How Long Could It Take to Earn a Master's in Education (M.Ed.)?

What Is a Master's in Education or M.Ed.?

One of the first things you're likely to notice once you begin to research master's in education degree programs is that different programs confer different degrees upon program completion. In fact, there are several main types: Master of Education (M.Ed.), Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.), Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) and Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.).

Generally speaking, the first three types—Master of Education, Master of Arts and Master of Science in Education—are focused on educational administration, policy and leadership. In contrast, Master of Arts in Teaching degree programs are more focused on what happens in the classroom, and so their emphasis is on developing educators' instructional strategies and skills.

As you continue your research, you may also notice there can be some overlap among Master of Education, Master of Arts in Education and Master of Science in Education curricula—in other words, one institution's M.Ed. degree program could be very similar to another's M.A.Ed. degree program. For this reason, rather than limiting yourself to considering only one type of master's in education degree program, you may want to focus more on the courses in a given program's curriculum to determine which program is the right fit for you.

How Long Could It Take to Pursue an M.Ed. Degree Program?

While full-time master's in education programs are typically designed to take anywhere from one to three years to complete, it is possible to complete a Master of Education online degree program at American InterContinental University in 12 months or less.¹

Generally speaking, how long it takes to earn a master's in education could depend on an array of factors, including:

• Degree Program Format: Online master's in education degree programs can provide more flexibility than traditional on-campus programs by allowing you to watch lectures and complete coursework when it is convenient for you. This flexibility might make it easier to fit more courses into your schedule, which could, in turn, shorten time to graduation.
• Full-time Status vs. Part-time Status: All else being equal, the length of a full-time master's degree program should be shorter than the length of a part-time one because full-time students take more courses per semester/session. However, even part-time students may be able to shorten their time to graduation by taking fewer breaks or increasing their courseload, where possible.
• Transfer-in Credits & Prior Learning: Those who have previously attended college, served in the military or have qualifying work experience may be able to utilize these experiences and receive credit toward their degree requirements. ²
• Additional Factors: Courseload, number of breaks taken and financial matters are just a few examples of other factors that could affect overall master's degree program length.

In a nutshell, generalizations about the typical length of an M.Ed. degree program are just that—generalizations. How many years a master's degree in education program actually takes to complete ultimately comes down to the person.

Admission Requirements for M.Ed. Programs

Apart from the general requirement that prospective M.Ed. candidates already hold a bachelor's degree, admissions requirements for a master's degree in education program will vary by institution or concentration. Some institutions may welcome M.Ed. candidates who are not currently teachers or who do not have a bachelor's degree in education, while others may not. Other requirements may include submitting standardized test scores, meeting minimum GPA requirements, writing essays, or submitting letters of recommendation.

In addition to AIU's general graduate admissions requirements, prospective candidates applying to the Master of Education (MEd)—Leadership of PreK-12 Educational Organizations degree program must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a teaching certificate that is current at the time of enrollment
• Have at least three years of teaching experience
• Hold current employment with an Arizona PreK-12 educational institution that has signed (or will agree to sign) a practicum partnership agreement with the University
• Have identified a supervising practitioner with an Arizona Administrative Certification and a current classification of highly effective or effective pursuant to ARS §§ 15-341(A)(41), 15-189.06

What Could You Do with a Master's in Education?

What career opportunities might master's in education degree holders choose to pursue? Some potential "outside the classroom" career paths may include the following:

Elementary, Middle and High School Principal

Principals direct all school operations, including setting and overseeing academic goals; ensuring that teachers have adequate resources to achieve these goals; establishing and overseeing school programs such as counseling services, extracurricular activities, and before- and after-school childcare; and implementing standards set by the school district, state, or federal government. They also serve as their school's public representative.³

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, elementary, middle and high school principals must typically hold a master's degree in education administration or leadership and have teaching experience. Additionally, most states require that public school principals be licensed as school administrators and that candidates pass an exam and a background check.³

Instructional Coordinator

Instructional coordinators, or curriculum specialists, oversee, evaluate and recommend changes to school curricula and teaching standards. They observe teachers in the classroom, review student test data and conduct teacher training. They may specialize in particular grade levels or specific subjects.⁴

To enter the occupation, instructional coordinators typically need to hold a master's degree and have several years of work experience in teaching or school administration. Instructional coordinators who work in public schools may also need to hold a state-issued license such as a teaching license or an education administrator license.⁴

Training and Development Specialist

Unlike the two career paths just discussed, which both focus on educating K–12 students, training and development specialists are focused on training employees in corporate settings. To create training programs, they first assess the needs of the organization and then design and administer programs that address those needs.⁵

Training and development specialists typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation, although relevant work experience may sometimes be sufficient. Business fields such as organizational development or human resources are common, but other relevant fields of degree include education, social science, social science, psychology and communications. Certification is not usually required, but some employers may prefer it.⁵

AIU's Online Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree Program

The AIU Master of Education (M.Ed.) online degree program is designed for educational practitioners who wish to develop a foundation for the practice of effective educational methodologies. The program covers educational approaches and advanced practices for all practitioners (K–12, higher education and corporate learning) and offers candidates the opportunity to engage with topics such as educational administration, teacher leadership, learning theory, learning science, instructional design and more.

The M.Ed. online degree program is offered in the following concentrations: Adult Education and E-Learning, Education Administration and Leadership of PreK–12 Educational Organizations.