Where will Your Master of Education Degree Take you?

Do you enjoy spending time in an educational environment, but not necessarily as the teacher? If so, it might be worth looking into earning your Master of Education degree. With a master’s degree in education, you’ll have more flexibility to work outside the classroom in roles you may have never before considered. This degree is a solid choice for current teachers who desire more responsibility or who wish to begin the transition to administration. But it’s also a great choice for students who are currently pursuing a four-year educational degree. Investing in those extra two years to earn your master’s can help you earn more and experience higher rates of job satisfaction right out of the gate.

What Is a Master of Education?

A Master of Education, or M.Ed. degree, prepares you to move beyond classroom teaching experience and into school administration or curriculum preparation. Current teachers who wish to play bigger roles and hold more influence on how the school system operates or what is taught inside the classroom would do well to pursue their M.Ed.

As a student in a Master of Education degree program, you’ll have several concentrations from which to choose. Prime examples include:

• Counselor Education: For those interested in becoming a school guidance counselor or mental health counselor.
• Curriculum and Instruction: For teachers who want to create, troubleshoot, or fine-tune curricula.
• Educational Leadership: For those who wish to become school principals or other school administrators.
• Teaching ESL: This concentration applies to teachers who may wish to work in foreign countries or who desire to be enrichment teachers outside the regular classroom for students whose first language is not English.
• Educational Technology: Professionals who wish to become technology coordinators for schools or districts or who dream of developing STEM programs may enjoy a concentration in educational technology.

What does a Master of Education Professional Do?

Building upon what we already know, someone with a master’s degree in education is well prepared to step into a variety of roles. Some, such as school principal or school superintendent, may require prerequisites, such as several years of experience. However, many are available to new graduates who are just entering the workforce. And while your duties may still include classroom instruction, you may also find yourself branching out into new and interesting directions like careers as a guidance counselor, leadership roles with non-profits, or positions within your church.

Tasks of a Curriculum and Instruction Developer

While a guidance or mental health counselor is focused primarily on students, a curriculum and instruction developer concentrates on the material being presented inside the classroom. This Master of Education professional has a different list of tasks that fill their day, including:

• Developing, designing, and implementing various curricula
• Composing reading passages for ELA classes
• Developing learning games for school computers and mobile devices
• Evaluating and revising outdated curricula
• Implementing curriculum-training workshops for teachers and administrators

Tasks of a Technical Educator

Someone with a Master of Education in Technical Education may have a to-do list that looks like this:

• Train teachers on new hardware and software
• Develop curriculum guidelines using existing technology
• Oversee the installation and setup of school computer systems
• Travel between schools in the district to coach and train new users
• Troubleshoot equipment and software problems

These are not the only positions available to graduates who possess a master’s degree in education, but they do offer insight on what you may expect to do, depending upon which concentration you choose.

What Type of Coursework Should You Expect When Earning Your M.Ed?

The coursework you’re required to take depends heavily upon your area of concentration. For instance, students who are pursuing their M.Ed. in Reading Instruction may find themselves enrolled in:

• Literature for Children
• Measurement and Evaluation Procedures for Reading
• Teaching Reading to Multicultural Populations

These are in addition to the core classes you may be required to take as part of earning your master’s degree, such as Research Methods, Assessment and Evaluation, and Teaching Methods. All are designed to give you stronger skills in teaching, but some drill down more into the root of your chosen direction.

Of course, if you’re hoping to become a technical educator or curriculum consultant, these likely won’t apply. It’s good to remember that the track you choose sets the tone for the coursework you’ll be required to complete. For this reason, choose a concentration that genuinely appeals to you. If you enjoy working with individuals who have special needs, consider earning your M.Ed. in Special Education. Or, if you love teaching small children how to read, choose to become a reading instructor. Part of the universal appeal of the Master of Education degree program is that it’s highly customizable. And regardless of your chosen career path, jobs in education tend to offer solid pay, good benefits, and great job security. More importantly, however, they can be highly rewarding on a personal level.

Earn Your M.Ed. at Carson-Newman University

Carson-Newman University is a Christ-centered college in Jefferson City, TN. Founded on Christian principles, our university holds high standards and expectations for students who wish to further their careers while studying in a Christ-centered environment. At Carson-Newman, Christ is Lord of our university, and we believe all good things come to those who believe in him.

Our Master of Education degree program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, or CAEP. It requires 36 credit hours beyond that which you’ve accrued while earning your bachelor’s degree and is spread out over five semesters. Graduates from our program go on to become school administrators, experts in special education, and much more. Classes are a hybrid of online and in-person instruction, designed to fit your busy schedule.

Students who attend classes on campus benefit from the beautiful scenery and instruction by some of the area’s most passionate scholars. Positioned on the outskirts of Tennessee’s stunning Great Smokey Mountains, Carson-Newman University offers an outstanding level of traditional Christian education in an atmosphere that inspires fine Christian principles and values.

If you’re interested in learning about the Master of Education degree program at Carson-Newman University, we invite you to take our online tour, or call to schedule an appointment with an admissions advisor today. Earning your M.Ed. is the first step toward opening doors you never knew existed. Fine-tune your career skills and boost your employability when you enroll at Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, today.