A master’s degree in education can open doors to many different positions and careers; from elementary school to high school teaching, from private schools to public schools, from tutoring to university lecturing. You can even apply for administrative jobs like assistant principals, office managers or teacher consultants. The versatility of this post-graduate degree is another advantage for those who are looking for a career change or to advance their educational and professional goals.
If you want to teach, you’re going to need a master’s degree in education. However, there are some jobs that do not require this level of education.
There are plenty of jobs available for teachers with a bachelor’s degree. You can be an instructor or teach at a community college or university. There are also opportunities for teachers at preschools and elementary schools, though these positions generally require additional experience and certification beyond your bachelor’s degree.
If you have a master’s degree in education, you may be able to teach at high school or junior college level depending on the program requirements of your employer. If you have an advanced degree, it is likely that you will be able to teach at the college level as well as at high school level if necessary.
What jobs can you get with a master’s degree in education
Introduction
If you’re a teacher, you may be ready to take the next step in your career; if you’re not a teacher, but want to work in education, then earning your master’s degree in education is one of the best ways to get started. While it can be hard to visualize where a master’s will lead you—especially if you haven’t been a teacher before—there are lots of options available for those with graduate-level education skills. We’ll outline some of them here:
Teacher and educator roles
- Teacher and educator roles. These positions include teaching at the pre-kindergarten through 12th grade level, as well as any other education-related job that requires a master’s degree. Teachers and educators have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, including public schools, private schools, charter schools and educational nonprofits. Some examples are:
- School administrator
- School board member
- School counselor
- School psychologist
- School nurse
- School social worker
Postsecondary education administrator roles
As a postsecondary education administrator, you’ll work with faculty and students to develop academic programs, oversee large budgets and manage student affairs.
As an administrator in this field, you may be responsible for:
- Overseeing academic programs at colleges or universities
- Consulting with faculty on curriculum development and course planning
- Overseeing the budget of your institution
Instructional coordinator roles
Instructional coordinators are responsible for developing and implementing the curriculum of a school. They often work with other staff members to ensure that students are learning what they need to learn, and they develop and evaluate curriculum and instruction. These individuals manage instructional materials and technology, as well as student assessment results.
They may also develop the school’s learning environment through the use of assessments about student progress toward specific goals in reading, math, science or social studies; this information is used to improve student achievement levels across all subjects. Instructional coordinators oversee educators’ training programs so they can provide effective instruction in their classrooms while meeting state standards for teaching certification requirements like license renewal requirements or continuing education credits required by state agencies such as State Board of Education (SBE).
Preschool and childcare center director roles
Preschool and childcare center directors oversee children’s development as they learn. They organize the daily activities of centers, including playtime and lessons. Directors must be knowledgeable about child psychology so that they can teach skills like basic math and reading with age-appropriate methods.
A degree in education gives you an edge over other applicants because it shows that you have a strong interest in working with children—and it gives you experience teaching them!
Preschool or childcare center director salaries vary depending on location, but they generally range from $50,000 to $75,000 per year
Principal and assistant principal roles
If you want to become a principal or assistant principal, it’s best to have a master’s degree in education. That way, you can offer your students the expertise and guidance that comes from having received specialized training in education.
One way to achieve this is by earning your master’s degree online through accredited programs such as Online-Education-Degree.org’s Master of Education with Full Time Faculty (MEd) program or Harvard University Extension School’s Online Master of Education (OME) program. Or if you’d rather take courses on campus and earn credit at your own pace, consider an online hybrid degree program like Arizona State University’s MEd/MA in Curriculum & Instruction Program or Western Governors University College of Education’s online graduate certificate program in school leadership administration (CSLA).
If you’re interested more specifically in becoming an assistant principal, keep in mind that some states require applicants to hold an additional degree beyond their MEd—such as a master’s degree in business administration—in order to qualify for this position
School counselor roles
If you want to help students, a master’s degree in education may be the perfect fit for you. Students are at the heart of your work as a school counselor; it’s your job to help them achieve their goals. You’ll work with students and parents to help them make good decisions about academic, career and social issues. You’ll also help struggling students with disabilities or substance-abuse problems learn how to improve their lives by getting back on track at school.
School psychologist roles
A school psychologist is a licensed professional who works with students in a wide variety of capacities. The main responsibility of a school psychologist is to assess and treat students with learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and other mental health issues.
School psychologists can also help with the prevention of these problems by working with teachers, parents and other school personnel on the implementation of special education programs that will benefit all students.
There are plenty of options to explore with a master’s degree in education
A master’s degree in education is a great option for those who want to be involved in education. With a master’s degree, you can open up a lot of options for yourself and explore different career paths. There are plenty of jobs that require a master’s degree in education, so you will not be limited when it comes time to look for work.
Conclusion
We hope we’ve given you more insight into the many career paths that are open to those with a master’s in education. Remember, if any of these roles sound exciting to you, there are plenty of degrees out there for them all! If the list above made your eyes light up and your heart skip a beat, then keep on looking for schools and programs. Your future is waiting.
