Masters Degree in Elementary Education

A masters degree in elementary education is a great way for teachers to hone their skills or change their focus, or even for individuals who are not currently teachers to become licensed. This versatile degree offers instruction that will be equally helpful to existing teachers, as well as to those who are new to the field.

A typical masters in elementary education has an emphasis, just like a bachelors in education. For example, you might choose science, biology, math, or English as your emphasis. A program with a science emphasis will obviously include many science courses, to ensure that you are well versed on the subject enough to instruct your students.

Many elementary education masters programs also include teacher licensure. This is helpful for individuals who are not licensed teachers, who perhaps received their bachelors degree in another area entirely, but who now would like to pursue a career in teaching.

In general, all masters programs in elementary education will teach you the theories of how children’s minds develop and learn. You will learn to assess your students’ progress, in order to make sure you are succeeding with each child, and to give you a chance to narrow the performance gap between your students. The principles of child psychology and developmental psychology are also often included in the curriculum for a masters degree in elementary education, so that you will be able to make decisions about what expectations are age appropriate for your students.

Career Options with a Masters in Elementary Education

There are a variety of teaching opportunities available with a masters degree in elementary education. However, most of your career options depend on what your emphasis is. If you choose a degree with an emphasis on K-8 science, you will be most qualified as an elementary or middle school science teacher. Likewise, if you get your degree with an emphasis on physical education or music, then you will most likely want to become an elementary school P.E. or music teacher.

There are, of course, options for teachers with this degree to advance their career later on down the line. For example, you might choose to become an elementary school principal or vice principal. Although a degree in education administration would be helpful in this case, you may be able to get the job without it. You will also be qualified to teach college level courses on elementary education.

Is an Elementary Education Masters Degree Right for You?

Regardless of whether you are already a teacher, the ideal candidate for a elementary education masters degree is someone who believes in the value of education, and has a passion for imparting that value to others. Teaching is a challenging but often a very rewarding job, if you can appreciate the small victories you experience when teaching children. If this sounds like you, then a master of arts in elementary education is probably an excellent choice for you.

Schools offering an Elementary Education Masters Degree