Choices in Master's Degrees for Educators

A master's degree is increasingly important to landing the best jobs in today's competitive job market, and education is no exception. From business to nursing to teaching, a master's degree says you have the academic credentials and specialized knowledge to be a leader in your field.

Additionally, a master's degree can qualify you for higher salaries, promotions into supervisory or administrative positions, and more specialized teaching assignments.

Master's degrees in education include the MA in education, the MS in education, or simply the master's of education (MEd). Within these broad degree types, there are several different specialties, so before you enroll, research prospective programs and figure out which one is right for you.

Master's Degrees in Education

While you may take general courses in education, your graduate program also gives you expertise in a particular topic. If you are considering a graduate education program, you may already have some teaching experience to help you determine what area of education you want to specialize in.

Your choice of specialty may be based on your particular aptitudes or interests, or on pragmatic considerations such as choosing a specialty where demand is high. Examples of high-demand specialities include special education, bilingual education, math, physics, and science.

The following are examples of specialties within master's degrees in education:

• Adult education: In a changing economy, adults need to be prepared to learn new skills or update old ones. By specializing in adult education, you learn about the specific ways the adult brain learns.
• Assessment and evaluation: As schools look to satisfy a growing demand for measurable results, assessment and evaluation is becoming an increasingly important part of the educational system.
• Child development: This may be an ideal specialty if you are interested in early education.
• Corporate training: Not all teaching takes place in schools. Large corporations have a continuing need to train new staff, and update the skills of the existing staff.
• Curriculum design: Coursework must be constantly changing to keep up with government guidelines and community demands. By specializing in curriculum design, you can help keep school programs current.
• Distance education: The popularity of online education has led to growing demand for people skilled in distance teaching techniques.
• Education administration: If you feel your strength is your organizational skills, administration might be the best way for you to pursue a career in education.
• English as a second language (ESL): America has always been a nation of immigrants, and ESL instructors help meed the educational needs of newcomers to this country.
• Special education: Advances in diagnostic techniques and a mission of addressing the educational needs of all children has led to increased demand for special education teachers.

Graduate Schools in Education: Resources for On-Campus and Online Programs

Once you have an idea of what specialty you want to pursue, how do you identify which graduate schools in education offer that specialty, and which ones might be a good match for you? The following are some of the resources at your disposal as you research graduate schools in education.

On-Campus Master's Programs

Naturally, there are many traditional on-campus schools offering a master's in education. A key advantage of an on-campus program may be the opportunity to observe and participate in teaching techniques first hand. A potential drawback, though, may be location--if there are no relevant programs offered in your part of the country, attending an on-campus program might require a major move.

Online Master's Programs

While online master's programs can't offer the in-person experience of on-campus programs, they do have other advantages. The can overcome barriers of location, and can also make pursuing a master's degree fit into your schedule more conveniently. Online master's programs also often represent a cost savings over on-campus programs.

Online Directories

Both on-campus and online schools usually have detailed information available on their web sites, and to get an overview of the possibilities you could consult an online directory of graduate schools in education. This can help you not only identify specific schools, but also learn more about different degree types plus practical issues such as test preparation and financial aid.

Financial Aid Information

Speaking of financial aid, learning about the aid options available to you should be an important part of your search for a master's degree program. You shouldn't eliminate any school for being too expensive until you have found out how financial aid might help make the costs manageable. In addition to online directories, the U.S. Department of Education is a good source of general information on financial aid options.

With the resources described above, you should be able to choose from a wide range of on-campus and online master's degree programs. Finding the right graduate degree program can help you start down the path toward a rewarding career as an educator.