Is teaching at college level with a master’s in education for you?

Is It For Me?

A decision to pursue graduate work in any discipline is not to be made lightly. A number of seemingly simple questions can provide guidance through the process of selecting and pursuing an advanced degree.
A primary concern and motivating factor for individuals seeking a master’s degree in education is economic or salary improvement. A seemingly harsh and pitiless value calculation must be made prior to beginning any academic endeavor, and is especially important for advanced credentials due to the cost of graduate level courses.
A brief look at a recent report from the American Association of University Professors shows that even in a grim economic climate, instructors at a master’s degree level earned impressive wages in 2010 and 2011. A cursory inspection of table C on page 10 of the document linked above reveals that an average annual wage of $63,000 to $94,000 was earned by professors with this level of education.

What Will it Take?

The single largest stumbling block most professional educators face when considering enrollment in a graduate program is the perceived time commitment necessary to reach graduation. In traditional colleges, this is a real concern, although most master’s level coursework is designed to accommodate a working adult’s scheduling concerns. In actuality, a master’s in education will likely take less than two years to complete.
The actual cost of attaining an MS degree is often overstated, particularly in light of increased salary potential post-graduation. It can still be a daunting figure, but when mentally approached as an investment makes sense in most cases.

Intangible Rewards

Beyond the practical concerns of a decision to pursue a master’s in education, there is a compelling suite of intangible benefits that spring from such a credential. Teaching reaches its finest form in higher education, and to instruct others at this level is a calling of sorts. Few individuals with an aptitude for teaching will be immune to the emotional satisfactions afforded a college professor.

The final determination in these matters can only be made on an individual, case by case basis. While a master’s degree in education may lead to increased employment prospects in higher education institutions and generally higher wages for an instructor’s working life, it is not a path for everyone. It has been said often that education is a rewarding goal purely for its own sake, and any number of professional educators will no doubt agree with this assessment. There is no compelling reason, however, that material success should be entirely divorced from these lofty ideals. A graduate level degree, leading to a career in higher education instruction, is the ideal marriage of commerce and commitment.

For more information, check out “Top 10 Best Master’s Programs in Education (M.Ed)“.