Contrary to popular belief, students of education don’t just learn teaching strategies and modes of assessments. They learn the history of education as well as the social, political, and cultural factors that shape the educational system in different societies. As such, education graduates become masters of the science of education. However, when we think about education as a profession, our minds immediately go to teaching.
While teaching is the most popular career pathway chosen by educationalists, there are several other options they can pursue. However, most of these roles prefer individuals with a master’s degree in education. Postgraduate students delve into the psychology of learning, which helps them acquire essential skills such as effective communication and critical thinking that are transferable to many other roles. In this article, we discuss the importance of a master’s degree and talk about seven career paths you can opt for in the field of education.
Succeeding in the Field of Education
While a bachelor’s degree in education is a great starting point to build a career in the field, if you want to excel as an educationalist or try other career pathways, you must upgrade your credentials. A master’s degree in education can help you learn new things, such as educational technology and policy, which can open many new doors for you.
Even if you want to stick with a teaching role, a master’s degree can help you land better pay than if you got a teaching job with a bachelor’s degree as your credentials. The best part is that you don’t even have to put your career on hold and can simply enroll in an online masters of education in instruction, a remote learning program you can complete while working a full-time job.
Career Paths with a Master’s in Education
There are a few career pathways where a master’s degree is compulsory. However, where it’s not, having that added qualification can significantly improve your chances of getting the job you want. Let’s look at the career options you can pursue with a master’s in education.
- Teacher
Let’s start with one of the most common career pathways in the field of education, i.e., teaching. Teaching is a wonderful and highly fulfilling profession for those who enjoy leading a classroom. As a teacher, you will be responsible for the everyday learning of your students, preparing them for assessments, and helping shape them into well-rounded adults.
With a master’s degree in education, you can improve your classroom management and learn student-focused teaching strategies, which can help you excel at your job and grow professionally.
- Tutor
What if you enjoy teaching but cannot handle the hustle and bustle of the classroom? After all, looking after dozens of children and their learning at the same time can get overwhelming for some of us. Fortunately, you can continue teaching outside of a classroom by becoming a private tutor.
Private tutors work with individual or small groups of students outside of the school. Their services : With the increasing demand for personalized education, many private tutors also offer specialized services, such as online math classes for kids generally focus on home-schooled children or students who need extra help. The teaching skills you learn with a master’s degree in education will be directly utilized in your career as a tutor.
- Principal
Let’s flip the situation and talk about what you should do if you like working in a school setting but don’t want to continue teaching. The best option for you is to opt for a career in school administration as a principal. Most school districts require a master’s for appointment as a principal, so your degree can help you land a job.
Principals are required in every school, and they are responsible for overseeing all the functions of a school. From staffing and student life to security and compliance, there are numerous things that a principal must look after in one day.
- Instructional Coordinator
Another administrative role you can pursue in this field is an instructional coordinator. Instructional coordinators are required in every school, and the job role is limited to one aspect of school administration.
Instructional coordinators oversee instruction, i.e., the curriculum and the teaching methods. Instructional coordinators work with other staff members to develop the curriculum and develop strategies for instructional delivery to be used by teachers.
- Corporate Trainer
A corporate trainer, simply put, is a teacher for adults. Companies hire them to train employees on specific skills. This is another career option where your master’s degree will be of great use, as corporate trainers need to have a strong profile. Since studying education has taught you how to deliver and instruct effectively, you can use those skills to become an excellent corporate trainer.
- School Counselor
Most master’s degree programs teach students educational and child psychology to better equip them for the challenges of handling different students. If you enjoyed studying that part more than the rest, you should look for a job as a school counselor.
School students are often troubled due to the stress of studies, peer pressure, family issues, puberty, and the many difficulties one faces as a child. A school counselor plays the role of a friend and guide, helping students navigate through their problems and understand their emotions. In high schools, school counselors also help students apply to college. If you enjoy helping others, a school counselor career is a great option.
- Educational Policy Analyst
Many of us feel unhappy with the state of affairs in our communities and want to bring about change at a macro level. Educational policy analysts work for governments of organizations dedicated to developing public policy.
Their work involves analyzing the law and pushing governmental agencies to reform policies and procedures to meet the needs of students. With a master’s degree in education, you can get a seat at the table and voice your opinion concerning educational policy and help transform the sector.
Conclusion
The field of education is diverse and has no shortage of opportunities. In addition to the above seven career pathways, there are plenty of other options you can pursue as well. Your master’s in education has immense value and can help you find a job in various sectors.