masters-in-teaching-vs-masters-in-education

Master’s in Education and Teaching may sound alike but there are certain important differences you must know if you are willing to pursue a career related to these degrees. 

Here is an article that gives you a clear idea about what these degrees are and differences between them in every aspect and aid you in choosing between these two degrees by making it less complex. 

Overview of “Masters in Education”

It is a course that focuses on one of the general areas that may be of great use to those who are in the teaching profession or for those who are willing to be in one. 

Students who are willing to work as principals or superintendents or in higher levels of administration, as researchers or as school counselors will join this degree.

The areas majorly focused are as follows.

• Counseling

• Curriculum 

• Administration

• Instruction

• Special Education, Adult Education, and Educational Leadership are additional specializations of the M.Ed.

Because states vary in their licensing conditions for counselors, candidates for this degree will have to check the requirements in the state where they desire to work.

By earning credits that can be counted toward a master's degree, the teacher recognizes the value of studies in terms of time and money. 

To make sure that the quality of the program is good, it is recommended that students should consider only those programs that have been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). 

Overview of “Masters in Teaching”

It is a course that focuses on improving a student’s or teacher’s knowledge in one particular subject area and also on building skills attained in the bachelor's program. The training is based on the teacher's chosen major area of teaching.

Topics Concerned are as follows. 

• Methodology

• teaching styles

• Identifying the diversity in student learning styles

• Creating differentiated instruction

• Assessments

It is an alternate option for those who have achieved a bachelor’s degree already in different fields but aspire to become teachers. Teachers whose motive is to proceed in the classroom working directly with students may decide the MAT is a more useful degree choice.

The degree can also be pursued as a Flex program. With additional courses, you can specialize in your degree in special education, bilingual studies, gifted and talented education, and other areas.

What is the difference between MAT and MEd?

Though they sound the same, there are certain differences you must know before making a decision regarding the kind of degree to join. Now, let us discuss the contrasts.

Admission Requirements

• This can be considered mostly as a similarity as both degree’s enrollment requirements are quite the same. 

• In most states, a teacher doesn’t need to have a graduate degree for certification but it will come in favor of you in the near future. 

• For both the MAT and the MEd, you should achieve a bachelor's degree before joining any of these degrees. 

• Your GPA will be evaluated along with your scores in teaching certification exams. 

• If you do not have a teaching certificate, you will need to qualify for a provisional certificate. 

Curriculum

• There will be some overlap in the types of classes one will take in a MAT program vs an MEd program. 

• The MAT program curriculum is more focused on how to teach, and the MEd program curriculum is more focused on educational theory.

• In MAT, the curriculum will include education classes and advanced coursework in your subject areas such as classroom management, theories, methods, and more. 

• MEd programs include various fields of specialization, such as educational leadership, school administration, curriculum and design, curriculum, instruction, and more. 

Academic Course

• A master's in teaching is an advanced degree for those with career ambitions of teaching whereas A master's in education is an advanced degree for those interested in career advancement beyond the classroom.

• Those who pursue MAT degree are already teachers or those who plan to teach in the classroom whereas those pursuing an MEd degree may be teachers or maybe working in a related field. 

• The individuals take the required educational classes for certification, but they will also take content-specific courses for MAT degree while a candidate pursues an MEd degree for certification in a specific field as it is used for specific career pursuits. 

Instructions

• MAT Vs MEd is also understood by how the degree is used for instruction. 

• Those who pursue a MAT are looking to gain more knowledge about how to teach whereas MEd is used in the field of education, but not necessarily instructing a class of students.

Career

• The MEd offers a wide variety of opportunities for jobs when compared to the MAT. 

• Candidate with an MEd degree may opt to specialize in several fields that are related to education. 

• Candidates with an MEd are more likely to pursue jobs with higher salaries.

• Since the MAT is specific to teaching careers, the MEd has a wide opening. 

Salaries

Salaries may vary based on the state or place you work. According to the BLS reports, master’s degree holders can earn 43-44% more than bachelor’s degree holders in the field of education. According to Payscale, here is a list of a few job roles and their average salary.

For the Masters in Education:

Job Role	Average Annual Income
Principal	$81,988
Curriculum Developer	$59,776
Educational Consultant	$63000
Assistant Principal	$70,314
Counselor of School	$49,307
Instructional Technologist	$54,810

For the Masters in Teaching:

Job Role	Average Annual Income
Elementary School Teacher	$47,846
Middle School Teacher	$47,543
High School Teacher	$53,123
Adult Literacy Teacher	44,000

Conclusion

We have learned the difference between masters in education and training by now. We would like to give some takeaway points which are as follows.

• Both degrees give you extraordinary opportunities for professional development and job security. Make sure you choose the degree that is suitable for your career goals.

• You can choose a master’s in teaching if you want to be an expert teacher in the classroom. 

• You can choose a master’s in education if you want to be an expert in a specialized field in education.