Master’s in K-12 Education Online

What You Should Know

Develop questions and inquiries about earning an online master’s degree in K-12 education. Examine some of the schools offering degree programs, and find information on their different requirements, expectations, and results.

America’s teachers are arguably the most important professionals with regard to our nation’s future. Using their expert knowledge of instructional methods and their love of learning, these teachers develop techniques and methods to improve the outcomes of education.

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The goal of many professional teachers is to provide the best quality education possible for their students and increase school achievement. Often, the best way to ensure this outcome is to first earn a master’s degree in K-12 education.

Going back to school for a master’s degree is an expensive and time-consuming process – often requiring individuals to quit their jobs or forgo other responsibilities for the sake of earning their advanced degrees. Today, more and more individuals are turning to online programs to obtain the same quality master’s degree.

Earning a master’s degree in K-12 education online not only provides you with the same high-quality level of education as a traditional university, but also allows you to schedule classes and courses around your life. Instead of spending time driving to and from a classroom, online university students can learn at their own pace from the comfort of their homes.

Many universities also offer “master’s plus certification” programs for individuals looking to earn teacher or administrator certification while obtaining their advanced degrees. This ensures an individual will be completely prepared for licensure requirements, in addition to earning a master’s degree.

A master’s degree in K-12 education allows a teacher to expand his or her knowledge of teaching theories and practices, giving them new ways to design curriculum, methods of assessment, and classroom management techniques. This guarantees a teacher is best prepared to teach a wide variety of students, by gaining an array of skills and characteristics that are effective with all age groups.

Usually in an online degree program, an individual takes general K-12 courses such as curriculum and instruction, administration and leadership, classroom management, and educational research. These individuals are also able to specialize in a particular area, such as math, science, English, or social studies instruction.

In their degree programs, individuals will gain a first-hand look at careers in the K-12 setting. Students in these programs usually enter internships or student teaching scenarios that give them experience in administrative and faculty positions at several different grade levels.

Should I earn a Master’s Degree?

If you’re interested in earning a master’s degree, but aren’t sure whether or not now is the best time, ask yourself some of the following questions:

• Am I interested in providing the best education possible to my students?
• Am I interested in leadership opportunities at my school?
• Do I feel ready to meet the demands of a traditional university’s degree program?
• If not, could I meet the demands of an online degree program?
• Do I want to become an expert on a wide range of education topics?

Someone who enters an online master’s degree program has a desire to increase their understanding of new, effective teaching practices, in addition to expanding their content knowledge for multiple age groups. For example, someone with a K-12 master’s degree knows the developmentally appropriate teaching methods for not only elementary school students, but for high school students as well.

Master’s degree holders can also expect higher pay and increased responsibilities compared to those with bachelor’s degrees. With a master’s degree in K-12 education, you will take more of a leading role in curriculum design and implementation, lending your knowledge of effective teaching practices to other faculty members.

Careers

With a broad offering of topics, those who hold a master’s degree in K-12 education are prepared to enter many different educational careers.

Many of those who earn master’s degrees move up to leadership positions at their schools, reflecting the work completed during their programs. Depending on their specializations, individuals might find themselves working as department chairs, or in various administrative positions.

Some of the jobs typically offered to master’s degree holders include:

• Teacher
• Department Head
• Principal
• Assistant Principal
• Educational Researcher

More and more schools are looking to individuals with advanced degrees to increase achievement in students. A K-12 master’s degree gives you the best possible opportunity to meet a variety of demands. Someone with a K-12 specialization might be called to lead a new elementary school, or possibly head the English department of a high school.

If you’re interested in learning more about the skills and knowledge you’ll gain from an online degree, contact some schools offering master’s degree programs in K-12 education.