What Can You Do With a Master’s in Education?

A master's in education boosts career options, earning potential, and specialization. Explore roles like school administrator, curriculum developer, and professor. Despite challenges, it enhances lead

Are you ready to further your education and advance your career in education? A master’s in education may be just what you’re looking for. Those who hold a master’s in education have more career options, an increased salary range, and an edge in the job market. 

Let’s discuss more benefits of a master’s in education degree, what career options are available, and the challenges of pursuing the degree. 

Why Get a Master’s in Education?

Career Advancement Opportunities

Having a master’s in education opens up many doors in your career. For example, you can advance your position to a principal or someone who’s in charge of leading school reform. 

Increased Earning Potential

Salaries for teachers are structured to increase with more education and years in the classroom. Additionally, public schools will offer a financial incentive to teachers who have earned a graduate degree. The average salary of teachers who hold a master’s degree in education is higher than teachers who do not. 

Specialization in a Specific Area of Education

One of the benefits of earning a master’s degree in education is you can specialize in a certain concentration, while bachelor’s degrees are more broad. After you’ve been teaching for a couple of years, you may find that you prefer different concentrations over others. 

With a master’s degree in education, you can specialize in a number of areas, including: 

• Reading
• History
• Special Education
• Administration
• Educational Technology

Enhanced Teaching Strategies and Leadership Skills

Master’s in education degrees focus on enhancing your leadership skills. The programs will improve your abilities through advanced training, which will help promote your confidence and develop your ability to make decisions in the classroom and school. In the end, the skills that are gained will naturally make you a better leader in the education field. 

Career Paths With a Master’s in Education

School Administrator

Principal

Principals are responsible for:

• Overseeing school operations
• Developing standardized curricula
• Hiring and evaluating staff
• Ensuring campus security
• Assessing teaching methods
• Revising policies and procedures
• Monitoring student achievement

Assistant Principal

An assistant principal provides help with the direction, organization, supervision, evaluation, administration, and discipline of a school and its employees. 

Curriculum Developer

Curriculum developers create instructional systems to improve student learning strategies in elementary, middle, and high schools. They design guidelines for school programs so that schools understand what standards and regulations they need to meet. 

Education Consultant

An educational consultant offers feedback and suggestions to other educators, like teachers and administrators. They may also offer services direction to parents and children. 

Educational Researcher

An educational researcher studies the effectiveness and efficiency of classroom learning, processes, and how to improve teaching techniques. This research can be local market research or performed on a national scale. They will often also need to conduct their own study through focus groups, surveys, and interviews. 

College/University Professor

A master’s in education allows you to teach in higher education. 

It can also open up careers in managing: 

• Student services
• Admissions
• Research teams
• Academics
• The registrar’s office

Special Education Coordinator

A special education coordinator oversees programs that provide educational assistance to children with mental, psychological, learning, behavioral, or physical disabilities. Their goal is to facilitate the special education processes that are needed to maximize the growth potential of students with unique learning needs. 

Is a Master’s in Education Worth It? Challenges and Considerations. 

Time and Financial Investment

The total cost of a master’s degree can be steep. Make sure that you do your research on potential university options to find an affordable fit that’s right for you. 

Balancing Work and Study Commitments

Getting your master’s degree is similar to having a part-time job. Approximately 20 hours per week will be spent toward earning your degree, so it can be difficult to balance full-time work and education. Finding a university that offers a flexible schedule for the program will help. 

Job Market Competitiveness

The job market is competitive, even for those who hold a master’s degree. However, you are more likely to land a higher-level job with a master’s degree than you are without. 

Choosing the Master’s in Education Program at Peru State College

Accreditation and Program Reputation

Peru State College School of Education is a National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education accredited institution. The faculty comes with great experience and knowledgeable backgrounds to ensure that you maximize your learning during your time here. 

Core Courses

Our core courses are meant to develop the necessary skills for you to thrive in your career. After these are completed, you can choose electives based on your specialized interests. 

The core courses include: 

• Sociology of Education
• Study Design and Data Collection
• Statistical Methods and Data Analysis
• Cognition and Learning
• Technology and Mediated Instruction
• Curriculum Development
• Assessment of Instruction

Flexibility in Program Delivery

Our master’s in education program comes in two different format options: 

• Accelerated: This option is a 36-credit-hour accelerated online layout that can be completed in as little as 19 months. It combines eight-week and four-week courses that are sequenced with a full-time teacher’s schedule in mind.
• Regular: This is a flexible 26-credit-hour online layout option that can be completed at a pace that suits your needs. 

Next Steps

If you want to advance your career and develop your skills further, a master’s in education degree may be right for you. At Peru State College, we guarantee that you will receive the experience, guidance, and resources to thrive in your career, whether it’s in administration or specialized teaching. We’re known for our expert faculty, affordable prices, and flexible schedules. 

If you’re interested in our master’s in education program, reach out to learn more or apply today.