Many states require at least some graduate coursework in order to obtain a long-term, professional license. Until this education is obtained, most teachers throughout the United States will be placed on a temporary license pending their completion of a degree or at least some coursework toward their degree. The choices are numerous, but two of the major options include a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in Special Education. With so much emphasis on improving performance and test scores, and differentiating instruction to meet the needs of a more diverse, inclusive group of students, both of these degrees have significant merits and differences that will appeal to different types of educators.
The Master’s in Education: A Broad Program for Curriculum and Content.
The primary reason that an educator chooses a broad Master’s in Education program is so that they can enhance their content knowledge in a given subject area or deepen their understanding of curriculum practices and instruction procedures. The Master’s in Education program is designed to veer off into several concentrations that can include a specialized subject area, administration, curriculum planning, or even school counseling.
At the conclusion of the program, the concentration chosen by the educator will be useful if they’re considering a career change, and it will allow them to engage in more administrative functions within their existing department. Those who chose a subject-specific area will be fit for content-specific high school or adjunct instruction, while others will be primed for leadership. These broad skills are then used in conjunction with professionals who work with gifted, special education, or other students with unique needs in an academic environment.
The Master’s of Special Education: Focusing on Students in Need
The main differentiation between a Master’s in Education and a graduate program that focuses exclusively on special education is the narrower focus on new technologies and strategies that can boost learning processes for those with special needs. Special education is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States, generally because so much specific knowledge is needed in order to assess a child’s learning capabilities, develop an individualized education program, and accommodate unique learning disorders with high-tech methods and even classroom pullouts.
While undergraduate programs are also offered in this field, those who are passionate about helping children with specialized needs can benefit a great deal from the unique focus provided by the MSEd. The degree allows graduates to work with traditional classroom teachers and school administrators, educating them on the needs of their students and serving as a valuable intermediary that can interpret existing curriculum and convert it into an individualized, more effective program for those with learning disorders and special circumstances.
Those who choose a Master’s in Special Education will still get a great deal of information on curriculum planning and instruction, and they’ll learn about administrative capacities and other general subject areas related to the field. At the conclusion of the program, however, they will be considered experts in their field and they’ll be in charge of turning general curriculum into specialized, highly effective teaching that can boost test scores and performance of those with unique needs.
Both Programs are a Great Way to Advance in the 21st Century
Both the broad Master’s in Education degree, and the specialized Master’s in Special Education alternative, give educators a way to learn more about their field and serve their students with a more expert set of skills. Both degrees meet state licensure requirements, and both degrees can cultivate a better learning environment for students across the academic spectrum.
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