How to Get a Master's in Education
Obtaining a master's degree in education will deepen your understanding of the broader education that you obtained during your undergraduate program. If you plan to work in the public education sector, holding a master's degree will most likely increase your salary and generally increases the number of jobs that you'll qualify for. Regardless of the specific program that you choose, you will need to lay the basic foundation in order to qualify for an accredited master's in education program.
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Things You'll Need
- Accredited bachelor's level degree
- Completed graduate application and supporting documents
Instructions
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Graduate with a bachelor's degree from an accredited program. This is a requirement to enter into any accredited master's degree program. Maintaining a grade point average of at least a 3.0 will increase your chances of being accepted into a master's of education program.
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Gain work experience in your field of interest. Oftentimes, graduate programs in education require that the applicant holds a bachelor's degree, but also prefers that an applicant has experience in the field. Experience could consist of an internship, volunteering, working as a para educator, or assisting an educational specialist.
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Research and select a graduate school. Choose a graduate school that meets your educational goals, is financially feasible and collaborates well with your schedule. Choosing an accredited program will allow you to qualify for federal financial aid programs and is often required when applying for positions that require a master's level degree.
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Apply for a master's in education graduate program. Each educational institution has precise guidelines that you must follow in order to qualify for their specific program. Visit the "Admissions" homepage of the educational institution that you are interested in to begin the application process, or contact the admissions office directly to speak with an academic counselor or adviser.
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Attend and complete all requirements. For a Master of Education (M.Ed.), you can choose between several specialties such as: Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Counseling, Educational Leadership, or Special Education. Coursework depends on your area of expertise, but will consist of upper-level courses (400- and 500-level and above), educational research, exams, term papers and a non-thesis research project, internship or special assignment. Most masters in education programs can be completed in one to three years depending on the number of classes that you take at a time.
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Tips & Warnings
Contact the educational institutions financial aid department to explore your options for funding the program.
Once you apply to one graduate program, keep a copy of all of the documents submitted such as: application, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement and resume so that the process for applying to additional schools is less time consuming.
Select a regionally accredited program otherwise you will not be considered for most employment opportunities that require a master's level degree, nor will you qualify for federal financial aid opportunities.
Consider the location that you plan to apply for work once you obtain your degree to ensure that your degree is in alignment with state standards of the location that you plan to reside.
References
Resources
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