What is a Master’s Degree?

Graduate programs usually consist of a limited number of courses on a very specialized topic.  These programs usually require the shortest amount of time to complete, often within a year.  The coursework is highly concentrated and designed to meet the needs of a specific career path. Programs such as these allow you to be more flexible by adding additional areas where you can teach or supervise such as a reading specialist, principal, or superintendent letter of eligibility.

These programs provided real-world skills and assist in preparing for any necessary professional certification tests. A master’s degree requires more courses and often takes around two years to complete. These programs provide more in-depth knowledge within a particular field such as reading and literacy, educational administration, special education, or learning, design, and technology. This type of degree has broader applications because you have the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Many leadership positions within a school such as department leaders, coaches, and administrative positions may require master’s level knowledge. A doctorate degree requires the most intense coursework as well as a longer time commitment. These programs often take two, three, or more years to finish and require the completion of a dissertation. Beyond gaining knowledge in your field, doctorate coursework has a heavy focus on research, analysis, and writing. Many schools look for doctorate degrees for their top executive positions and can allow individuals to transition their career into academia.

Ultimately, when making a decision you need to reflect on your personal career goals and determine how much time you are willing to commit to your program. Point Park University offers a variety of Master in Education and Master of Arts programs that can easily meet the needs of educators, even those that are currently in the classroom. Point Park’s programs offer a high level of flexibility with in-person, online, and hybrid programs. Many of the programs follow the cohort model which means that you will move throughout the program with the same group of classmates, enhancing your knowledge, and building relationships that last into the future. I still reach out to the support system I build at Point Park when facing challenges or celebrating successes within my current district. Each program is led by highly dynamic educators in their field, provides highly focused content in your area of concentration, as well as allows for opportunities to practice your skills throughout your coursework.

Advantages

Increased Job Opportunities

When looking at the benefits of completing a master’s program, increased job opportunities is often at the top of the list. Adding additional certifications and degrees can open doors both in the present as well as in the future. As someone who sits in a variety of interviews, a candidate with multiple degrees is more coveted than someone with a single degree. Districts are always looking at both their current needs as well as ways to address plans for the future creatively. They also are looking for teachers who are highly skilled. A master’s program can often provide both of those qualities. On the flip side, as someone with additional certifications, I recognize that when I am in search of a new position I have more choices than other educators. I am not limited to simply a handful of positions. The ability to be versatile in an ever-changing climate is so incredibly important!

Increased Salary

Financial compensation is often another advantage of obtaining a master’s degree. Most school districts have salary scales that take into consideration not only the number of years you have been with the district but also the type and level of degree you possess. Salaries in my district are broken down into steps such as Level I, Level II, Masters +15, Masters +30, and doctoral degrees. While retirement is far in my future, I recognize the importance of setting myself up for financial success now and in the future.

What You’ll Learn in a Master’s Degree Program

Ultimately my driving force for returning to the classroom as a student was that I wanted to enhance my skill set and ultimately increase my professional opportunities. I constantly want to grow my knowledge base so that I am better able to problem-solve with my teams. That does not mean that I will always have the answers, but that I have a means and path to work toward a solution.

I believe that I possess a growth mindset and I want to model and share that with those I work with. In addition, I am constantly trying to build upon my leadership skills. I recognize that successful programs, schools, and districts are the result of high-quality transformational leaders. I strive to be one of those and Point Park University has given me the tools so that I will be able to reach that goal.

Advantages of a Graduate Degree through Point Park University

In my case, I completed a master’s program and honestly enjoyed my courses, professors, and classmates so much that I decided to apply for a second program to add a Principal Certification. Were the classes rigorous? Absolutely! I grew as an educator and leader in ways that traditional professional development cannot replicate. Was the work meaningful? You bet!

Everything that I was learning, I was able to apply within my current position. Most importantly, my professors and all of the staff from admissions to graduation supported me every step of the way. The end result not only was I able to grow as a leader in my school but my certifications and degrees also gave me the flexibility and skills to change positions when the timing was right.

Interested in continuing your education? Check out our education graduate programs and take your next step today!

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Before the pandemic, technology usage as an essential tool for teaching and learning was an important part of traditional teaching for nearly every teacher and student. Teachers have used technology hardware and software tools to enrich learning, increase motivation, and enhance communication during the past decade. A wide variety of technological applications were used as a routine part of instruction to engage students, supplement instruction, and customize learning needs.

How has Technology in Education Changed Since COVID Started?

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, various technologies that made teaching and learning possible when meeting face-to-face in traditional classrooms were no longer an option for schools across the nation. The importance of technology, for example, course management systems, facilitated content delivery while many students were learning from home. The use of new technologies to deliver lessons increased dramatically across the curriculum for nearly all content areas. As the pandemic wanes, new technologies remain an essential part of instruction. The pandemic provided an unprecedented opportunity to pilot the use of new and emerging educational technologies.

How has the Learning and Design Process Changed Since COVID Started?

There is now a much greater reliance on tools and apps that facilitate synchronous learning, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Because there has been so much communication among teachers and students during the pandemic that has been technology-enabled, teachers have taken the opportunity to use other technologies in learning activities and assignments.

What skills does the M.Ed. in Learning, Design, and Technology Program Impart on Its Students?

Instructional technology has become so common and ever-changing that, rather than teach particular technologies, the M.Ed. in Learning, Design, and Technology program aims to give these mid-career students multiple opportunities to share information with one another, focusing on how the technologies they use align with learning objectives, and activities, and assessments.

The program emphasizes:

• Learning technologies
• Instructional design
• Content delivery
• Innovative instruction
• Assessment and evaluation
• Emerging trends

Fieldwork and practicum courses reinforce skills and the application of new knowledge to real-world settings.

How Will Earning an M.Ed. in Learning, Design, and Technology Impact Students in the Classroom?

The M.Ed. in Learning, Design, and Technology is designed to prepare teachers, administrators, and technology specialists to address the evolving educational technology landscape now and into the future.

Graduates will be prepared to:

• Design professional development programs regarding technology integration into the curriculum
• Apply best practices in online course design
• Assess the effectiveness of new hardware and software applications
• Use a variety of software and hardware to meet the learning needs of diverse students

Learn more about Point Park University’s Learning, Design, and Technology faculty:

Dr. Vincenne Revilla Beltrán, Ph.D.
Dr. Barbara Frey, D.Ed. and Dr. Lorna Kearns, Ph.D.

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The M.Ed. in PreK through fourth grade program is 42 credits and offers a fully online cohort model. The program includes 12 courses, each three credits, and a six-credit student teaching practicum course.

Point Park University offers a variety of courses throughout the program that cover Pennsylvania Department of Education Pre-K through fourth grade competencies. The courses include subject methodology—including methodology for teaching English Language Learners—differentiated instruction, and assessment strategies and data-driven instruction. You’ll also be prepared to meet the behavioral and emotional needs of students through courses focused on special education, culturally responsive teaching, and positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS).

Upon completing the program, graduates will be able to successfully utilize a multitude of instructional strategies and develop instructional plans and goals based on curriculum, student needs, and the instructional process. You’ll also be equipped to establish and maintain effective, equitable classroom environments.

Point Park University’s School of Education has a diverse faculty coming from a multitude of different K-12 backgrounds with ample expertise and knowledge in Pre-K through fourth grade education. Our faculty have been trained for effective online learning and teaching. Class sizes are small, which allows faculty to deliver individualized attention to students to guarantee success.

What differentiates Point Park’s PreK-4 education grad program from other schools that offer a similar program?

Point Park University offers fully online courses that include course assignments that incorporate field experience and classroom observations. Students enroll in one eight-week course at a time, completing two courses total per semester. This allows students to focus solely on content and the requirements of each individual course, which makes the program very manageable for students with full-time employment and other commitments or responsibilities.

Each student takes two courses during the fall, spring, and summer terms, allowing the program to be completed in less than two years. Every student is assigned an advisor to provide assistance in course registration, program requirements, and career opportunities. During the student teaching practicum, which is 12 weeks, students have a University supervisor and a cooperating teacher that provide guidance and support for the duration of their practicum experience.

What career opportunities are available to students who graduate from the program?

Upon successful completion of the program, students will have earned a Master of Education degree and will be eligible for certification as an educator of Pre-K through fourth grade in Pennsylvania. This program is an excellent choice for individuals with interest in teaching in Pre-K to fourth grade classrooms.

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The M.Ed. in secondary education program is 42 credits and is intended for individuals with a solid knowledge base in their field from a previous undergraduate and/or master’s program and requires a strong background in teaching skills that are necessary to reach the secondary students of today.

The M.Ed. program offers a full online cohort model, and Point Park University’s online programs are very popular among students. Students are afforded the convenience to complete the program in a way that best accommodates busy schedules. Students will also benefit from having access to the experienced and knowledgeable faculty of Point Park University’s School of Education.

Point Park University offers a multitude of courses throughout the program that cover secondary instructional methods—including methodology for teaching English Language Learners—differentiated instruction practices, technological application, and assessment strategies and data-driven instruction. You’ll also be equipped to meet the behavioral and emotional needs of students through courses focused on special education, culturally responsive teaching and schools, positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS), and human behavior and classroom management.

This program closes with a semester-long student teaching experience and student teaching seminar class that allows students to reflect on and analyze their experiences and prepares them for full-time teaching positions. Students will also benefit from state-of-the-art resources and choice in student teaching placements, better preparing them to teach nearly anywhere.

What differentiates Point Park’s secondary education grad program from other schools that offer a similar program?

There are many things that differentiate Point Park’s secondary education program from similar programs. First, our faculty includes educators that have worked in a variety of areas and K-12 schools, allowing them to bring practical experience into their instruction and show what is required to be successful teacher. Multiple faculty members have also worked in educational settings that present unique challenges, such as those found in urban education.

This program offers a cohort model in which students will, as a group, progress through the program. They will take two courses per term, one every eight weeks. Structuring the program in this way provides students the ability to focus on individual courses at a time, but allows them to move quickly while still being challenged. Point Park’s class sizes are also generally smaller than most classes at other universities; we’ve strived to limit our online classes to a maximum of 15 students per cohort group.

One of the biggest differentiators of our program is that we are looking for individuals who have already obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in specific content areas. We request that our students take their content area Praxis exams, preferably before they begin the program or shortly thereafter.

With students that have already acquired the important content knowledge in areas such as biology, social studies, mathematics, English, or citizenship, we aim to provide key teaching skills. Our goal is to prepare our M.Ed. secondary education graduates to be successful academically and socially with career-applicable skills.

What career opportunities are available to students who graduate from the program?

Upon competition of this program, graduates will be certified to teach students in grades seven through 12 in Pennsylvania. They will also be given the chance to test into other teaching areas, therefore increasing their career opportunities. This program will also open up doors into other education-related positions and professions.

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When looking at colleges and universities, I compared a variety of factors, including out of state versus in state tuition, number of courses required, individual cost per credit, as well as the variety of fees that are often associated with attending any type of educational program. I found that Point Park University did not seem to inflate their program by requiring a higher number of classes, and their rates were in line, if not lower than, other colleges and universities. I was also impressed with the vast number of options that Point Park University provides to students to pay for their programs. Students have the ability to apply for financial aid, choose a payment plan, or depending on your school district, there is even an employer reimbursement plan.

Initially, I was planning on using the employer reimbursement. I was hoping to simply pay a small fee at the beginning and then have my school district pay the remainder upon the successful completion of my course. That meant that I would incur little to no debt of my own. Unfortunately this was not an option for me as it did not follow the past practices for my school district. Lesson learned – check with the district’s business office to see how they handle paying for college classes.

At that point, I needed to move on to Plan B. I opened up a credit card account that would only be used for my master’s program. That meant that at the beginning of each semester I paid the full bill on my credit card. At the end of each semester, I provided my district with proof of payment of the bills as well as my grade at the end of the course. The district then wrote a check to me with the amount allocated by my contract. That money was then used to pay off my Point Park credit card bill.

Walking into the master’s program, it was also important to understand my contract. I needed to be fully aware of the reimbursement policy, particularly regarding the number of credits permitted and the rate which they would be reimbursed. In addition, I needed to understand if there were any stipulations that would be required after I had completed the classes. For me, that meant I would receive 100% credit reimbursement from a college as long as the tuition did not exceed the rates of several preset Pennsylvania Universities listed in my contract. In addition, I needed to receive a “B” or higher in the course. In my case, there was a stipulation that if I were to leave within five years, I would pay back predetermined amounts of my tuition. As each year passed, I would owe less until after the fifth year.

I feel fortunate that both Point Park University and my employer made it financially possible for me to complete my master’s program. Instead of worrying about how I would pay for my classes, they made it easy to focus on my classes and successfully complete my program.

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