Why Get a Masters in Education?
- One of the primary reasons to get an advanced degree in education is to enter the administrative area of a school system. The roles of assistant principal, principal and school district supervisor all require advanced degrees in education, most likely with a focus on administration. There are advanced degree programs that are specifically designed for people on a job trajectory from classroom teacher to principal. People with master's and doctoral degrees in education can also find employment outside the school system, such as in industry or business, as consultants.
- Getting a master's degree in education makes you more marketable. In an environment with slashed school budgets and high unemployment, a teacher with a master's degree may be a better candidate for a job than a teacher with only a bachelor's degree. Getting a master's degree in education allows to you focus on the art and science of pedagogy, that is, on how to present yourself as an absolute expert in the classroom. Some private schools require their instructors to have master's degrees for this reason.
- Specific programs in graduate schools offer teachers advanced degrees in education policy. With a master's in education with a focus on education policy, you can take your dedication to education from the classroom and in to the public forum. Government agencies, foundations, non-profit organizations and corporations often have positions for educators interested in broader policy decisions made about education. This kind of advanced degree allows you to keep your dedication to the field but takes it out of the classroom environment and in to the realm of research and funding.
- A Bachelor's in Education can qualify you to teach from kindergarten to grade 12 with a focus on a particular subject. If you get a master's degree in a specific area, such as a master's in the teaching of English, you can put your career on a specific path, such as the head of a department or a curriculum advisor for your school.