Information on Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree Program in Training and Instruction
Majors Overview August 8, 2015This article talks about different Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree programs in Training and Instruction and their educational requirements, coursework, job and wage outlook, certification choices and continuing education choices.
Master of Education (M.Ed.) Programs in Training & Development
A Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Training and Development degree program is designed to help individuals who want to become professional trainers or instructors in various fields. In such a program, students gain the educational background and tools they would need to train recruits and incoming employees in the fields of industry, business, government and military. Program graduates gain expertise in educating new hires, training employees to work with new systems or technologies, providing instruction on industrial procedures, among other things.
Enrollees in a master’s degree program in training and development learn the strategies of adult education and fundamental principles and theories of human performance improvement. They learn about designing training programs where learning principles and theories find usage, and thesis projects find completion; such projects relate to the development of research in the field of instruction.
Educational Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a baccalaureate degree in a field such as leadership management or education. Some schools admit only working professionals and provide courses online to facilitate individuals who cannot attend classes in person.
Coursework
Program coursework is mainly focused on principles of research and learning in the field of instruction. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Research in adult education
•Student development theory
•Instructional strategies for higher education
•Current issues in higher education
•Adult learning
•Leadership Fundamentals
•Task analysis in training and development
•Marketing training programs
•Organization of training development programs
•Designing instructional systems
Job and Wage Outlook
In 2012, about 228,800 individuals in the United States were employed as training and development specialists (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, these professionals brought in an average annual wage of $55,930.
Continuing Education Choices
While certification is not mandatory, professionals may volunteer to gain certification in the field as offered by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) after passage of a knowledge-based examination and adequate work experience. Such certification can aid career advancement in the field of professional instruction and training.
Master of Education (M.Ed.) Programs in Curriculum & Instruction
Educators are more likely to benefit from enrolling in a program with a specific focus on curriculum and instruction than business professionals. In several master’s degree programs in the subject, teachers are provided with an advanced grasp of student assessment, curriculum development, lesson plan implementation, and alternative instructional strategies.
In some programs, specific training may be received by individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a particular major, such as English or mathematics. Those wanting to teach the subject to students at a secondary or middle level may also receive training.
Program graduates from master’s degree programs in curriculum and instruction can also gain a grasp of tailoring lesson plans to students with special needs or diverse student populations.
Educational Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to be in-service teachers at the K-12 level. Consequently, most applicants are required to hold a teacher’s license and a bachelor’s degree. In some universities, incoming students are only required to hold a baccalaureate degree if they want to apply for licensure after they graduate.
Coursework
Core coursework incorporates theories of teaching, learning, and instructional leadership and cover topic areas such as:
•Secondary education curriculum
•Early childhood curriculum
•Instructional leadership
•Classroom evaluation
•Learning and teaching theory
•Educational research
•Assessment of learning
•Children’s literature
Job and Wage Outlook
Program graduates may seek work as instructional coordinators. Over the 2012 – 2022 decade, a faster-than-average job growth of 13% has been predicted for instructional coordinators (BLS). In May 2014, these professionals brought in an average annual wage of $64,040 (BLS).
Certification Choices
Program graduates who do not already have certification can seek it by passing an exam held by the board of education in their state.