What is an MEd Degree?

MEd stands for Master of Education and is a master's degree for those working in education. With an MEd, you can advance your teaching career by gaining insights into new approaches and technologies that inspire learners and transform students. You might be surprised to learn that an MEd also allows you to apply your knowledge in other settings, including charter schools and home schools, nonprofit education programs, higher education and corporate environments.

What is a Master's in Education Degree?

Like many other master's degrees, a master's in education typically takes around two years to complete. It can include coursework focused on evidence-based research to inform curriculum and instruction, creating useful assessments and developing differentiated instruction to serve the needs of all students.

There are many benefits of an MEd program that include building your educational leadership skills and addressing the role of technology in the curriculum and classroom. An MEd can also give you experience designing programs that address the diverse needs of learners within your own classroom or work environment.

In an MEd program, you have the opportunity to explore new technologies and approaches through the development of lessons, learning assessments or other projects that can be directly applied in your classroom or workplace. Some online MEd programs offer concentrations that dive deeper into specific content areas, such as:

• MEd in Dyslexia Studies and Language-Based Learning Disabilities
• MEd in Educational Leadership
• MEd in Online Teaching
• MEd in Reading
• MEd in Special Education
• MEd in Technology Integration
  

“Learning methods and approaches are evolving,” said Dr. Daniel Tanguay, executive director of general education, first-year experience at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), who formerly served as the senior associate dean of education. “Because learning is changing, that means we also have to change the way we instruct our students. The MEd shows teachers how you can shift your instruction to address 21st-century learning.”

This includes the ability to effectively teach students in virtual and hybrid classrooms — something educators nationwide have been navigating since the start of the global pandemic. Earning an MEd that focuses on how to teach online can help you develop and hone the skills you need to instruct students whether they are in a physical space or a virtual environment. 

What Jobs Can I Get with an MEd?

Educators who understand how to serve the diverse needs of students are in high demand. A master’s degree in education can position you to succeed in several different roles.

• Instructional Coordinator: Instructional coordinators work in public or private schools at the elementary, secondary and higher education levels. They develop and evaluate school curricula and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, work with teachers and principals to present it, and assess its effectiveness. Instructional coordinators earn a median salary of $63,740 a year with a 7% job growth through 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of  Labor Statistics (BLS).
• Postsecondary Education Administrator: Postsecondary education administrators typically work in a college or university setting where they manage student services, academics and faculty research. They may also hold supervisory roles in admission, student life or the registrar’s office. Postsecondary education administrators earn a median annual salary of $96,910 with an 7% job growth through 2031, according to BLS.
• Postsecondary Teacher: Postsecondary teachers instruct in a variety of academic subjects past the high school level. While most postsecondary teachers work full-time, part-time work is common in the field. Typically this field requires at least a master's degree, but a PhD is more common. Postsecondary teachers earn a median salary of $79,640 with a 12% job growth through 2031, according to BLS.
• Principal: Principals work in public and private elementary, middle and high schools and are responsible for diverse school operations, including curricula, special education programs, building security and their teaching staff. Following school district, state and federal regulations, they set goals and assess both student achievement and teacher effectiveness. According to the BLS, principals earn a median salary of $98,420 with a 5% job growth through 2031.
• School and Career Counselors and Advisors: School counselors help students to develop social and academic skills, primarily in public and private schools. While career advisors help students figure out their career plans and a path for the future, generally in a university setting. Both are full-time roles. School and career counselors and advisors earn a median salary of $60,510 with a 10% job growth through 2031, according to BLS.
• Training and Development Manager: Also known as corporate trainers, training and development managers create, present and coordinate educational programs to enhance the knowledge and skills of an organization’s employees. They might select course content and materials for training programs or develop videos, self-guided instructional manuals or online programs. They must evaluate whether instructional methods, content and technology are effective. Training and development managers earn a median salary of $120,130 a year with a 7% job growth through 2031, according to BLS.

Is an MEd Required to Become a Teacher?

The short answer is: It depends on where you work and what your previous experience entails. Each state has its own certification process related to teacher licensure. The MEd on its own will not certify someone lacking state licensure to become a classroom teacher in a public school district.

Instead, those looking to teach typically complete undergraduate degree programs approved by a state that directly lead to certification. These programs include the required field experience, as well as a year of student teaching before you can apply for state licensure, according to Tanguay. 

However, it is possible for a teacher licensed in another area — for example, math — to enroll in an online master’s in education program that would give them exposure to field experience in another content area. The candidate could then use that experience to obtain certification in a secondary content area, Tanguay said.

In some cases, states experience critical shortages in specific content areas, such as technology integration. For example, a classroom teacher looking to use technology resources more effectively in curriculum and instruction might choose an MEd program focused on technology integration to help gain endorsement as a technology integrator.

“The MEd in itself does not provide a direct pathway to this certification, but because it’s a critical shortage area, it might be something you could work with your school and state department of education to achieve under an alternative plan,” said Tanguay.

In private schools or higher education settings, an MEd on its own can position you to teach in an organization in which state licensure is not required. However, it is important to check requirements before assuming an MEd will qualify you to teach in any case.

An MEd is not the only master's degree for teachers to achieve, however, as there is a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and a Master of Science in Education (MS Ed). 

An MAT program focuses on advancing your teaching career. It’s most pursued by people who want a more hands-on teaching experience and want to work directly with students. Similarly, an MS Ed is a program for educators who want to work in the field, improve their skills and someday move into an academic leadership role.

Will an MEd Help Me Get a Promotion?

Teachers who earn an MEd bring credibility to their professions and are highly competitive in the job market. Best of all, many see a bump in salary, making it a strong incentive for them to pursue an advanced degree, said Tanguay.

“If a district is looking for high-quality educators and they are comparing two applicants against each other, the person with the MEd is going to have an advantage,” he said. “The MEd reflects that a candidate has more experience and is capable of taking on more responsibilities required by the job.”

Elementary, middle or high school principals coordinate and make decisions about curricula, oversee teachers and other school staff and ensure a safe and productive learning environment for students, according to BLS. To become a principal, you must already be certified to teach in your state and have years of classroom teaching experience. However, the MEd is required for educators looking to move beyond the role of classroom teacher to the role of principal, assistant principal or curriculum coordinator, for example, according to Tanguay.

"The MEd really gives you a good understanding of assessment, instructional strategies and the expertise to hone in on student learning as it relates to all aspects of an educational environment,” said Tanguay. “The MEd is the pathway that educators will choose because of that theoretical approach.”

Other popular roles outside of the classroom that typically require an MEd include educational consultants, corporate trainers, curriculum developers and assessment specialists, to name a few.

A master’s degree in education can launch you into an educational leadership position, where you can put your knowledge of curriculum and instruction — and how it relates to 21st-century learning — to work.

Discover more about SNHU's master's in education: Find out what courses you'll take, skills you'll learn and how to request information about the program. 

Krysten Godfrey Maddocks ’11 is a writer and marketing/communication professional. Connect with her on LinkedIn.