Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Options For Graduate Degrees In Education

Students who hope to have a career in education, or those who have already been teaching for some time, often look into earning a Master's degree. Sometimes, earning a Master's degree is your employer's requirement. Other times, it is simply a choice you make to increase your chances of employment as a teacher or in school administration. As a teacher seeking an advanced degree, you generally have three options: Master of Education (MED), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), and Master of Science in Education (MSED). It is important to know how to distinguish these degrees and decide which one is right for you.

The MED is for teachers who have a Bachelor's degree in education and wish to further their knowledge and qualifications in this area. You may need to earn a Master's to remain eligible for employment by your school district or to seek a more advanced position as a curriculum coordinator.

The MED is a professional degree, which is generally terminal. After you earn it, you cannot go on to pursue your doctorate. If advanced academia is your ultimate goal, an MED is not for you. Rather, this program is for individuals who already have an undergraduate degree but wish to continue their studies.

The MAT is a good degree option for students who have already completed a Bachelor's degree in the liberal arts but wish to become teachers in that area. If you have arrived at your decision to become a teacher late in your undergraduate program, or if you desire a career change, you can generally complete the MAT in a year to qualify for teaching positions.

What makes the MAT a unique degree option? The MAT is a liberal arts degree which generally does not require a thesis. This program is a career preparatory degree and is typically intended as a terminal degree. It is perfect for those who desire a relatively quick career change, and it will cover what you will need to know about education in order to become a teacher.

An MSED degree is a heavily concentrated program with emphasis on theoretical concepts and educational research. The program will provide you with the foundation for a teaching career or any number of careers related to school administration, education research, and other areas beyond classroom teaching.

1 comment:

  1. Teaching is really very good career and the most comfortable too provided you have a good influencing power.I am a Psychology teacher in UIU university.MSED helps me alot in my career life.

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