For many educators and future educators, pursuing a graduate degree can be particularly helpful when there are options to specialize a Master’s in Education degree. Whether looking to begin teaching in a classroom, gain advanced skills and knowledge in instruction, or enter a new area of education outside of the classroom, a specialized Master’s in Education degree is often a required step.
Classroom Teaching Specializations
A number of master’s programs in education prepare future educators for the classroom or can advance the knowledge and skill of current teaching professionals with classroom experience. These concentrations are often divided by elementary and secondary level in order to best explore the methods for teaching the various age groups. In the secondary concentrations, graduate students also often focus on a particular subject area such as mathematics, English, or science.
An early childhood development program also focuses on coursework and observation for classroom teaching. Early childhood development specializations offer coursework in areas like language acquisition and child learning and development to prepare future teachers to work with ages from birth through kindergarten.
Preparing for the Classroom and Administration
A number of programs at the graduate degree level in education include concentrations that help to prepare graduates with the skills and knowledge to work in a classroom or to pursue administration-related positions. Special education and reading are examples of possibilities. Special education concentrations that focus on teacher education include courses such as learning with disabilities and behavior assessment as well as program development and learning evaluation.
Reading specialist graduate degrees also fit into this category. In this program, future educators take a variety of courses in linguistics, phonics, language acquisitions, and child development, focusing in particular on high risk and developmental students. Most reading specialists will work in classroom support or interventionist positions, with additional possibilities in program director and classroom teaching also possible.
Graduate Programs for Postsecondary Positions
Some concentrations in master’s programs are designed specifically for future educators and administrators at community colleges, universities, and vocational degree programs. Examples of common concentrations in this area include higher education and adult education or training.
Courses in these concentrations often include categories for both instruction and administration. In instruction, students complete classes such as adult learning, adult career development, teaching in postsecondary education, and foundations of postsecondary learning. In administration, students complete classes such as budgeting and financing in postsecondary institutions, building a learning environment, educational research, and program evaluation in higher education.
Related Resource: Master’s in Educational Leadership
Other Education Specializations
Other concentrations include technology and educational leadership. Instructional design and technology concentrations often include courses such as learning with technology, online teaching, design of learning technology, and online literacy. In an educational leadership or administration program, future lead teachers, program directors, and school or collegiate administrators complete courses such as instructional supervision, organizational development in education, and school restructuring assessments. Additional education specializations can be found on the National Education Association website.
The range of options for concentrations in education master’s degree programs is as wide as the possibilities for working in the field. For any interest, there is a program or concentration in order to specialize a Master’s in Education degree and prepare for future career goals from early childhood to postsecondary learning.
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