Do You Need A Master’s in Education or a Master’s in a Field of Study To Teach Community College?

For educators interested in teaching in higher education, one consideration that is often explored is the answer to the question of whether or not they will need a master’s in education or a concentration in a field of study with a master’s to teach community college courses. The requirements to be hired as an instructor at a community college vary by institution, but there are some standards for those interested in teaching at this collegiate level.

Minimum Qualifications for Community College Educators

The majority of community colleges across the country matriculate students into programs to graduate with a professional certificate or a two-year associate’s degree. The general requirement for instructors, therefore, is to hold a bachelor’s level degree in order to lead students through the coursework needed to earn a certificate or an associate’s degree.

Additional resources and information on community colleges and future employment can be found at the American Association of Community Colleges. Although in many cases a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement, for many community colleges around the United States, a master’s degree is the preferred education qualification.

Master’s Degree in Education or in an Academic Discipline

While many community colleges prefer candidates for teaching positions to hold a master’s degree, many others will require the advanced degree for consideration. This leads future educators to consider whether to pursue a graduate degree within a specific area of study or in education.

A master’s degree in education is mainly helpful for educators looking to instruct courses in education programs such as early childhood development. Graduates with a Master’s in Education complete advanced coursework in areas such as child and adolescent behavior, assessment methods, curriculum design, and classroom management. This best prepares future educators to work with students and prepare those students for future careers in a classroom.

For the majority of educators interested in working in a community college, a master’s degree in a specific academic discipline will be the most likely desired qualification. For example, a teacher with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, for instance, would want to pursue a graduate degree in mathematics. Or, after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a future educator might consider pursuing a graduate degree in accounting to prepare to instruct courses such as introduction to accounting to community college students.

Additional Qualifications

In addition to completing a master’s degree, prospective instructors of community college programs may also be expected to meet a number of other diverse requirements. Some common qualifications include professional experience within one’s academic field, publication of articles or conducted research, classroom teaching experience, and expertise in a number of technical, software, and online learning tools.

Related Resource: Career in Online Education

Teaching is a rewarding career that offers educators an opportunity to work with various age and academic levels, helping all students achieve future goals. At the community college level, an educator will decide on what field to teach in, helping to answer the question of whether or not he or she will need a Master’s in education or a concentration in a field of study with a master’s to teach community college courses.