If you are a teacher, you have probably considered earning a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree, maybe more than one. You may need a master’s to fulfill licensure requirements or to advance to leadership roles. A master’s may also lead to a pay raise. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the payoff for a master’s degree in education is usually quite high.
Fitchburg State University offers two M.Ed. programs: an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching (Non-Licensure) and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Management. Each program emphasizes teacher effectiveness and student learning. These M.Ed. programs also prepare educators for leadership roles, inside and outside the classroom.
Both M.Ed. programs are delivered in an online format, which is ideal for working teachers. In addition, Fitchburg State offers six start dates each year, allowing teachers to begin at a time that works best for them.
What Sets These M.Ed. Programs Apart?
Fitchburg State’s faculty play a key role in designing M.Ed. programs that graduate top-notch teachers. The faculty’s commitment to keeping curriculum current is one example.
“Faculty keep close watch on the changing pedagogy and the conversation of education across the United States,” explained Dean of Education Bruno Hicks, Ed.D. “What you’re learning in the courses are things you’ll be able to use in your class immediately. Lessons will impact your students as well as you.”
Fitchburg State’s Education faculty are researchers as well as practitioners. “They really focus on providing students with current, research-based best-practices,” said Professor Karen DeAngelis Ph.D. “Fitchburg State faculty stay connected to schools and to local communities, as well as keep current in research in their fields and conduct their own research.”
“We pride ourselves in the quality of our program and the students that we put into the field to work with kids at any grade level,” explained Professor Nancy Murray, Ed.D. “We’re constantly reviewing our programs, looking at the quality we’re providing for students. Are we giving them everything they need?” The bottom line: “A school is as good as its teachers. Our programs are as good as our teachers.”
How Does Faculty Optimize the Online Environment?
Professors play an important part in students’ success. In campus-based programs, students may catch their professors after class or schedule appointments during office hours. Online students may wonder, “Can I get the support I might need?”
At Fitchburg State University, students will find that the online environment gets careful attention from faculty. Many students completing online degree programs also work during the day. Dr. DeAngelis explained that faculty at Fitchburg State understand online students’ unique needs, and make themselves available to support students in a way that works for them. Offering advising through Skype or Google hangouts is just one example.
Dr. Murray finds that almost anything she can do face to face with students, she can do online, especially with today’s technology. “One of the things that I always put into my online course,” she said, “is a water cooler.” These virtual “water cooler” conversations create a comfortable space for students to ask questions and create community.
When it comes to graduate degrees, an M.Ed. is among the top three most popular options. How do teachers decide which M.Ed. is the right fit? Perhaps the strongest recommendation for Fitchburg State’s programs comes from outside. “Schools are always calling us up saying, ‘Do you have recent graduates? We have an opening,'” said Lynn D’Agostino, M.Ed., who coordinates practicums and partnerships with schools. “They want our students.”
Learn more about Fitchburg State University’s online M.Ed. programs.
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Should I Get a Master’s Degree?
National Center for Education Statistics: Most Popular Majors for Postsecondary Students
