A degree can open the door to a variety of opportunities and diverse career paths. With a Master of Education (M. Ed.), you can unlock your potential and explore a range of career options, both inside and outside the classroom. This collection of articles is intended to help inform and guide you through the process of determining what degree level and types of certifications align with your desired career path. Many people mistakenly assume that the only application for a M.
Ed. is teaching students. However, courses often offered at an M. program can help expand knowledge and skills that could also be useful outside of the classroom.
This can be especially relevant if you ever decide to make a career change and prepare to look for non-teaching opportunities in education. While not an exhaustive list, the following career opportunities may be available if you want to put your educational training outside of the classroom:
Training and Development Specialists
Companies often need to train employees in everything from business writing to using new software. Training and development specialists work to implement new training programs and continuing education initiatives in various departments, stores, and offices. This may involve teaching employees based on pre-packaged courses and training materials provided by HR or senior management, or it could involve working with training and development managers to refine current training courses and processes.Career Counselors
Career counseling involves helping people determine their career goals and then seeking the right training, certifications, and education. Of course, counselors can work with schools (either at the secondary level or in higher education), but they can also be employed by technical and vocational institutions, state and local government programs, and in social work and healthcare settings.Educational Technology Specialists
An educational technology position, whether within a school district or as an outside consultant, may involve testing and evaluating new learning platforms and materials to help teachers choose what is appropriate for their students.Postsecondary Education Administrators
Postsecondary education administrators are the oil that keeps college wheels going.They supervise students and faculty to ensure that everyone receives the services they need and that academic studies and research are carried out smoothly and efficiently in colleges and universities. Job details vary depending on your area of focus, whether it's admissions, the registry office, or general student affairs.
Instructional Coordinators
Instructional coordinators, also known as curriculum specialists, are the guardians of school curricula and teaching standards. They work with curricula and teaching methods established by local, state, and federal school boards. In addition to developing curricula and working with teachers and principals to implement the new materials, instructional coordinators also evaluate their effectiveness and fix what doesn't work by analyzing student test data and educator feedback.Special Education Teachers
Special education teachers work directly with children who have emotional or physical disabilities or who have learning disabilities.Some special education teachers choose to specialize in a certain area of special education, for example, teaching students with autism or those who have experienced trauma.
