The decision to enroll in a master’s degree is a big step in many people’s lives. It will influence their career path and future plans. Whether you are choosing to stay in the education field or to try something completely different, choosing a specific graduate concentration within the master’s degree will help you narrow down what you want to do professionally after you graduate.
For example, if you are getting your master’s in education, you may add a concentration in educational leadership, school psychology, secondary education, and so many more. The most challenging part is to decide which you are going to follow. To help in the decision-making process, there are several points you should consider when choosing your graduate concentration.
Professional, Career Aspirations
When a person chooses to get their master’s in education, it does not necessarily mean they want to be a teacher. The education profession is comprised of a multitude of different positions and departments that you want to find what best fits your career goals. If you are not keen on having a classroom full of 30 students, then you may want to concentrate in speech pathology so that you get to work one-on-one or with children in small groups.
You might have been in the classroom teaching for several years and now want to transition into administration, so you might concentrate on school leadership. This concentration will allow you to be a principal, director of a program, or superintendent.
There are concentrations in teaching English as a second language or reading specialists. These concentrations are specific and have a goal to be an English language development teacher or reading teacher. There are concentrations in various types of special education. Regardless of your concentration, be sure to think about your professional aspirations first.
Personal Goals
Although we often combine our personal and professional goals, you want to try to separate them when you are thinking about what concentration you want to have with your graduate degree. First and foremost:
- What environment do you see yourself working in?
- Do you want to be in a school?
- Do you want to be with elementary students or high school students?
- Do you want to work off-site at a specialized school for children with learning disabilities?
- Do you see yourself working in an after-school program that specializes in servicing children who struggle with reading?
Consider your personality, day-to-day likes, and dislikes, research the different working environments, and see what concentration fits best. You may find that you do not want to be in the school environment at all. Perhaps you want to work for an educational textbook or program creator. You may want to specialize in curriculum or leadership.
Your Passions
Before selecting a master’s degree and then concentration, give yourself time to experience what happens in the real world. Finding your passions is paramount in choosing the concentration that is right for you. If you are jumping right into your degree without working first, that is alright.
Think about your personal experiences in school and education:
- Did you interact with teachers in specialty areas that piqued your interests?
- Did you have friends or family members who struggled with school, and you can see yourself working with students just like them?
Furthermore, if you have work/teaching experience, reflect on what made you the happiest:
- What got you excited to go to work every day?
- What kind of student did you feel passionately about helping to succeed or overcome barriers? What areas in the school did you see that lacked support that you now want to help fill the void?
Make connections with other professionals. Ask them questions and relay your ideas and passions to them. They will be able to share how you can bring what you are passionate about into their profession.
Finally, reflect on your success and failures. Do any of these lead you to a concentration that you want to pursue in your graduate degree. No matter what, make sure that you are going into a concentration that you love and can see yourself working in for a long time.
Consider the Research
Do not forget that different concentrations in master’s degrees might require you to complete research. You might choose a concentration that has a culminating project that is an extensive thesis. Do you have the time and desire to complete something like this? Also, specific concentrations may require additional hours of fieldwork or internships. Be sure to investigate all of the requirements for the concentration before beginning because you do not want to start something that you cannot finish.
No matter what, choosing a concentration for your graduate program is an exciting time. Talk to others who have selected and completed that concentration and ask them questions. Be sure to think about your end goals and match those with your chosen concentration.
Educators never stop learning; check out our available graduate degree programs to hone your skills and promote lifelong learning and academic excellence.
