5 Reasons You Should Invest In An Online Master’s In Education

Wondering whether getting an online master’s in education is worth your valuable efforts or not? There are a lot of reasons for choosing to invest in an online master’s degree in education. However, making the decision to invest in an online master’s program is no easy feat. With so many options to choose from, the process can be a bit dizzying. Plus, you have to decide if the investment in time and money is going to pay off nicely for you or not.

If you’re unsure about whether getting your master’s in education online is the right decision for you, that’s good! It means you are taking the decision seriously and doing the proper research before making a big commitment that could completely change your life.

Luckily, we’ve already done the research for you. Turns out there are plenty of amazing reasons why you should go for your master’s in education online. Here are the top 5 reasons why it just might be one of the best decisions you ever make.

What is a Master’s in Education?

Before diving into why it’s a good idea to get a master’s in education, let’s first examine the different kinds of master’s you can obtain. There are actually four different types of master’s degrees that have to do with education, and each one serves slightly different purposes, depending on your unique interests, needs, and career aspirations.

The most popular option is the Master of Education (M.Ed.). An M.Ed. offers a well-rounded overview of the educational field. You can expect to learn everything from educational theory to instructional strategies, curriculum design, leadership skills, and more. Some M.Ed. programs also offer students the option to specialize in something specific. University of the People’s M.Ed., for example, offers specializations in elementary/middle school education as well as secondary education. With their program, UoPeople wish to “increase the amount of highly skilled teachers across the world.”

If specializing in a certain subject is most important to you, then you may want to look into Master of Arts in Education (M.A. Ed.) programs. An M.A. Ed. usually provides a more tailored education around a specific subject. So if you really want to be an art teacher, for example, you could look for a program that focuses specifically on art education. This will allow you to become a true master in a subject you’re most passionate about, although your education and skills will be less versatile if you ever wish to change careers one day.

There’s also the Master of Science in Education (M.S. Ed.), which generally focuses on pedagogy, curriculum methodology, and instructional design often related to the subjects of mathematics and sciences. If you like more of a scientific, research-based approach to education, then an M.S. Ed. might be a good choice for you. Keep in mind that each university’s programs vary quite a lot, however, so do your research to find the one best suited for your needs.

Last but not least, you could opt for a Master of Arts in Teaching. This is a good choice for those that may not have much experience in the education field and maybe switching careers. An M.A. in Teaching is usually very hands-on, as classroom experience is usually included in the curriculum. It will help you gain valuable experience as a teacher while you obtain your degree.

Now that you know the four different types of master’s in education you can get, let’s dive into why getting your degree online — no matter which type you choose — could be a great decision.

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1. Increased flexibility

Online master’s programs, as opposed to on-campus programs, provide students with far more freedom and flexibility. You wind up saving a lot of time and money since there’s no need to commute to your school. All you have to do is open up your laptop and start learning, whenever and wherever it’s most convenient for you.

This added flexibility means you can continue to hold a job or care for your family while you earn your master’s degree. There are even plenty of part-time online programs so you don’t have to halt everything you’ve got going on in your life just to go back to school.

Online programs are also a great decision for anyone living or working abroad or for anyone living in a country that may not have the best master’s degree programs available. You can earn your degree from anywhere in the world when you make the decision to earn it online.

2. Online degrees are just as respected

Some people believe that online degrees may be viewed as inferior to degrees completed on campus, but this is simply untrue. Universities do not make any distinction between their distance learning programs and their on-campus counterparts. You can get just as great of an education learning online as you can learn in-person.

Moreover, employers don’t care if your degree was earned online, either. Patricia Samuels, a successful teacher that earned her master’s in education from the University of Florida, stated:

“Employers care that you have the degree and that you have the knowledge – they don’t care if you got it online.”

What they care the most about is whether the college is accredited — so make sure the online programs you’re looking at have accreditation, or else most places you’re looking to teach at will not accept your degree.

3. Online degrees are more affordable

Choosing a master’s program that’s completely online is generally cheaper than choosing an on-campus program since there are no required costs for the upkeep of campus grounds, buildings, and in-person employees and services.

Plus, you save on commuting costs as well — which can really add up when you have to drive to school every single day.

If the cost of earning a master’s in education is holding you back and you’re searching for the ultimate affordable online program, check out University of the People’s Master of Education program. UoPeople offer all of their programs tuition-free! Now you have no excuses to not earn your master’s in education!

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4. You’ll increase your job prospects and earning potential

Teachers that hold a master’s in education have a lot more job opportunities available to them. In fact, there are a lot of schools out there that actually require all of their teachers to have a master’s. And even if they don’t, the preference will always be towards teachers with an advanced degree.

A lot of new careers will become available to you as well that you couldn’t get without a master’s in education. Jobs such as curriculum developer, principal, educational consultant, superintendent, and more, will open up for you, in case you decide you want to switch it up from being a teacher in the future.

Since you’ll be eligible for more prestigious jobs, it also means you will receive a higher salary. In the US, for example, teachers that hold a master’s generally earn a higher median salary per year than teachers with only a bachelor’s degree. Convinced getting your master’s in education is worth it yet?

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5. You’ll become a better teacher

Choosing to invest in an online master’s in education means you will grow your skills and gain valuable knowledge on how to best educate your students, which is really what matters most of all. If you want to be the best teacher you can be for your students, then getting a master’s degree is one of the best options for you. You will learn new and improved teaching methods and all sorts of invaluable skills and practices that you will take with you for the rest of your life.

Getting your master’s in education means you will become a true master at teaching. Your expertise means the students you are teaching will learn more effectively and ultimately receive a higher quality education, all thanks to you choosing to invest in a master’s degree. So if you’re on the fence about committing to going back to school to get that master’s degree, this important factor should be at the forefront of your mind. If you decide to invest in a master’s in education, your future students will surely be grateful that you did!