A master’s degree is a postgraduate-level academic qualification. It builds skills and knowledge in a specialized area of study that prepares candidates for advanced careers and higher earning potential.
Benefits of Master’s Program for Educators
Earning a master’s degree provides educators with many opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of their content. Teachers passionate about their grade level or subject area can acquire a deeper understanding of educational theory and practices. They will also acquire several additional skills that will enable them to provide quality education for their students and be viewed as a leader in the classroom with a higher degree of credibility.
While earning a graduate degree, a deeper understanding of educational theories and pedagogical skills will be gained, providing educators with a chance to reflect on their instructional practices and to adjust how they teach, assess, and give feedback to their students This results in overall better student outcomes.
Career Opportunities
In addition to gaining skills to become a more effective teacher in the classroom, an educator who earns a master’s in education will also have opportunities to advance their career outside of the classroom.
These opportunities include leadership roles such as a:
- Principal
- District administrator
- Instructional coach or specialist
Educators who would like to specialize in a different educational area, such as school counseling and school psychology, can do so by earning a master’s degree.
Other opportunities available to individuals earning a master’s degree include:
- Working in higher education
- Writing curriculum
- Designing instruction
- Educational consulting
- Becoming an educational director in the corporate world
- Working as an educational policy analyst or developer
Additional Advantages
A Competitive Edge
In addition to gaining skills and advancing your career with an opportunity for different positions, earning a master’s in education can give an educator a competitive edge when applying for new jobs and leadership roles.
Professional Development
It is also an excellent way for educators to receive professional development and renew their teaching licenses. Educators who have earned their master’s degree can also expect a salary increase. School districts typically offer a monetary incentive to educators who have earned their master’s degree by using a higher pay scale for those individuals.
What to Consider Before Pursuing a Master’s Degree
Before deciding to pursue a master’s degree a candidate needs to think about their professional goals, the time commitment needed for the program, financial responsibility, and mode of instruction.
Professional Goals
Before embarking on this journey, deciding what your professional goals are is essential. Really consider where you see yourself professionally in five to ten years. Will the program you are considering help you to get there? Exploring options, talking with colleagues, and talking with academic advisors is an excellent way to get information about the program you seek and learn how it may help you reach your professional goals.
Your Schedule
Next, you must consider your current commitments and how working on a master’s degree can fit your schedule. Can you dedicate the time needed to work toward your master’s degree? Master’s level courses can be fast paced with a lot of time spent reading, researching, discussing, and writing each week.
Make sure that you can carve out the necessary time that will be needed to dedicate toward coursework without affecting family and work commitments. With a bit of planning, taking on the extra responsibility of graduate coursework is feasible.
Mode of Instruction
Another consideration is the mode of instruction. Courses can be in-person, virtual, or a hybrid model including in-person and virtual. Choosing a program based on how you learn best and what can fit into your schedule is an important consideration before enrolling in a program.
Exploring an online program will greatly help with scheduling. Online courses can generally be completed at any time and there is the added benefit of not having to commute to campus, saving hours each week.
Finances
There is no doubt that earning a master’s degree will not only take time and effort to complete but can also become a significant financial commitment. Begin by looking at your budget to see what you can pay for your degree. Perhaps you have money set aside in savings to cover some or all of the program. If not, there are other options available.
Explore the available private and federal loan options. The Federal Stafford Loan and the Federal Grad PLUS Loans are possible options if you need to borrow money. These federal loans offer lower interest rates and fees compared to private loans. Other options may include employer reimbursement, private grants, and scholarships, so be sure to explore these avenues as well. Check out OAESA with Concordia University Chicago’s “How-To-Pay” page for more information.
Pursuing a master’s degree in education takes a lot of self-reflection, exploration, and planning but can be very advantageous.
Earning a master’s degree in education provides educators with:
- New skills
- Enhanced credibility
- An ability to become a leader in education
- The chance to take on new roles
- A pay increase
- So much more
Committing to earning a master’s degree in education will have life-long benefits for you and the students with whom you will work.
Ready to advance your career with a graduate degree? Check out our available graduate programs and get started today!