Advancing Your Career: What To Do With a Master’s in Education

Teachers are vital to the intellectual development of the nation’s young minds. While the job of teaching can be incredibly rewarding, it also takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be a top educator. But there’s a way you can increase your ability to be successful: Earn an MS in Education (MSEd).

For many working teachers, earning a master’s in education is exactly the step they need to take to further their career. That’s because an MSEd degree can open up a lot of opportunities, including:

Teaching Your Preferred Specialization

One of the key benefits of earning an MSEd is getting the chance to specialize in a specific field of education. Whatever educational area interests you most, there’s likely a school of education that will allow you to focus on that interest as part of an MSEd degree.

MSEd specializations include ones centered on specific subjects (like Mathematics Grades 5–8, Science Grades K–8, STEM Education Grades K–8, etc.), ones centered on specific types of students (Elementary Reading and Literacy, Special Education K–12, etc.), ones centered on specific challenges (Curriculum Instruction and Assessment, Integrating Technology in the Classroom, etc.), and ones centered on educational leadership (Educational Leadership and Administration, Teacher Leadership, etc.).

With an MSEd specialization, you’ll be qualified for positions within a particular area, increasing your ability to guide your career into the educational area that most fulfills you.

Advance Into an Educational Administration Role

An MS in Education can be an important step toward learning necessary leadership skills and becoming part of your school’s administration. In fact, in many school districts, a master’s in education is a necessary credential for career advancement. According to the National Center of Education Statistics, 98% of public school principals hold a master’s degree or higher.¹ The same is often true for many other members of school administration, including assistant principals and teacher leaders, who are typically tasked with curriculum creation and the professional development of other teachers.

Increase Your Earning Potential

Teacher pay is highly dependent on your state and even your city. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2017, a teacher’s average salary in the U.S. could range from $42,000 a year to $80,000 a year, depending on location.² However, no matter where you live, an MSEd can help you raise your earnings potential by elevating your skills and qualifications. As with all professions, those who have more to offer have the ability to earn more for their work.

How Can You Earn Your MSEd?

From improving your teaching strategies to helping you move into administration and/or elevate your earnings potential, an MS in Education can be a great choice for your career. And the good news is, attending a graduate program for teachers is more possible than ever before, thanks to online education.

When you earn a master’s in education online, you can continue living where you are now and continue working full time, too. That’s because online master’s in education programs allow you to access your courses via the internet—meaning you can take them right from home. Plus, online learning offers flexible scheduling, giving you the power to choose when in the day you attend class. That way, you can arrange your education degree around your career—and more conveniently earn the degree you need to take your career further.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering an MS in Education degree program online. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

¹Source: https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=55
²Source: www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2018/a-look-at-teacher-pay-across-the-united-states-in-2017.htm

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.