Do I Need a Masters in Education to Teach on a College Level?

Individuals who are interested in instructing college age students may wonder whether they need a master’s degree in education to get into this line of work. Many instructors who teach in both public and private high schools must either have a masters degree in education or be in the process of earning one. Does a post-secondary instructor need more education than a secondary school instructor? The following offers an answer to that question along with some more details about the various opportunities for someone who wants to teach at a college.

Does a College Instructor Need a Masters Degree in Education?

The answer to this question is yes, most of the time. Whether an instructor is teaching a college level psychology, math, literature or biology class, he or she almost certainly has at least a masters degree in education. In fact, many instructors who teach in colleges have their Ph.D or are working toward getting it. College instructors are required to garner a high-level of education because it benefits the students they are teaching. These instructors specialize in a subject and can explain it in-depth to their students. Also, when someone is earning a masters degree in education, that person becomes more confident in teaching the subject he or she specializes in. Post-secondary or college students need to have instructors who are experts in their chosen field of study.

The Exceptions to the Rule

While most college instructors possess a masters degree in education, there are some instances when a teacher in a college may not have this degree. For instance, someone teaching a night class at a community college on how to sign for the deaf may not have a masters in education. However, this instructor will likely have many years of experience signing for the deaf. In addition, the person may have taken lots of training courses in order to develop this skill. Community courses that teach students specific skills such as signing, computer keyboarding and photography may not be taught by instructors with masters degrees in education.

The Advantages of Earning a Masters Degree in Education

Regardless of what courses a person teaches in college, a masters degree can prepare him or her for the challenging questions of students. Furthermore, if the college has a reputation for offering a quality education to students, a masters degree in education can help an instructor to live up to the high standards of the institution. This may lead to tenure for the professor and a rewarding career in teaching. If an instructor wants to deepen his or her knowledge of a subject area even more, there is always the possibility of pursuing a Ph.D.

Finally, for anyone who wants to begin a long-term career teaching at a college, it is a wise move to garner a bachelors, then a masters degree in education. After teaching a few years, pursuing a Ph.D can help to solidify a person’s future in his or her teaching position.

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