If you’re a teacher, you may be considering advancing your career. Or, if you’re a soon-to-be student with experience in another sector, you could be contemplating a new professional path. Perhaps you’re thinking about enrolling in a graduate program, but afraid to commit to the timeline involved. Therefore, you may be questioning, “How long does it take to get a master’s in education (M.Ed.)?”

The timeline to achieve the distinction of a master’s degree depends on several factors, including:

• Full or part-time study
• Previous academic experience and potential transfer credits
• Standard or intensive course structure
• Your higher education institution’s semester policies and procedures
• Total required credit hours to complete a graduate program

For those who have a bachelor’s degree, it typically takes two years of full-time study to earn their graduate degree. For part-time students earning their master’s degree, the timeline to completion could take up to four years.

However, Goodwin University personalized its Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) format so learners can still work full-time, focus on their families, and maintain their lives outside of school.

At Goodwin, students can earn their graduate degree in just 12 months part-time.

Convenient and Career-Focused Courses

Goodwin University offers adaptable academics, and the institution’s 30-credit Master’s of Education program can be completed entirely online.

Even better — for students entering the program, up to 12 credits can be transferred toward their master’s degree, six credits from prior learning as a part of the Alternative Route to Certification and six from previous professional education and teaching experience. The remaining 18 credits can be completed part-time in as few as 12 months.

At Goodwin, the M.Ed. program’s flexibility also extends to its tuition and college costs. The University’s Master’s of Education program is priced competitively with other private, non-profit colleges in Connecticut. All tuition expenses are also shown to students up front, so learners know precisely the investment they’re making before they start.

As a bonus, Goodwin University does not require GRE scores for the M.Ed. program, eliminating the additional price tag and potential student stressor.

A Customized Curriculum for M.Ed. Candidates

The online Master’s of Education in Teacher Leadership program at Goodwin University is a joint program with the University of Bridgeport, and the inclusive M.Ed. cohort incorporates both student populations.

The Master’s of Education curriculum combines synchronous live virtual learning sessions with asynchronous independent studies. Courses in Goodwin’s M.Ed. Teacher Leadership program covers everything from effective learning environments and instructional coaching to the social foundations of education and contemporary issues.

M.Ed. classes also prepare future forward-thinking educators to apply the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, focusing on flexible options for learners and designing with variability in mind. By implementing UDL, innovative instructors increase access to learning while reducing and removing students’ cognitive, intellectual, organizational, and physical barriers.

M.Ed. graduates leave empowered to advance equity in education and make evidence-based decisions. The M.Ed. curriculum also supports graduate students in thinking critically and introspectively about how internal biases impact their view of the world and can ultimately show up in their work.

With a graduate degree in education, teachers learn to keep up with the latest technology, manage classroom to-do lists effectively, and make more informed choices regarding best practices for instructional approaches and methods.

M.Ed. Careers and Compensation

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that education pays. Median weekly earnings for those with bachelor’s degrees was $1,305 in 2020, while master’s degree graduates earned a median of $1,505 per week.

The career options are also endless regarding what you can do with a Master’s in Education.

In just a matter of months, graduates of M.Ed. programs are adequately qualified for educational administration roles, pedagogy and policy leaders, and more!

Even if learners aren’t interested in a professional future in education, an M.Ed. can provide the particular skills needed to advance careers and instruct colleagues in other industries. M.Ed. earners seeking work outside the school system can find career options in government agencies, non-profit, and private organizations.

Three examples of professional opportunities for graduates of master’s-level teacher leadership programs include:

1. Career Counselor

2021 Annual median pay: $60,510

2. Curriculum Specialists

2021 Yearly median salary: $63,740

3. Education Administrators

2021 Annual median wage: $98,420

Even after graduation, Goodwin University’s Career Services team offers job placement and counseling support (for free, forever!) to ensure learners are employed in careers they love.

Benefits of Earning Beyond a Bachelor’s

There are countless reasons to pursue a Master’s in Education.

An M.Ed. program is an invaluable investment, essential to elevating your lesson plans and lifestyle. With higher job security and salary potential, a graduate degree in education proves a positive one — producing classroom results and a rewarding career.

Are you interested in earning your Master’s in Education?
Click here to learn more about a career in Teacher Leadership today!