd love to agree that experience counts over a degree and I'm sure in most places it does.

But I was past over the same job twice as I had no degree and when I went for a job at a University to do their inhouse design work I was also rejected, even though whilst in the interview the 3 interviewers were surprised at my knowledge and I was the only person to answer all their questions satisfactorily. I got a rejection letter from them for being under qualified.

Now that I only do freelance design I haven't to my knowledge come across any degree bias. But it did annoy me some a few years ago.

[PrintDriver]

But there is a difference between having "a degree" and having a Masters Degree. If you have a masters, you are just as likely to be passed over as overqualified. Or not. It really depends on the hiring environment. If it was a marketing position I'd think a Masters would get you farther but as far as a general every day GD position, it may hurt more than help. I always go for the exprienced first though (based on book and references) .

Edit: and I just realized how old this thread really is. LOL!

[SurfPark]

The key is getting that Master's Degree in tandum with your experience. I think its foolish for someone that just earned their BA to get involved in a masters program. Take a year or more off and work in the field. Entry level jobs want someone they can hire that is cheap and efficient. An MA degree won't help you find a "better" job, because only experience will allow that.

An MA degree will help you find a specific "different" job...mainly being involved in education. If you decide to get into a Masters program, its in the student's best interest to have the idea deeply ingrained that they want to eventually become an educator. I believe that most designers fresh out of their undergrad program don't know if they want to teach. Just because they can solve visual or marketing programs and communicate with a client (one-on-one or a small group) doesn't mean they'll have the skill to convey visual and conceptual ideas to a class of 30+. I think the MA degree implies that you're going to learn the essence of teaching, as well as the advanced studies of design itself.

[idaho]

Ok, I know this is an old thread but I just found it and I thought maybe I can add some good information to it for those people like me who always find threads after they have died.

In terms of a MA degree, I agree with everyone else. A master’s degree in graphic arts is worthless unless you want to teach. Trust me. I have one and it's worthless.

I've spoken to multiple employers over the years and here is what all of them have basically said (distilled version)... They all want people with talent not education. Most would take a high school graduate with amazing drawing ability over a college grad with a degree in graphic arts and only moderate ability. I met a guy from movie effects industry years ago who told me that "I want people who can draw. People with real talent. I can teach a monkey to use software." This has proven true over the years.

A master’s degree is very valuable depending on your situation. The only time I would recommend a MA in Graphic Design is if you want to teach. If you are intent on getting an advanced degree then get a masters degree in business (I'm working on mine now). It can be very useful if you want to own/run your own business or, if you want to work for a large company, it will help you move up into management when you are ready. (Note: It is important to have good common sense first because without it an advanced degree is worthless no matter what kind it is.)

Now, with all that being said, it doesn’t matter how many degrees you have if you don’t have the experience to back it up. My suggestion would be to go out and get several years worth of experience before you even attempt a master’s degree. That way you can see where your career is taking you first because you may find that either 1) you don’t want to stay a graphic designer forever and need the degree to reinvent yourself, or 2) that you want to be a designer forever and you don’t need the advanced degree at all.

Just my $.02 worth.

[budafist]

I've spoken to multiple employers over the years and here is what all of them have basically said (distilled version)... They all want people with talent not education. Most would take a high school graduate with amazing drawing ability over a college grad with a degree in graphic arts and only moderate ability. I met a guy from movie effects industry years ago who told me that "I want people who can draw. People with real talent. I can teach a monkey to use software." This has proven true over the years.

I'm a monkey and I got talent and a degree (not a masters though). Now what? :D

I know for sure that employers here will not interview a high school graduate for a design position, let alone employ one over someone with a degree (talent or no talent). I had trouble finding a job with 3 years part time design experience and a design degree. I looked for a job for 8 months. High school student? Forget about it. You need that foot in the door first.

Sure, you can teach software to people with less than amazing drawing skills, but graphic design isn't just about drawing. Not by a long shot.

When faced with someone with 3 years software, colour, theory, composition, history of design education and someone without, why would an employer want to train someone up for 3 years themselves while paying them?

[carter the artist]

An education is only worthless if you don't use it.