A Masters earned in the educational field can lead to a variety of careers. Whether a student decides to pursue the Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education depends upon the career path that the student plans to pursue.
Master of Arts in Teaching degree programs are for candidates who plan to become classroom teachers. Even though some practicing teachers do enter the program, most candidates are non-teachers with undergraduate degrees who want to make a career change. The Master of Arts in Teaching requires semester hours in educational classes plus a large amount of student teaching hours that offer extensive training in actual teaching skills. Future teachers who complete this Masters enter the classroom extremely well prepared to teach. They find there are more jobs available to them. An argument against this degree is that teachers rarely use it to advance beyond the classroom.
Master of Education degree programs are usually pursued by experienced teachers who are working toward career advancement in the fields of administration, counseling, curriculum or reading. Teachers focus on their subjects or other specialized areas. This degree is for those who are planning on pursuing career advancement opportunities. Also, this type of academic training is a step toward a Doctorates Degree program. One negative aspect of this program is that it doesn’t offer intensive practical teacher training.
The two degrees both require many of the same core educational classes. DePaul University offers the Masters Degree in Education with 13 different specialized areas. An excellent example of the Masters in Teaching Degree is Seattle University’s program. This degree offers a multidisciplinary approach to learning and internships supervised by faculty and schools.
Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education Career Options and Job Placement
A Masters of Arts in Teaching can lead to jobs in K-12 classrooms. These teachers are often chosen as department heads or supervising teachers for new teaching candidates. Kindergarten, elementary and high school teachers will benefit from this degree’s specialized, practical training.
A Master of Education Degree can lead to a variety of jobs depending upon the area of specialization. For instance, a focus on educational leadership will lead to principal and superintendent roles. Specializing in the areas of counseling, curriculum or media can lead to jobs as counselors, curriculum coordinators or librarians.
Job opportunities for Masters of Teaching and Masters of Education degree holders are bright. According to the Department of Labor, a significant number of classroom teachers will retire in the next ten years. These retirements will create job openings in most areas of the country. Administration jobs are also projected to grow in the next ten years due to increased enrollment and retirement. Whether teaching candidates choose the Master of Arts in Teaching vs. the Masters of Education depends upon their career aspirations.