Nancy Hall of Madison, Connecticut, has two master's degrees in psychology–a Master of Science and a Master of Philosophy–from Yale University. As a freelance writer, her graduate education in the social sciences has helped her publish many articles on child development, parenting, and health and author (or co-author) 12 books. She also appears on television and in parenting magazines as a child development expert. We asked about her decisions to earn those degrees:
Why did you decide to continue your education with a master's degree in the social sciences?
My undergrad degree was in psychology. When I applied to graduate school, I wanted a research job in an academic institution. I was working at the time as a research assistant in the psychology department of Yale, loved research, and wanted to continue this work in more depth.
Why did you choose Yale?
I was already working there, so it was a combination of convenience and respect for the faculty and the work that was being done there. I knew and enjoyed the department and its work and had close working relationships with faculty members I enjoyed and could continue to work with.
What are you doing now that utilizes your degrees?
When my first child was born, I had a more realistic sense of what child development was all about. I began to freelance articles to parenting magazines. I was also heavily involved with Yale's center for child development and policy study and working on writing papers and several books with my mentor, Head Start founder Ed Zigler, PhD, on child development and social policy. I've also given talks to other graduate students about how to work with the popular media, and I've written about the relationship between science writing and popular writing about social science topics. I like to think the writing I do is informed by my background and stays true to the goal of giving people helpful, research-based information about childhood, health, and family policy.
What advice would you give students considering a master's degree in the social sciences?
Stay open to all the possibilities that might arise and remember the real needs of the people you intended to help when you took up social sciences as a field of study.
Paula Andruss is a Cincinnati-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in publications including Parents, WomensWallStreet.com, Marketing News, Crain's Chicago Business, and Cincinnati magazine.
