Advance Your Career With a Masters of Education Degree

Postgraduate degrees prepare adults to pursue a variety of career opportunities. A Baltimore Masters of Education degree fulfills Maryland’s requirements for employment as a teaching professional, tutor, school counselor, coach, college instructor, student coordinator and school administrator.

The academic curriculum for most graduate programs in education are completed in less than two and a half years and include advanced course work in education, human development, communication, ethics, and a teaching internship. Upon graduation, students are able to obtain a teaching certificate and apply for employment as a teacher in any of Baltimore’s public, private or parochial schools.

A career in education offers stable employment opportunities with excellent health and retirement benefits. The job outlook for teachers in Maryland is above average. Teaching professionals are in considerable demand, especially in Baltimore and other urban areas.

Other career opportunities for adults with a Masters of Education include employment as a school administrator, student service coordinator or athletic coach. School administrators and student service coordinators perform administrative and organizational roles in academic institutions, and assist students in primary and secondary schools and university settings. High school and college athletic coaches combine their passion for sports with a career in education. Coaches are often employed in dual roles, in the athletic and education departments.

Tutoring is another area which employs many teaching professionals. Companies hiring tutors include agencies which provide specialized educational services for children with learning disabilities and test preparation companies. A professional tutor’s hours are flexible, and appointments usually occur after school hours.

Lastly, a Masters of Education, with a counseling specialization, offers graduates the opportunity to work in primary and secondary school settings as a school or guidance counselor. There are numerous career opportunities available in public and private schools for counseling professionals. Educators with a specialization in school or guidance counseling assist students with emotional or behavioral problems or give advice regarding career and educational opportunities.

A Masters of Education provides adults with an academic education and the opportunity to advance their career prospects. Obtaining a master's degree is a worthwhile investment in a student’s academic and professional future.

Getting an Advanced Education Degree in Maryland

Educators in Maryland have several options for furthering their teaching careers by completing a Masters degree. Schools with strong graduate education programs include Loyola University of Maryland, the University of Maryland College Park and Johns Hopkins University. Each school offers comprehensive courses of study in several different education specialties. The structure and emphasis of these graduate programs differs by specific college, so prospective student-educators should carefully evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each one prior to deciding which one best fits their career goals.

Loyola University of Maryland

This well-known school has nine categories of graduate programs to choose from for a Maryland Masters of Education, a higher number of options than in some other schools. These include curriculum and instruction, leadership, technology, literacy education, and school counseling. Loyola offers a Master of Arts in Teaching that meets advanced certification requirements, as well as offers a rich curriculum designed to prepare graduates to work with diverse student populations. Educators in specialized subject areas such as music or Montessori studies can also complete Masters degrees in their specialties.

University of Maryland College Park

Educators interested in areas such as human development, special education or school policy are good matches for this college's department of graduate education. Many of these advanced degrees focus more on research than on classroom methods, with the options to complete Masters degrees in measurement statistics or policy studies. Much of this coursework involves application of psychology theories, so prior study in this area is taken into consideration for admission. Either of these degrees are good options for aspiring leaders and administrators. The college also offers a Masters program in counseling that prepares educators to apply advanced knowledge of human psychology to a variety of educational settings.

Johns Hopkins University

Graduate education students at Johns Hopkins have opportunities to pursue interdisciplinary teaching degrees as well as those in leadership and teacher development. Aspiring school counselors have the options to complete advanced degrees in either school counseling or clinical counseling. Prospective special education specialists are well matched with this college's Masters program that offers thorough training in this area, combining both classroom and laboratory study. While Johns Hopkins offers fewer specialty Masters in Education degrees, the quality of advanced teacher preparation is well respected in the field. An additional strength of this graduate school of education is the available option to complete post-baccalaureate certificates and doctoral degrees in the same chosen areas.