Anyone wishing to progress to more senior teaching positions will require a Masters Degree in Education . There are a variety of different course options depending on what your specialty subject is, with all courses falling under the Master in Teaching (MIT) qualification, or the Master in Education (M.Ed.) qualification. To get accepted onto either course, you must first have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Why Do I Need a Masters Degree in Education?

If you have worked hard to complete your bachelor’s degree, and you're in a full time teaching post or employment, you may be wondering why you need to do a masters degree in education. The reality of the situation is this – if you envisage yourself progressing further along the teaching career path , this is the next vital step to take. This qualification is extremely sought after and once you obtain it the doors will just fly open!

Programme Choices If you are looking to complete a MIT degree, you will have to decide upon whether you wish to teach primary or secondary school, and also which subject you are going to specialise in. For a M.Ed. course you will need to choose between curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, educational leadership and policy, or special education.

Both courses require a relatively large amount of coursework to be completed, which will be focused around your area of expertise, with some specialities being more practical based than others. To complete the degree qualification students must complete a final project. This can either be a masters thesis overseen by an adviser, a written exam , or some form of research project or internship.

Career Opportunities First and foremost, a Masters Degree in Education takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but it will earn you no end of respect from fellow teachers, administrators, parents and board members alike. As you gain educational qualifications, you are eligible to take on more responsibilities, thus increasing your pay entitlements. There are also a number of educational posts that require you to have a masters in education including;

• School Administrator
• School Counselor
• Curriculum Director
• Testing / Evaluation
• Content / Subject Area Specialist

As well as these traditional in-school job opportunities, there are a whole host of other options available to you once you have gained your Masters Degree in Education, including;

• Educational Researcher
• Textbook Author
• Corporate Trainer
• Educational Consultant

Are you considering a Masters Degree in Education?