You may have graduated from college, but you never stopped learning. You thrive in an education setting – so much so that you’ve decided to dedicate yourself to a career in the field. As you venture toward taking your profession to the next level, you may be realizing that a master’s degree could be the tool that will help you unlock the potential you’re after.
But when it comes to a graduate degree in the education field, determining the type of program that will help you achieve your career goals can be a bit confusing on the surface. There’s a common source of confusion for motivated educators like you: Master’s in Teaching versus Master’s in Education.
They may seem similar on the surface, but there are important distinctions between the two. Join us as we break down these graduate education paths to help you navigate which route will lead you to your ultimate destination.
What is a Master of Arts in Teaching?
If you have a desire to become a teacher, but you started your career in a different field, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program is an ideal path for you. MAT degrees are designed for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in a field outside of education and are now seeking initial teaching credentials at the graduate level.
At Bellarmine University, we offer flexible scheduling options that allow students to earn their graduate degrees while continuing their full-time work. In order to complete state-mandated field hours, however, students can expect to dedicate their final semester to student teaching full time.
The requirement to shift your work schedule around during the final semester may seem like an inconvenience, but the program outcomes you’ll reap upon graduating from an MAT program can make all the difference in your pursuit of a teaching career. The MAT program at Bellarmine will prepare you to do the following:
- Improve student learning and achievement with engaging lesson plans
- Foster positive interactions with students, parents, other teachers, administrators and the community
- Navigate multicultural classrooms
- Make instructional decisions based on individual learner needs
- Gain the confidence of a well-prepared, 21st century teacher
What is a Master of Arts in Education?
Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) programs are more fitting for current teachers who are focused on leadership development. At Bellarmine University, MAEd students can opt to participate in the Literacy Specialist program or the Teacher Leadership program.
With a literacy specialist emphasis, students will participate in an in-depth study of teaching, learning and literacy leadership. These skills will allow classroom teachers to explore literacy issues related to elementary, middle and high school students with a particular focus on issues related to struggling readers.
A graduate armed with an MAEd with a literacy specialist concentration can continue down their path as a highly qualified classroom teacher, or they may elect to serve as the literacy leader in their school, the school’s reading coach or even serve in a district-level literacy resource position.
In the Teacher Leadership MAEd program, students will have the opportunity to focus on the following:
- Leadership skills
- Coaching and mentoring
- Strategies for closing the achievement gap through instructional best practices
- The need to address equity and diversity in schools
- Collaborative efforts to include colleagues, parents and the community in comprehensive efforts for school improvement
The Teacher Leadership program has also launched two cognate opportunities – one in STEAM education and one in trauma-informed practices. MAEd Teacher Leadership students can choose one of these in-demand areas to focus their studies on.
It’s true that an MAEd can be a great option for teachers who are looking to increase their impact in the classroom. But it’s also a quality graduate path for professionals who are interested in pursuing educational leadership positions outside of classroom instruction. Such positions could include the following:
- Curriculum developer/instructional coordinator: These professionals research the best materials available for their schools and work with teachers to implement them. Their day-to-day tasks include collaborating with principals, board members and developmental specialists to determine what, how and how fast students should be learning. A curriculum developer will need to have a broad understanding of how the school system works in order to oversee this extensive process. A Master’s in Education will serve you well in this occupation.
- School or career counselor: Counselors spend their days helping students develop the academic and social skills that lead to success in school and in their career endeavors thereafter. They evaluate students’ abilities and interests through aptitude assessments and interviews, helping them create plans to achieve their academic and career goals. In a school counselor position, you’d also help students overcome social and behavior problems, in addition to teaching students and school staff about a variety of topics, including bullying and drug abuse.
Move forward with your education career
Whether you’re starting your career as an educator from scratch or you’re looking to build upon the years you’ve already dedicated in the classroom, there’s a graduate path that can help propel your career to new heights. This comparison of a Master’s in Teaching versus a Master’s in Education should help you determine which is the right route for you.
Ready to take that next step? If your sights are set on becoming a certified teacher, head to our Master of Arts in Teaching program page to learn more about your options. If you’re ready to amplify your teaching skills by exploring your leadership potential in the field of education, visit the Master of Arts in Education program page to discover your next steps.