Ten Great Reasons to Get a Master’s in Education

If you’re an educator or aspiring educator, you may be wondering what you can do with a master’s in education. You probably already know that this advanced degree can help you build knowledge and skills you can apply to your career in many different ways. If you need inspiration, here are 10 great reasons for getting a master’s in education. Read on to learn how earning a master’s can have a positive impact on your life and on the lives of your students.

1. Sharpen Your Teaching Skills
   With a teaching career comes a commitment to professional development and lifelong learning. All teachers—even the most experienced—should update and expand their teaching strategies, knowledge, and skills. You can do this in an impactful way by earning an MS in Education (MSEd) online from an accredited university. Online learning is a plus for working teachers who want to earn a degree while still pursuing their careers. You can also immediately put your knowledge and skills to work in your classroom or school.
2. Develop a Specialty
   The best online graduate programs for teachers offer specializations that can help you build expertise in a particular field of study. At Walden University, you can expand your knowledge and learn to create effective teaching strategies in specializations like Elementary Reading and Literacy (P–6; Non-Licensure), Science (Grades K–8; Non-Licensure), and Mathematics (Grades K–6; Non-Licensure) or Mathematics (Grades 5–8; Non-Licensure). As you expand your subject matter expertise, you’ll gain tools you can apply toward improving academic outcomes in your classroom. Or maybe Teacher Leadership (Grades K–12; Non-Licensure) is your passion. If you’re interested in a specialization, look for an MSEd program that provides multiple options.
3. Polish Your Job Prospects
   A master’s degree is never a guarantee of a job, raise, or promotion, but it can help equip you with valuable career knowledge. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that across all professions, workers with master’s degrees earn more than workers with bachelor’s degrees.1 If you’re thinking about earning a degree for potential career advancement, it’s always a good idea to do your research first. Survey your market to find out how having a master’s degree will affect your job prospects.
4. Transition Into School Administration
   To qualify for most jobs as an elementary, middle, or high school principal, you will need a master’s degree in education leadership or education administration.2 If you are interested in leadership, earning an MS in Education with an Educational Leadership and Administration specialization may be the right choice. An MSEd online degree program can help you develop management, leadership, and advanced instructional skills. Wide-ranging coursework on topics like legal, financial, data, and personnel management can help you prepare for the kinds of challenges school administrators face.
5. Prepare for a New Career Path
   What can you do with a master’s in education? How about taking your teaching skills, knowledge, and experience and applying them outside the K–12 classroom? Some teaching professionals earn a master’s degree in education to help prepare for jobs with curriculum development and design companies. You may also be able to apply the leadership and instructional skills you gain in an education master’s degree program to a variety of jobs in the business, government, and nonprofit sectors. Those jobs might include roles in leadership, training and development, and program design.
6. Tap In to Technology
   Technology affects how we live, work, play, and learn. Earning an MSEd degree can help you stay current on the latest education-based technologies and tools you can use in your classroom and school. For example, MSEd candidates in Walden’s Integrating Technology in the Classroom (Grades K–12; Non-Licensure) MSED specialization can gain the knowledge to create learner experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources. Coursework includes online classes that promote inclusivity, like Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology.
7. Prepare for Next-Level Education 
   Another great reason for getting a master’s is to lay the academic foundation for a terminal degree. An MSEd is a requirement for earning a PhD in Education or a Doctor of Education (EdD). So, earning a master’s in education can not only give you skills and knowledge you can apply to your current teaching career, it also can help prepare you for a future doctoral journey. Walden’s online doctoral degree programs offer a wide variety of specializations that let you focus your studies on your career interests and goals.
8. Build Lasting Social Change
   Schools need teachers who can help all children thrive, grow, and build a solid learning foundation. Walden’s commitment to social change is at the heart of all of its online degree programs. Through coursework and other learning opportunities, the HLC-accredited university’s MSEd candidates learn how to address the learning needs of diverse students and collaborate with families, communities, and other professionals to promote positive social change.

Earn Your Degree at Walden

Now that you know what you can do with a master’s in education, you may be ready to earn a degree.

Walden, an HLC-accredited online university, offers a variety of degree options for educators and prospective educators. There are online degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, as well as certificate programs—including the Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Administration, Management, and Leadership.

If you want to launch a teaching career, you may want to consider one of Walden’s online Master of Arts in Teaching degree programs: the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Elementary Education or the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Special Education. What is the difference between a master’s in teaching and a master’s in education? A master’s in education is geared toward licensed teachers with classroom experience, while a master’s in teaching is for people with bachelor’s degrees who aren’t currently working in education. A MAT degree program can help you gain the educational experience and skills you need to apply for licensure.

There are many other great reasons for earning your graduate degree at Walden. The university’s online degree programs offer teaching professionals the flexibility to earn a degree while working and staying engaged in personal activities. You can log in to your coursework on your own schedule, wherever you have an internet connection. And thanks to Walden’s flexible online learning platform, you’ll use immersive digital tools like avatar simulations.

As an MSEd candidate, your coursework will include content from nationally known education experts, policymakers, and high-performing teachers. You’ll learn important social and emotional skills such as resiliency and problem-solving. There’s even an emphasis on self-care strategies for you and your students.

If you’re still wondering, what can I do with a master’s in education, explore Walden’s online master’s in education degree program. Elevate your education and learn how to improve outcomes for all students by earning a master’s in education.

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

¹Source: www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2023/data-on-display/education-pays.htm 
²Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/management/elementary-middle-and-high-school-principals.htm#tab-4

Accreditation
Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences is accredited based on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards through June 2026. This accreditation covers specific Walden initial teacher and advanced educator preparation programs, including the BS in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Special Education specialization, MS in Education – Educational Leadership and Administration specialization, and EdS in Educational Leadership and Administration. The MAT-SPED, MSED-ELA, and EdS-ELA programs were reviewed by Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs), which define content-area standards for programs, and achieved national recognition.

CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement. Walden’s College of Education and Human Sciences has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement. CAEP is a Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)-recognized national accreditor for educator preparation.