Can I get a Master in Education If I Have a Bachelors in Business?

Traditional Requirements for Entry into a Master’s Degree Program

Modern master’s degree program admission standards try to avoid over reliance on any single factor, such as a numerical grade point average or performance on standardized tests. Because of that, most institutions offering master’s degree programs prefer to focus on a wide range of factors.

The most common factors evaluated during the admissions process include the following:

• Whether or not the candidate has obtained a bachelor’s degree. Most schools demand a minimum GPA of 3.00 for graduate program  candidates, although this requirement may be waived in some circumstances.
• Performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• For students who are not native English speakers, their performance on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination.
• Work or volunteer experience that shows the student’s ability to succeed as an educator.
• Letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the candidate’s professional strengths.

All of these requirements are easily achievable by a holder of a business related degree. In many cases, the candidate’s work experience will help demonstrate the interpersonal skills that are so important in the educational field.

Prerequisite Courses

One area where a business degree may require extra work will be in fulfilling any prerequisite undergraduate courses required for admission into a master’s degree program. In some cases, the candidate can apply to the graduate program for immediate admittance while completing these courses, presuming that he or she can complete the prerequisite courses successfully.

Some schools may allow a candidate to complete these courses by examination, rather than forcing the candidate to take the entire course. Additionally, many prerequisite courses are offered during the summer or winter sessions, in order to ensure that the student can enter the graduate program as soon as possible.

Preparing to Enter a Master’s Degree Educational Program

In order to avoid any delay, any business degree holder seeking to enter a master’s degree program in education should complete the following steps:

• Check with the school’s admissions department and obtain a current list of requirements for entry into the graduate program.
• Make certain that the candidate has all required materials and documentation. In some cases, a school will require that transcripts and graduation verification be directly sent from the school, rather than provided by the candidate.
• Register and take any required tests, such as the GRE or TOEFL.
• If the school requires prerequisite coursework, find out if it is possible to take it concurrently with entry into the graduate program. If not, the candidate may have to enroll as an undergraduate student for a semester while completing any prerequisite coursework.

Ultimately, individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a business field will find themselves easily able to enter a master’s level educational program, so long as they carefully evaluate the requirements of that program in light of their own educational and professional history. This is especially useful for experienced business executives and managers who believe that they will find transferring to an educational career to be a rewarding professional and personal choice.