Information on Master of Arts (MA) Degree Program in Teaching and Learning
Majors Overview July 28, 2015This article talks about Master of Arts (M.A.) degree programs in Teaching and Learning and their educational requirements, coursework, career choices, job and wage outlook, and continuing education choices.
Master of Arts (M.A.) Programs in Teaching and Learning
Practicing teachers who want to enhance their skills would benefit from enrolling into Master of Arts (M.A.) in Teaching and Learning degree programs that explore the methodologies, theories, and technologies employed in the classroom.
Some schools offer these programs in online formats. Students learn about the nature of pedagogy through analysis of the strategies and philosophies found in educational leadership and curriculum design. Enrollees conduct in-depth investigations into the roles played by equality and cultural diversity in learning environments. They also look at the positive impact that technology has on classroom and curriculum development.
Students enrolled in the program must typically complete 30 credit hours of advanced study in various concentrations including literacy and language, instructional leadership, mathematics, technology, and special needs. Completion of a supervised, classroom-based research project is a compulsory requirement before students can graduate out of the program.
Educational Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree in education or equivalent degree from an accredited school, in addition to submitting a resume and letters of recommendation, apart from teaching licensure or certification.
Coursework
Coursework is devised to teach students how to design curricula and create positive learning settings. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Philosophy of Education
•Art of instruction
•Cognitive curricula
•Instruction and assessment
•Language, learning, and technology
•Instructional Management
•Technology in the curriculum
•Teaching math with technology
•History of Education
•Research approaches in learning and teaching
Career Choices
Master’s degree holders can find teaching positions in public and private schools. They are also ready for education-related positions outside of school settings. These positions could be in a museum’s educational department, a parks and recreation program or a social service education program for children and adults.
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2012 – 2022 decade, a job growth rate of 12% has been predicted for kindergarten and elementary school teachers. Over the same decade, middle school teachers, high schools teachers, and self-enrichment teachers are expected to see respective growth rates of 12%, 6% and 14% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary school teachers earned average annual wages in the range of $50,120 – $55,050. Self-enrichment education teachers earned an average wage of $35,320 (BLS).
Continuing Education Choices
Program graduates seeking continuing education may enroll in a doctoral degree program in education to gain the practical experience and advanced pedagogy they would need in order to pursue university level research and academic positions.