What Can You Do With an M.Ed. Degree?

A degree may open the door to a variety of opportunities and diverse career paths. The degree programs offered at AIU will not necessarily lead to the featured careers. This collection of articles is intended to help inform and guide you through the process of determining which level of degree and types of certifications align with your desired career path.

Many people erroneously assume that the only application of a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree is in the classroom and that only teachers can benefit from earning this advanced degree. In addition to potentially helping teachers continue their education in education, the courses often offered in an M.Ed. program may assist in expanding the knowledge and skills that could be useful outside the classroom, too. This may be especially relevant if you ever decide to make a change in your career and prepare to pursue non-teaching opportunities in education.

While not an exhaustive list, the following career opportunities may be available if you're looking to put your educational training to work outside the classroom.

Training and Development Specialist

Graduates of an M.Ed. degree program don’t necessarily have to focus on teaching students. The skills developed while earning the degree may also apply to training in corporate settings. Corporations often need to train employees on everything from business writing to using new software.^1,2

Training and development specialists work to implement new training programs and continuing education initiatives across multiple departments, stores, and offices. This may involve teaching employees based on pre-packaged courses and training materials provided by HR or upper-management, or it could involve working with training and development managers to refine current training courses and processes. These positions may require a combination of education and extensive professional experience.^1,2

School and Career Counseling

M.Ed. degree programs with an appropriate concentration may also help graduates prepare to pursue career counseling as a professional path. Career counseling involves helping individuals determine their career goals and then pursuing the appropriate training, certifications and education. Of course, counselors may work with schools (either at the secondary level or in higher education), but may also be employed by technical and vocational institutions, state and local governmental programs and in social assistance and healthcare settings.^3,9

It is important to note that additional certification may likely be required to pursue roles within public school districts and colleges, while independent career consultancies may have different requirements.⁴

Instructional Design and Technology

People specializing in instructional design and technology understand the different types of in-classroom and extracurricular software and hardware available to better facilitate different types of learning. An instructional technology position, either within a school district or as an outside consultant, may involve testing and evaluating new learning platforms and materials in order to help teachers choose what’s appropriate for their students.

Postsecondary Education Administration

Postsecondary education administrators are the oil that keep collegiate wheels turning. They oversee students and faculty to ensure that everyone is getting the services they need and that academics and research are running smoothly and efficiently at colleges and universities. Job details vary depending on your area of focus, be it admissions, the registrar’s office or overall student affairs.⁶

A career in postsecondary education administration often requires a master’s degree to be considered for those job opportunities. An M.Ed. may be a great master’s degree choice to advance in this field because the degree can help students become familiar with developmental and educational theories of organizing and operating a school and demonstrate mastery of regulations and procedures, as well as legal and ethical codes.⁵

Instructional Coordination

Instructional coordinators, also known as curriculum specialists, are the gatekeepers of school curriculums and teaching standards. They work with curriculums and teaching methods established by school boards — local, state, and federal. In addition to developing curriculums and working with teachers and principals to implement the new materials, instructional coordinators also evaluate its effectiveness and fix what isn’t working by analyzing student test data and educator feedback.⁷

This career typically requires a master’s degree in education or curriculum and instructions, especially by employers in the public sector, like a city or county’s public schools. Furthermore, depending on your state of residence or where you want to work, instructional coordinators in public schools may have to be licensed in teaching or education administration.⁸

1. “Training and Development Specialists: What They Do.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. on the Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/training-and-development-specialists.htm#tab-2 (Visited October 17, 2018).
2. “Training and Development Specialists: How to Become One.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/training-and-development-specialists.htm#tab-4 Visited October 17, 2018).
3. “School and Career Counselors: What They Do.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm#tab-2 (Visited October 17, 2018).
4. “School and Career Counselors: How to Become One.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm#tab-4 (Visited October 17, 2018).
5. “Leadership of Educational Organizations: Program Details.” American InterContinental University. Retrieved from: https://www.aiuniv.edu/degrees/education/masters-educational-leadership (Visited October 17, 2018).
6. “Postsecondary Education Administrators: What They Do." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm#tab-2 (Visited October 17, 2018).
7. “Instructional Coordinators: What They Do.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/instructional-coordinators.htm#tab-2 (Visited October 17, 2018).
8. “Instructional Coordinators: How to Become One.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/instructional-coordinators.htm#tab-4 (Visited October 17, 2018).
9. “School and Career Counselors: Working Environment.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm#tab-3 (Visited October 17, 2018).

American InterContinental University cannot guarantee employment or salary. Find employment rates, financial obligations and other disclosures at www.aiuniv.edu/disclosures. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
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