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Why get an online master’s in education?

Why get an online master’s in education?

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Should you get your master’s in education online? If you're thinking about enrolling in a graduate teacher training program, you’re probably wondering about this. Read on for a discussion of things you’ll want to consider when choosing your graduate education program and a comparison of online and on-campus programs.

Is it worth getting a masters in education?

Getting a master’s degree in any field is work, and many K-12 teachers do not have an advanced degree. However, the National Center for Educational Statistics reports that more teachers had obtained a postbaccalaureate degree in 2017-18 than in 1999-2000. The overall percentage rose to 58% in 2017-18.1 So, getting a master’s degree will make you more competitive in the job market.

A master’s can also boost your paycheck. Looking at the country as a whole, the U.S. Bureau of labor Statistics estimates that master’s degree holders earn an average of 18% more than those whose highest degree is a bachelor’s.2

Getting your master’s can position you to move into areas of education that would not otherwise be open to you. And, finally but most importantly, you will deepen your knowledge and strengthen your ability to serve your students. So, yes, if you are committed to the teaching profession, then getting a master’s in education is definitely worthwhile.

Once you’ve weighed the benefits of getting your master’s, you can then start to narrow down your school choices. In addition to finding a program that’s a good fit for your career goals, one key consideration is how your online education master’s degree will be perceived by employers.

Are online education degrees respected?

Nearly 70% of higher education students involved in online learning are in programs offered by nonprofit and public colleges and universities.3 Because these institutions are, by definition, more focused on online students' education than on profits, hiring managers often view their online master's degree programs more favorably.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced many more programs to move online, student outcomes helped drive greater respect for the value of online master's degrees among hiring managers across fields, including education. Exclusively online students in postsecondary degree programs accounted for 17.5% of the total student population in 2019. In 2020, that figure jumped to 45.5%. The percentage for online master's students was even higher, at 51.8%.4

How will employers evaluate candidates from online master's programs?

SHRM, the Society for Human Resource managers, recommends that hiring managers evaluate degrees from online programs on numerous criteria in addition to the institution's charter as a for-profit, nonprofit, or public institution.

Reputation is one factor. Relevant reputational elements include retention and graduation rates for the program, as well as where graduates are employed. National rankings are also good indicators of a program's quality. The University of Iowa is consistently top-ranked in the U.S. News and World Report state-level college rankings and national rankings for online education master’s programs.5, 6

Accreditation signals an online master's program quality

Whether or not a reputable organization accredits an online program is another element employers often consider. Accreditation is important for all online programs, but it's especially important for lesser-known schools, as employers will want to verify whether an online program meets a high standard of quality. The University of Iowa is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which is recognized by both the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

Should you consider one-year master's programs online?

One-year online master's programs in education may be a good choice for people who can handle heavy course loads. Many one-year online master's degrees that require 32, 34 or 36 credits, which is very similar to the graduation requirements for two-year online education master's programs, like the highly-ranked programs at the University of Iowa College of Education.

Can you do an online master’s while working full-time?

Being able to keep up with your job and other responsibilities while earning your degree is a key advantage of well-designed online master’s programs. Both the Online MS in STEM Education and the Online MA in Teaching, Leadership, and Cultural Competency (MATLCC) from the University of Iowa are expressly built to work for working teachers. They feature focused 8-week courses and a part-time course load. Asynchronous class delivery means you can study at a time that works for you. Three annual program starts offer you even more flexibility in your career development efforts.

Comparing online and on-campus master’s programs

On-campus programs may offer easier access to some features of major universities: libraries, research centers, cultural and professional development events. However, those advantages are counterweighted by the advantages of time, cost, and access offered by online programs.

With an online program, you don’t have to spend time and money commuting for classes. If you don’t live near the university, you don’t have to quit working and move to attend the program that best fits your goals. Well-designed programs like Iowa’s also make arrangements for remote students to use research facilities and participate in professional and cultural events.

In addition to the flexibility and accessibility that online programs offer, two more advantages of the online programs at the University of Iowa are the opportunities to immediately put your new knowledge to work in your local community and the chance to meet classmates from around the country.

Online discussion forums and projects will help you get to know your classmates and professors as well as mastering the subjects you’re studying. Because geography is no longer a limiting factor, you can get to know diverse people you otherwise might never meet.

Both the Online MATLCC and the Online MS in STEM Education at the University of Iowa are rich with opportunities to cross-pollinate your work and education, culminating in final projects that you can ground in your community to create immediate benefit for your students.

Putting your online master's degree to work

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With your next career move, whether it’s advancing at your current school or moving to a new one, there are several things you can do to highlight the unique qualifications you gained in your graduate program, and in the online learning environment.

Be prepared to discuss the rigor and relevance of your online master's program curriculum. You'll want to be able to talk about the skills you gained through the program, share industry-accepted accreditations, provide details about experiential learning opportunities and list ways you directly applied your learning to your current job.

Employers will also be interested in your collaborative skills and your job-specific competencies.7 Highlight the aspects of an online education program that make it different from on-campus programs and how those differences strengthened your collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Earning a graduate degree while working full time takes commitment, time management skills, and often, ingenuity. Be ready to highlight how your degree helped you grow personally as well as professionally. Take credit for your accomplishments.

Create a brighter future for yourself and your students

The University of Iowa has been leading in teacher education since the 1800s. Today, we’re a Big Ten research institution, proud to offer two innovative online programs at the same affordable tuition rate for in-state and out-of-state students.

Talk with an Admissions Advisor or complete the form to download an informative brochure about how the University of Iowa College of Education's convenient Online MS in STEM Education or Online MA in Teaching, Leadership, and Cultural Competency (MATLCC), can help you advance your career and become the kind of educator who changes lives for the better.

Admissions Deadlines

Summer 2024 Term

Apr
26
PRIORITY DEADLINE
April 26
Summer 2024
May
24
FINAL DEADLINE
May 24
Summer 2024
Jun
10
START DATE
June 10
Summer 2024

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