A Master of Education is an advanced degree that is awarded to students who have successfully completed all coursework, projects, and exams on subjects of pedagogy, curriculum development, administration, academic counseling, and other topics related to education. This degree is offered by numerous institutions in many different countries. Just as the credential requirements vary from country to country, so do the Master of Education programs. In the United States, some states require teachers to complete a Master of Education in order to become licensed to teach. A Master Education Program usually requires students to complete coursework equivalent to four semesters of full-time study. That coursework may be spread out over a longer period of time for part-time students or may be completed within a year as part of a condensed program.
In many cases, schools that offer a Master of Education Program allow students to focus their studies on a specific topic that falls under the umbrella of education. While completing a Master of Education, graduate students may focus on topics such as arts in education, language and literacy, school leadership, or the use of technology in academic settings. As such, students who are completing this sort of program are preparing themselves to work in a specific niche within the field of education.
In addition to choosing a niche field, most students working toward a Master of Education are also preparing to work with a certain category of students. A person working to complete a Master of Education may be preparing to work with students of a certain age range, college students, or students with certain needs. In most cases, every student in a Master of Education program is required to write a thesis, no matter what topic they happen to be focusing on. This thesis is meant to reflect the culmination of their work and research in the program. It is also meant to allow the student to thoroughly research the specific area of education in which she hopes to work.
Some of these programs require students to do field work. As a part of field work, students may have to teach or work as student teachers. This work may be done on campus for those students who hope to work with college students or in nearby schools. Schools that require this as part of their Master of Education program often have a network set up to help students find locations for their field work.
