What is a Masters in Teaching Degree?

What is a Masters in Teaching DegreeStudents who are interested in earning a Masters in Teaching have a desire to increase their knowledge and skills in the education process and achieve higher earning potential. They have a desire to gain more knowledge of their specialty area to become a more proficient teacher. Earning a Masters in Teaching allows you to become a board certified teacher, which opens the door to opportunities such as leadership and administrative positions. In order to qualify for entrance into a Masters in Teaching Degree program, you need to have earned a bachelor’s degree in education at the elementary or secondary level from an accredited college or university.

How to Find the Top Masters in Teaching Programs

To find some of the top Masters in Teaching degree programs, you may consider conducting research online, reading college catalogs, or obtaining personal recommendations from acquaintances and professional personnel. Two universities that offer excellent programs are Portland State University and Seattle University. They are both accredited universities and have a high ranking among education programs. Both of these programs are small and students work through a cohort model. Classwork is important, but experience working out in the field in community classrooms is at the crux of the programs. If you are considering one of the top online Masters in Teaching degree programs, Drexel University has one of the best online programs for you to consider. The program at Drexel has many areas of education to choose from such as special education, higher education, science, math and many others.

Careers and Salaries for Individuals with Masters in Teaching Degrees

There are any number of Masters in Teaching jobs that are available to those with a Masters in Teaching degree. To become eligible for an administrative position, a masters is required. Building superintendents, such as principals or assistant principals, need to have a master’s degree. The median salary for a school principal is $93,655. Other Masters in Teaching careers are in the field of special education and specialists in ESL programs. These special programs need a supervisor with a master’s degree to execute the program throughout the school district. The median salary for a special education teacher is $47,994.

Masters in Teaching salaries are approximately 5% higher than the salaries of teachers who have only a bachelor’s degree. The actual figures depend on the pay scales of individual states and the amount of experience the teacher or specialist has. For example, in Washington D.C., you can earn about $3,000 to $10,000 more per year with a Masters in Teaching degree. With a master’s degree, the increase in salary is fairly substantial over time. The higher degree paves the way for entering into an administrative or specialist position, and it can enhance your skills in delivering a better education to your students, making it professionally advantageous to earn your Masters in Teaching Degree.