What Can You Do With a Master of Education (MEd) Degree?
by Marc Shelton, EdD, with contributions by Jaime Handley
What is a master of education degree?
A master of education (MEd) is an advanced degree for those already in the teaching profession who hold an undergraduate degree in education, along with a teaching license and three years of teaching experience.
The MEd also provides a way to specialize in a certain endorsement area, such as:
- Principal License
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
- Reading Interventionists
- Special Education
These specialist endorsements not only widen your sphere of influence and help you gain specific expertise, but they also open doors to higher pay and opportunities outside of the classroom.
Most MEd degree programs require that you have an undergraduate degree in education and be a licensed classroom teacher. However, some programs will allow you to prove your readiness via transcripts, GRE/TOEFL scores and letters of recommendation.
Possible Career Paths with an MEd
As you consider career growth as an educator, the master of education degree can expand your horizons beyond the classroom, allowing you to work in system-wide operations, curriculum development and broader leadership networks.
Here are some of the opportunities available with an MEd:
- Program coordinator for grade levels or specific content areas (such as an instructional designer for elementary school, a learning specialist for middle grades, or an education specialist helping support other teachers).
- Program director for endorsement specializations (such as reading specialists, English for Speakers of Other Languages, special education, and technology).
- Building-level coach for specialized instructional services
- Athletic director
- Activity director
- Assistant principal
- Principal
- Curriculum developer
- Not-for-profit-work
- International school administration
- Educational think tank contributor
While the master of education degree targets those already working in the classroom, it also offers many opportunities to pursue one's passion for education outside the classroom.
For example, if you are a strong communicator, you can merge your MEd with writing through instructional design and curriculum development. If leadership is more your speed, you might work as an administrator or educational lead. The MEd opens doors to move beyond the classroom to influence positive student learning outcomes in various sectors.
What is the difference between a master of education and a master of arts in teaching (MAT)?
An MAT is a route to becoming a teacher for someone who has a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education, while an MEd is for experienced, licensed classroom teachers who want to advance their career by earning a special endorsement (such as reading, ESOL, or special education) or by becoming a school administrator.
If you don’t yet have a degree in education and want to earn the preliminary teaching license required to teach in Oregon, earning your master of arts in teaching (MAT) is probably the better fit for you.
If you already hold an MAT, you can earn a master of education (MEd) degree. However, if you already have a master's degree, you may want to work toward a doctorate in education instead of another master’s degree.
Benefits of a Master of Education
Higher Pay
Master of education graduates typically see a significant return on investment over the course of their careers. A teacher with a bachelor's degree will be paid a base salary plus any credits completed towards their master's degree. Once a teacher earns their master’s degree, their base pay increases to a new bracket.
Teachers who earn a principal license with their MEd and go into school administration tend to increase their salaries even more.
Possible Tuition Reimbursement
As a current teacher, you may also be eligible for partial or full tuition reimbursement through your school district. As you explore earning a master of education, check with your principal to see what reimbursement opportunities might be available.
You’re already a valuable asset to your internal district, and adding to your education only increases that value, especially as you earn an endorsement in a particular area and widen the scope of the roles you can take on within your district.
Greater Impact
Earning a master of education offers financial benefits, but it also allows those with a heart for social justice to influence wider educational decisions within their district.
From roles in classroom leadership and administration to curriculum development and department directorship, the MEd allows you to empower change within your particular district in tangible ways.
Recognition for International Students
For international students working in education outside the U.S., an MEd degree can provide both a license and international recognition without the need to pursue a doctorate. For example, recently an international student from Indonesia came from a family that set up a network of Christian schools in Jakarta in mostly rural areas in the jungle. With about 36 schools established, it was a thriving network. Even though he already had an administrative license, he had no recognized teaching license from an accredited institution to attach it to, so he did the MEd, which provided recognition and legitimacy within the international community as their network of schools continued to grow.
What comes after a master of education?
Looking for further educational opportunities beyond the master of education? A doctor of education (EdD) degree, which is an advanced practitioner doctoral degree, might be the next right step.
The theory learned in an EdD informs a better understanding of why leadership matters in education and helps educators become thoughtful consumers of research to improve practical outcomes for teachers, administrators, educational systems and their students.
What can you do with an EdD degree?
The advanced doctorate in education degree opens doors above the MEd, specifically in higher learning and the not-for-profit sector.
Here are a few of the opportunities available with an EdD:
- Advanced curriculum development
- Direct writing
- Educational/developmental training for not-for-profits
- Become a college professor