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.

Four Types of Distance Education Programs

Modern distance learning programs offers students a variety of options when working toward an online degree. Students can access programs that lead to a certificate in a specific industry and/or trade as well as pot graduate student the opportunity to work towards a graduate degree. It is important to understand the structure and possibilities of distance learning programs.

An online associate's degree program is a two year program. An associate's degree is perfect for students with a limited amount of time. If students are interested in completing an associates program, there are several junior colleges and universities that offer associates degree programs. An online associates program requires a high school diploma or GED. Upon completing the program, students have the option to proceed to the workforce and continue working towards career goals or enroll in a bachelor's degree program.

An online Bachelor's degree is a four year program. The first two years of a bachelor's program focuses on general education. After completing the general education courses, students are introduced to higher level career specific courses. The prerequisite for enrolling in a bachelor's degree is also a high school diploma or GED. These programs also require a certain rating on standardized test students complete while in high school, SAT and/or SAT. As with the associates program, students in a bachelor's program are exposed to courses that help with preparing to enter the job force.

Most jobs in the current job market only require an associates or bachelor's degree. An online graduate degree program is designed for students hoping to continue their education. Students that have completed a Master's degree program would present a serious challenge to a student with an undergraduate degree. There are a number of degree programs that students can study to complete their masters. While associates and bachelor's programs operate over 2 years or 4 years, the duration of an advanced degree, or graduate degree program are designed based on the requirements within the course presented. The structure, design and length of the program vary based on the subject matter.

As the saying goes, "Everything is not for everyone". The same applies in education. There are several people that have no desire to complete a college degree program. However, people in this category are usually challenged when trying to start a satisfying career. Online certificate programs offer students specialized training or skills in specific industries. Certificate programs are not as lengthy as associates of bachelor's degree. Yet, a certificate programs that enhances a person's skills and knowledge exposes students without a college degree to stable, professional careers or jobs.