In most careers, an advanced degree is associated with earning a higher salary. For those in the teaching profession on the elementary and secondary levels, it’s not required to have a post-graduate degree and many teachers have a bachelor’s degree and some type of certification. However, higher salaries, advancement opportunities and leadership positions are much more common among those with an advanced degree.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University offers an online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum & Instruction – Science online program. This is a program designed for teachers who want to become content experts in classroom science while learning to implement creative curricula that stimulate student interest. As one of the subjects in STEM education, science can be both engaging and practical. This degree program prepares classroom science teachers to capitalize on student interest.
Higher Education and Earning Potential for Educators
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that more elementary and secondary teachers hold advanced degrees now than compared to ten years ago and fewer teachers hold only a bachelor’s degree. More education pays, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). As educational attainment increases, earnings rise and unemployment rates decrease. The pay difference can be significant depending on the region and educators in STEM subjects generally earn more.
Administrators are more aware of the need to retain and reward teachers who put in the extra effort and expense of obtaining an advanced degree. Teacher shortages make it critical for districts and administrators to offer competitive pay and benefits.
It’s not just a matter of salary, as advanced teaching degrees also bring expanded career opportunities. Beyond traditional classroom teaching, educators with a master’s degree or a Doctorate can transition into educational administration, policymaking and specialized consulting. Leadership roles such as school principal, district administrator, science curriculum specialist or academic coordinator are also opportunities for those with an advanced teaching degree. These types of roles come with increased salaries and benefits.
Improving Teaching Skills With an Advanced Degree
Pursuing a master’s degree in the teaching of science involves in-depth study and provides educators with advanced research, insights and effective teaching methods. Specializing in a particular subject area makes teachers experts in their field. A science teacher with a master’s in science education can develop tailored learning experiences that are more engaging. A richer learning environment benefits students and enhances their educational experience.
An advanced degree equips teachers to foster critical thinking, problem-solving and lifelong learning in their students. Specifically, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction teaches you to design, deliver and assess lessons, units and programs. This expertise enhances your ability to tailor learning experiences to students. This degree enables you to gain expertise in assessing students, developing tailored curricula and differentiated instruction and analyzing results to make improvements and adaptations.
Learning contemporary curriculum design strategies for science classrooms will give you the best insight and knowledge to help students learn and master their studies. This not only improves your own teaching practices but also improves the content of the school’s curriculum and boosts the success of student learning.
For students who want to pursue STEM education beyond elementary and secondary school, having a specialized teacher in science will increase their knowledge and level of enthusiasm and better prepare them for higher-level courses in science. Science and engineering are increasingly important drivers of the U.S. economy and increasing student literacy in science is very important.
Become a Content Expert in Classroom Science
The online M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction – Science from Southeastern Oklahoma State University helps you create and support innovative, transformational learning environments that are infused with technology. You’ll gain an understanding of the nature of science, inquiry-based instruction and environmental and science/societal issue investigations. You’ll also learn methods of inquiry and problem-solving along with the impact of science and technology on civilizations, creativity, innovation and future trends. The fully online format offers flexibility, enabling you to combine work and study at your convenience.
Courses include Teaching Strategies, Introduction to Learning Technologies, and Leading in Culturally Responsive Learning Environments. In addition, you may choose four specialty courses in either STEM, Life Science, Physical Science, Earth and Space Science or Curriculum Development.
Learn more about the online M.Ed. in C&I – Science program from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.