Is a Master’s in Education (MEd) Needed to Become a Teacher? – NDNU

Read Time Estimate: 2 minutes

By Charlie Davenport

September 13th, 2023

To be an educator in postsecondary education (high school and above), a master’s degree and credentials are required. A master’s opens doors for career advancement, increased pay, and the opportunity to lead school-wide change outside of the classroom.

To teach levels below the high school grade, a bachelor’s degree and credentials are mandatory. Reasearch your state’s requirements as they all differ.  

Bachelor’s degree programs tend to teach more “by the book” and less individually applicable to each student’s requirement.

Enrolling in a graduate school program will introduce you to:  

  • Strong critical thinking abilities, theoretical insight and practical foundations  
  • Discover the positive effects that education theory knowledge has on your teaching practices 
  • How to be a voice for the educational community to encourage changes 
  • Fieldwork/practicum opportunities to help you better understand what to anticipate 
 

When hiring, schools seek master’s degree holders to take on leadership roles in the educational community. Teachers become prominent members of their educational community as they deepen their grasp of teaching methods, classroom management skills, and professional resources.

Having a master’s from a reputable and accredited university will give job seekers a leg up in the field of education.  

When enrolled in grad school you will meet professors that either have or had experience in your field of interest. This gives you more opportunities to learn about specific scenarios, how to handle them, recover, and move forward.

Dependent on the master program you choose, many integrate practicum opportunities into your curriculum further helping you better understand the work/life balance and experience in action. 

Educators tend to stay local to their hometowns to give back to the community that raised them, continuing the educational impact, while others venture out to highly populated areas that may offer higher pay.

Regardless of location, having a graduate degree will support your pursuit of becoming an esteemed educator. 

For information on applying to Notre Dame de Namur University, please visit the Admissions page. 

Are you interested in a Masters in Education ?

Sign up below for a free learning session with one of our admissions counselors.

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