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Throughout much of the United States, there is a shortage of teachers in both core and specialized subjects at all grade levels. Acquiring a Masters degree in education will not only improve one's job prospects but will also pay off in terms of better expected annual income. Training high school, college and graduate students to be competitive in the global marketplace is, in a sense, a national security issue. Without adequate numbers of teachers, the U.S. may quickly find itself lagging behind in many important industries.
A post-baccalaureate degree is not necessary to teach. The traditional route to becoming an elementary or secondary teacher involves the acquisition of a Bachelors degree followed by a teaching license in a given state. To teach at the community college, university or specialty trade school level, a minimum of a Masters degree is typically required. A Masters of Science in Education (MSEd), however, is as useful for K-12 teachers as for advanced teachers. It is a specialized degree geared towards one of the following disciplines:
* Elementary teaching
* Secondary teaching
* Advanced teaching
* Higher education administration and policy
With the exception of administration and policy, this degree essentially augments the subject-specific teaching skills gained from a Bachelors degree in education. Teachers are certified to work in a particular subject area. A Masters of Science in education focuses a teacher's skill set while offering advanced knowledge and pedagogical strategies. It also aims for the development of a personal teaching philosophy and may provide room for advancement. Besides personal and professional development, there are other benefits to getting a Masters degree in education. In a survey of nearly two dozen professions, only firefighters ranked higher than teachers in terms of respect for the professionals. Despite the fact that the national average annual salary for teachers with advanced degrees is nearly $50,000, there is still a shortage in the field. A Masters degree in education can only increase one's earning potential, not to mention improve one's teaching ability. For Bachelors degree holders in a subject other than education, many states offer alternative teaching certification programs designed to more quickly staff urgent need areas while a teacher earns a Masters degree or state certification. These programs vary by state, and areas of greatest need may differ accordingly. However, math, science, special education and ESL teachers are almost universally in demand.
Many of these advanced degree programs allow working teachers to study online to complete their studies. Once obtained, getting a reasonably good-paying job is a virtual guarantee provided one is open to the idea of working in a high-need location such as an inner city or rural area. While millions of teaching openings are expected throughout the next decade, jobs are less plentiful in wealthier school districts than economically disadvantaged ones. Organization, patience and creativity are desirable characteristics in teachers. MS Education programs are designed to foster these and other intangible elements in teacher-students while building a solid foundation of knowledge in basic teaching fundamentals. The future of this country is in the hands of those committed to education. Because there is so much at stake, it's vital that more people rise to the challenge. A masters degree in education raises the prospective teacher to the level of expert in their particular subject. Students benefit in terms of receiving a superior education while the teachers themselves enjoy greater job satisfaction and a better standard of living.
