Masters in Education in Colorado

Why Earn a Masters in Education?

Masters in Education (M.Ed.) Programs are designed for experienced educators. They may improve your ability to assist students in your current classroom. They may also open doors to new career opportunities for you.

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Earning a Master in Education is an academic choice. This choice has the potential to improve your teaching methods. It may help you to fine tune specifics teaching skills. Also, it may help to become a qualified and exemplary leader in the classroom.

Many students choose to pursue an MA in a focused degree area. Concentrations would includecurriculum and instruction. They may also include administration and leadership. Other concentrations may include special education or higher education. Additionally, other students use the M.Ed as a preparatory degree for a doctoral degree. Similarly, this includes programs such as the Ed.D. or the Ph.D. in education.

Are you ready to take on more education? Colorado Teachers may find that it is always important to keep learning. That is what you teach your students. How can you keep learning yourself? A masters program is one way to do it. The question is, what route is right for you?

Masters in Education Requirements

Programs in education may need students to complete a research thesis. This is done under the guidance of a faculty member. Some may need on-site or fieldwork requirements in an area of interest. Applicants to a Masters in Education must also have a bachelor’s degree to be eligible for admission. In addition, there may also be GPA requirements. This may need to be a Bachelor's in Education or a related field.

Some states need teachers to have a master’s in education. In other states, teachers enroll in Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs for professional development. In either case, the program generally consists of approximately 30-45 credit hours. It might result in salary increases and/or licensure renewal. Generally, the typical Master’s in education takes 2 to 3 years to complete. Some universities offer online Master’s degrees that can be earned in as few as 12 to 18 months. Even, some have 1 year M.Ed. programs.

FUN FACT: According to the BLS, often, high school teachers are required to complete annual professional development classes to maintain their license. Particularly, some states require teachers to complete a master’s degree in education after receiving their certification.

Campus-based M.Ed. or Online Masters Degree in Education?

Students have the option of attending onsite graduate school or earning an online masters degree in education.

Some students enjoy from an online program of study. You may if you like reading textbooks. You may enjoy this option if you like spending time on the computer. Some students learn more by being in a classroom.

Online students need to be self-motivated learners. An online Masters in education program could be a perfect fit for your busy lifestyle. In many cases, distance learning is popular among working teachers. However, some do not want to leave the tenure track while they advance their own education.

Some graduate schools also offer hybrid programs. These combine the convenience of online learning with on campus coursework. Thus, you may enroll part time or full time to earn your graduate degree.

Whatever your personal preference, GradSchools.com has easy-to-use search tools. Locate M.Ed. Programs by city, state, or country if you are looking into traditional campus programs. You can search the directory for online masters in ed programs. Some of the listings that you might find may include: Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology, Master of Science in School Counseling. other options may be a Master of Education in Special Education, Research Methodology M.A., MEd., or Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration.

Types of MA in Education Degrees

Review different M. Ed. degree program offerings. It’s important to understand the difference in degrees. Here are a few things you may see in them.

Master of Arts Programs near Colorado

A Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is geared more toward initial teacher licensure. It focuses on practical classroom skills and teaching specific subjects. You may wish to start here with your degree. Your education degree may range. Many students focus in areas that interest them. Various focus options exist. Concentrations gives you ample opportunities.

Master in Education Programs and Educational Leadership

A Master’s in Education (M.Ed.) is generally geared for experienced educators. It provides more in depth instruction. it may prepare teachers for new leadership roles. It may help you to concentrate your education as well. Some students enjoy one area of focus. Others want to expand into new areas. You may be able to do that with this type of degree program.

A Master of Science in Education and Master of Arts in Education are like the M. Ed.

To choose from the master's programs, consider the type of teaching you want to do later. Education degree programs are very flexible. You may find your graduate education options are ample to find what works for your needs.

Popular graduate schools with masters programs in education in Colorado

Concentrations & Curriculum

Masters in ed programs come in a wide variety of degree concentrations. You have to determine what works for your goals. To do that, you may wish to check out the curriculum of some of the programs available. Look at the classes available. Think about the type of educational path right for you.

Are you unsure? It helps to focus on what interests you the most. A teacher who has a passion for what he or she teaches may do well. Consider the coursework that interests you here.

Some of the most common concentrations include:

• Adult Education/Adult Learning Master Programs
• Masters in Curriculum and Instruction
• Early Childhood Education Masters Programs
• Educational Leadership & Administration
• Education Technology & Online Learning Programs
• Educational and School Psychology Programs
• Masters in Environmental Education
• Masters in ESL | TESOL
• General Education Masters Programs
• Higher Ed Masters Programs
• International Education Masters Programs
• K-12 Education Masters Programs
• Special & Gifted Education Masters Programs
• Masters of Teacher Education Programs

What Does a Curriculum in a Masters in Education Look Like?

Curriculums differ from program to program. Generally, masters programs in education will include instruction on education policy. They may also include study in school and community partnerships and classroom management. Theories of teaching and learning and educational leadership are also common. Educator preparation varies. Some students may learn educational psychology. Others focus on taking positions like a school administrator.

Which M.Ed Program is Perfect For You?

Deepening your knowledge in a particular area should definitely align with your interests. What career paths interest you the most? What leadership positions are important to you? You may want to consider curriculum design. Others focus on a specific area of student such as elementary school education.

Do you dream of working abroad? Look into ESL/TESOL masters programs. This can open the door for many new learning experiences. Those are not learning experiences just for students either. Thus, they may be interesting for you as well.

Do you want to work with a specific type of student population?

If so, review Adult Education, Early Childhood Education, Special and Gifted Education or K-12 Masters in Ed Programs. Maybe Elementary Education is best for you. You may be able to focus your education on business programs. That may mean taking the GRE.

Are you hoping to become Dean of Students or a HS Principal?

Maybe move away from teaching to designing educational programs? If so, you might choose Educational Technology or Education Leadership & Administration. There are also Masters in Curriculum & Instruction programs. Instructional technology is another area to fit here.

Do you enjoy psychology and counseling?

A Masters programs in Educational and School Psychology programs may prepare you for roles such as guidance counselor or school psychologist. This may include education in areas of human development.

What if you are unsure?

This is not uncommon in this field. You may know you want to teach. You may know what age group you wish to teach. However, you may just be unsure which school of education is right for you. In this case, you may wish to choose a few electives. Try out a few options. Think about who you wish to teach. What do you want to teach them? What is fascinating to you?

Choosing the Perfect School for Master's Education

You are thinking about what to study in school. Also, consider where you will go. Advanced education can open new doors for some students. Where you plan to study may play a role in that.

At the heart of every program is accreditation. Generally, students need to go to a school that has accreditation. This may be important for state exams. It may also be necessary to meet the goals of your employer.

Students should also consider the type of teaching experience right for them. This may include more than just getting a teaching license. For example, you may wish to teach higher education. Choose a school providing access to field work in this type of environment. If you want a teaching career with a special needs focus, look for a school with a capstone opportunity this this area. This can help you expand your knowledge. Additionally, it can make you more valuable in your job down the road.

Students may be able to learn about their potential schools online. This may include learning about where the alumni went on to teach. It may help to learn about the various types of education provided. Do they offer anything new and unique? As a result, they may also offer programs that other schools do not.

Get to know the school and all it can offer to you. Then, consider the programs available. Research the value of those programs. This can help you to find a school near Colorado that may be a good fit for you.

What Are Licensing Requirements for Education Professionals?

Bear in mind that some fields need more than a Masters degree in Education. Licensing requirements and career outlook varies so much between states. We recommend verifying the individual prerequisites for your state for more information on job outlook, average salary and licensing requirements. In addition, you can check a site such as the American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE).

Having a teaching certificate may not be enough. Licensing may not be enough. Today's classroom teachers may need education beyond these requirements.

Potential Careers for M. Ed. Graduates

Where do you want to work in this field? What type of learning environments are interesting to you? You have a lot of options to choose from. That is the good news. Your goal should be to find a career that you are excited about. Of course, you want to love your job!

Where can you get started? Popular fields for graduates with a Masters degree in education include these.

• School Counseling (Guidance Counselor, School Psychologist)
• School Administration (Principal, Assistant Principal)
• Adult Education (College Professor, Lecturer)
• Special Education Coordinator
• Career and Technical Education Teachers
• Secondary School, Middle School, Elementary or Postsecondary Educators
• Instructional Coordinators
• Kindergarten Teachers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for postsecondary teachers was $79,640 in May 2021. In addition, the job outlook is favorable with employment growth projected at 12% from 2021 to 2031.

GradSchools.com offers 13 Graduate Schools with Masters in Education Degree Programs in Colorado