What Should Teachers Consider When Opting For A Master’s Program?

Probably, you love being around kids or you have a significant flair to pass on your knowledge to next generations. Only such deep-rooted factors could have kept you glued to the teaching sector, since the salary in the education field is just not enough (Average salary $39,000 per annum).

Though there is a massive dearth of teachers and good teachers are even rarer, the ones with special education degree are more in demand. If you are planning to go for higher education, we recommend you to consider being a Speech-Language Pathologist (one among the top twenty best-paid jobs in the US and you still will work with the kids and schools).

Well, if you are considering higher education, here are a few more points that you must consider. 

Choose Your Program Aptly: If you feel the need to polish your skills once again and learn further and better, do ensure that the higher education or master’s program that you choose meets those requirements. College Accreditation: For any universities that you choose to apply with, check if they have a valid accreditation. The Lists accrediting agencies (regional as well as national) recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education is available at http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html Many Universities Now Offer Online Education: Read the program guidelines carefully as some of these programs offer only partial online course completion. For such programs, you can continue distance education for initial couple of semesters and then you have to go and study at the college campus. Educational Ideology: Masters Programs are not same as school education or high school education. While you learned what was taught at school, you will need to research and polish your skills to an entirely next level in the Masters. Apart from the program being of your genuine interest, the faculties should also share the same ideology. Compatible thoughts will make it easy for you to finish your program with ease.  As far as possible you must study under the adviser whose ideology gels with yours so that you can share and bounce ideas off each other, opines the assistant professor, Emily Kang, PhD, of Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, Adelphi University, NY. Practical Experience: With the Common Core being the new standards of learning, what you will need is tons of in depth knowledge with lots of real life experience. If your Masters program gives you plenty of clues at being a better educator, you will be glad to have been through the apt program. “Try to secure more hands on experience with kids and enroll with a university that has lab to do research work involving kids,” suggests Ms. Kang. Fees And Durations: Master’s Programs are expensive. Find resources such as scholarships or grants offered by the school that you teach at. There are special grants that are allotted for research work, find out if you are eligible for the same. Some programs can involve embedding practical work experience, inquire how much of such practical experience can be achieved at your own school. Research: Talk to top ex students of the same professor and from the same universities that you find lucrative. Get details such as the amicable nature of the professors to the market value in terms of salary after securing a Masters degree from that particular university. We strongly believe that teachers never stop learning. We wish all the very best to all the nurturers of tomorrow and hope that your research would open new avenues and discover untouched depths of child psychology.