English teachers who want to enhance their knowledge can pursue a master’s degree one of two ways. One is to earn a Master of Education specializing in English. The other is to opt for a Master of Arts in English. For those who want to specialize in English, language arts or literature, the M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis in English offers an advantage over the MA in English.
An M.Ed in C&I with an emphasis in English covers curriculum development strategies and instructional practices. Students enrolled in such a program learn how to be more skillful in coming up with effective strategies and instruction in classroom rhetoric and literature.
Who Would Benefit From a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction — English Degree?
Non-teachers and teachers regardless of specialty, interested in teaching English, can benefit from the M.Ed. with an emphasis in English. Some programs do not require a teaching license, certificate or degree to enroll.
For example, applicants to Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction — English need to meet only one of the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 2.75 overall GPA or minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of courses.
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA and a packet containing a professional letter of recommendation, current resume and letter of application.
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university and at least 6 hours in a graduate program from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and must be in good standing at previous university.
Furthermore, SOSU’s online M.Ed. programs do not require the GRE. Other online programs may require the GRE, a teaching certificate or both. To obtain the degree from SOSU requires students to complete 10 courses for 30 credit hours. Of those 30 hours, 18 are in curriculum and instruction and 12 are in the English specialty.
Should I Get an M.Ed in C&I With an Emphasis in English or an MA in English?
Those who work toward an MA in English focus mainly on semantics and literature. They miss out on the benefits of learning how to manage the classroom and implement instructional strategies to effectively teach the subject. They also may miss out on career options beyond teaching English. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the median pay for high school teachers is $58,030 per year and $56,720 for middle school teachers.
An M.Ed in C&I with an emphasis in English can provide the student with more job opportunities and a higher earning potential. BLS states that an instructional coordinator role typically requires a master’s degree and pays a median of $62,460. This degree can lead to more career options including those outside of the classroom.
Graduates with the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction in English may pursue teaching in public and private schools, work as trainers in the corporate world to provide continuing education, or choose any career in which pedagogy is key. The following are some positions for graduates to consider:
- Instructional coordinator.
- Curriculum specialist or education specialist.
- Career technical supervisor.
- Curriculum and assessment director.
- Curriculum and instruction director.
- Curriculum coordinator.
- Instructional systems specialist.
- Program administrator.
- School standards coach.
M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction graduates may also find opportunities with nonprofit organizations, government agencies and corporations.
Pursuing an online master’s degree program allows working educators to tailor their coursework to their schedules. Since they do not attend classes in person, they save on time that would be spent traveling to class. A student could potentially earn the M.Ed. in as few as 12 months and have the needed knowledge to transition into a new role after completing the program.
Learn more about SOSU’s online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction — English.
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: High School Teachers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Instructional Coordinators