As someone with a heart for students, you are probably excited about the idea of earning your education degree. Whether you want to get into the classroom immediately or make an impact on young minds in a different capacity, earning your education master’s degree from Liberty University can help you get there.

If you’re interested in becoming a first-time licensed teacher, you may want to consider getting your Master of Arts in Teaching from Liberty University. We have designed this program to help you meet the requirements for initial state teaching licensure. You can become equipped to teach in elementary, middle, special education, and high school classrooms.

If you’re already a licensed teacher looking for additional expertise, add-on licensure, or career advancement, then you may want to consider one of Liberty’s Master of Education degrees. Depending on the program you choose, you can become equipped to work as a K-12 or higher education administrator, a math or reading specialist, a gifted education teacher, and more! An M.Ed. is also a great option if you want to work in education but don’t necessarily need licensure (for instance, if you want to work in a private school or other non-licensure setting).

If you are a licensed educator preparing to take the next step in your career or a brand-new education professional looking to work in a non-licensure capacity, our M.A. in Educational Studies is a great option. This program can help you pursue roles as a curriculum specialist, educational consultant, online educator, private school administrator, private school teacher, and more.

• Our education master’s degrees can help equip you to educate and guide students at all levels. We offer non-licensure paths as well as paths to initial licensure, add-on endorsement, and advanced licensure in education – so you can pursue the credentials you need for your dream job.
• All of our School of Education initial and advanced licensure programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
• Our School of Education is committed to providing a quality education based on ethical principles. By earning your master’s degree in education from Liberty, you can learn to be a positive influence in the lives of young people in your school and community.
• Many of our master’s degree in education programs have field experience requirements, such as practicums, internships, or student teaching placements. These can be completed at an approved location near you, allowing you to gain valuable experience for your résumé!

Yes! If you’re a working professional who cares about making an impact in the lives of students, you probably need as much flexibility as possible. Earning your education degree shouldn’t mean you have to press pause on your other goals and commitments, like your job, family, and community.

The great thing about our education master’s programs is that they are available 100% online. This means you won’t need to come to campus for intensives, and any required practicum, internship, or student teaching hours can be completed at a school near you.

Our flexible online format allows you to continue working and devoting time to your family and community while earning your degree. And with the CAEP accreditation that all of our School of Education initial and advanced licensure programs hold, you can be confident that the degree you’re earning is reputable and can help you take the next step in your career.

We offer many different education master’s programs that are designed to meet your unique needs, so you can pick the program that best suits your interests and goals.

If you previously earned a licensure-track bachelor’s in education and currently hold a teaching license… A Master of Education (M.Ed.) may be right for you. By completing an M.Ed., you can pursue advanced licensure, add-on endorsement, and gain specialized training that can help you thrive in your current role or switch to a new one. The M.A. in Educational Studies is also a great option as it provides flexible, non-licensure training in the particular areas of study that interest you – allowing you to take the next step in your career or explore a new niche in the world of education.

If you previously earned a bachelor’s in education that did not lead to licensure, or your undergraduate degree was in a different field altogether… You have a few different options to consider at the master’s level! If you want to become a licensed teacher, a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) is likely your best option. If you’re interested in an education career that doesn’t require licensure (e.g., teaching at a private school), an M.Ed. or an M.A. in Educational Studies may be a better fit. Some of our M.Ed. programs – such as those that lead to advanced licensure or add-on endorsement – do require an initial teaching license and/or a certain amount of teaching experience for admission. However, we also have several M.Ed. tracks that are open to students of all educational backgrounds – so you can receive master’s-level training in education regardless of what field your bachelor’s degree was in!

The exact amount of time you spend on your master’s degree in education will depend on several factors, such as your number of transfer credits, your success in each course, and the number of classes you take each semester. Additionally, each of our education master’s degrees contains a different number of credit hours, so completion times will vary.

In general, you can earn your online master’s in education in 1.5 – 2.5 years. Be sure to review the degree page for the specific program you’re interested in for more information!

A Master of Arts in Teaching is designed to lead to initial teaching licensure and is a great option for those who want to teach directly in the classroom. A Master of Education offers non-licensure, advanced licensure, and add-on endorsement options – so you can boost your understanding of best practices in education and add new credentials on top of your initial teaching license.

While a Master of Education can help you work directly in the classroom, it also offers specialized training that can help you branch out to new roles – such as administration or school counseling.

Typically, if you want to become a teacher in a public school, you must hold a teaching license – and you can typically meet the requirements for initial licensure by completing a licensure-track bachelor’s degree. But what if you earned a non-licensure education bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in a completely different field, and you decide you want to become a licensed teacher? If that’s the case, you can pursue initial licensure by completing a licensure-track master’s degree – such as the Master of Arts in Teaching.

What if you did complete a licensure-track bachelor’s degree and already hold your teaching license? Is a master’s degree worth it? To determine this, you’ll want to evaluate your career goals and decide what the best path forward is for you. You’ll also want to be sure to research the exact requirements for any jobs you’re looking to apply for.

Even if you already hold your teaching license or don’t necessarily need a license (e.g., if you’re looking to teach in a private school), a master’s degree could help boost your earning potential, expand your skill set, and equip you to branch out and teach new grade levels or subjects. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that professionals with a master’s degree earned 18% more than those with just a bachelor’s degree in 2020.* Additionally, an education master’s program could help you pursue new roles in education outside of teaching. At Liberty, we offer a wide range of education master’s degrees, so you can discover your niche in the world of education and achieve your career goals.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at Earnings and unemployment rates by educational attainment, 2020 (viewed online March 2, 2022). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

To determine which master’s in education is best for you, you’ll want to evaluate what you’re interested in and what you hope to accomplish with your degree. You’ll also want to answer some key questions, such as What grade do I want to teach?, Do I need licensure?, and Do I want to work as a teacher or instead pursue education roles outside the classroom? Liberty’s School of Education offers online programs with tracks for initial licensure, non-licensure, add-on endorsements, and advanced licensure – so you have many different options.

Here are just a few examples of how to figure out which master’s program is the best fit for you:

• Master of Arts in Educational Studies – This program gives you the flexibility to customize your degree and pursue the areas of study that match your interests and career goals.
• Master of Arts in Teaching – This teaching master’s degree is designed to help you achieve initial teaching licensure. Depending on the degree you choose, you can dive into the specifics of elementary education, middle grades education, secondary education, or special education.
• Master of Education in Administration and Supervision – This master’s in education can help you work as a licensed administrator at a K-12 school.
• Master of Education in Higher Education – This degree can help you address teaching and administrative challenges at the university level.
• Master of Education in School Counseling – This program, which falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences, can help you foster K-12 students’ academic, emotional, and mental well-being as a licensed school counselor.

Another thing to consider when you’re picking a master’s degree is the quality of the school you’re attending. Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Additionally, all of our School of Education initial and advanced licensure programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).