Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education: Choosing Your Advanced Degree Path

Posted on January 9th, 2025 in Blog, Education

Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education: Choosing Your Advanced Degree Path

Education helps promote progress across society. As the World Bank has noted, education has the potential to decrease poverty rates, improve health outcomes, and lead to stability around the world.

Educators play a pivotal role in reaching these goals and helping students achieve their full potential. Prospective educators and those who are already teachers may choose to pursue a graduate degree in education, such as a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or a Master of Education (MEd), to assist them in these efforts.

The two degrees have similarities and differences, so examining an MAT versus MEd comparison can help individuals choose the type of graduate education that aligns with their goals.

Master’s in Teaching vs. Master’s in Education: Definitions

While they share a focus on developing and refining educators’ skills, master’s in teaching and master’s in education programs differ in important ways.

Master’s in Teaching Degree Programs

Master of Arts in Teaching degree programs concentrate on helping individuals develop their instructional expertise. These programs emphasize real-world skills that individuals can apply directly in the classroom. These programs also prepare individuals, who may be teaching assistants or new to the education field, to pursue their initial teaching licenses.

Individuals enrolled in MAT programs have the opportunity to pursue a track in early childhood and elementary education or in middle school and high school education in a subject such as language arts, social studies, advanced math, health, or biology.

Master’s in Education Degree Programs

Master of Education degree programs also help individuals enhance their skills and expertise in education. However, MEd degree programs are geared toward existing teachers who want to advance into a specialized teaching field or an educational leadership role.

Similar to MAT degrees, MEd degrees allow individuals to pursue a track in a specialized area, with options in areas such as special education, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), or reading intervention. MEd programs usually require each master’s student to complete a written thesis based on a research project of their choosing.

MAT vs. MEd: Curricula

Examining the curricula and structures of MAT and MEd programs can help prospective master’s students choose their best path forward.

MAT Curriculum

Master’s in teaching programs typically take one to two years to complete and consist of about 30 to 40 credit hours of coursework. The accelerated MAT program at Warner Pacific University requires qualifying master’s students to complete 35 credit hours, which may be completed in a seven-month immersive format or a 22-month online or in-person format.

Examples of MAT courses include:

Assessment and evaluation courses, which teach strategies for assessing and evaluating students’ performance
Classroom management courses, which teach techniques for handling students’ disruptive behaviors and communicating with students’ families
Curriculum planning and instruction courses, which provide the knowledge and skills needed to develop effective learning experiences

MEd Curriculum

Master’s students in WPU’s accelerated online MEd program complete between 30 and 37 credits, depending on which emphasis area they choose. The program can be completed within 18 to 24 months.

Examples of MEd courses include:

Instructional media courses, which cover instructional hardware, software, and web applications
Research courses, which focus on designing and conducting research projects in education
Cross-cultural courses, which explore cross-cultural awareness and related legal and ethical issues

MAT vs. MEd: Career Outcomes, Salary, and Job Outlook

While individuals who earn MAT and MEd degrees can work in many of the same positions, they also often pursue positions that align closely with their particular degrees. For example, people who earn MAT degrees often work as:

Kindergarten and elementary school teachers. In this role, individuals teach young students multiple subjects such as math and reading. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these teachers had a median annual salary of $63,670 as of May 2023. While overall employment growth in the teaching profession is limited over the next decade, the BLS projects that schools will have 106,500 openings for kindergarten and elementary school teachers each year through 2033 as existing teachers retire or change professions.
Middle school teachers. Teaching students in sixth through eighth grade, middle school teachers build on the education students received in elementary school and prepare students for high school. The BLS reports that middle school teachers’ median annual salary was $64,290 as of May 2023. The BLS projects that schools will have 41,400 openings for middle school teachers each year through 2033.
High school teachers. Preparing students for college or the job market is the overall focus of high school teachers, who had a median annual salary of $65,220 as of May 2023, according to the BLS. U.S. schools are projected to have 64,000 openings for high school teachers each year through 2033.

People who earn MEd degrees often work as:

Special education teachers. In this role, individuals teach students who have learning, mental, emotional, or physical disabilities. The BLS reports that special education teachers had a median annual salary of $65,910 as of May 2023. The BLS estimates there will be 35,900 openings for special education teachers each year through 2033 because of retirements and teachers moving into different professions.

Teachers of English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). Individuals who work as ESOL teachers focus on teaching students who are learning English. They tailor their instruction to strengthen their students’ literacy. The BLS groups these teachers into the category of adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers, who had a median annual salary of $60,560 as of May 2023. The BLS projects that schools will have 4,100 job openings in this field each year through 2033.

Instructional coordinators. Developing, implementing, and assessing curricula and educational materials is the primary focus of instructional coordinators. They had a median annual salary of $74,620 as of May 2023, and 20,100 job openings are expected to be available for these professionals each year through 2033, according to the BLS.

MAT and MEd Degree Programs Enable People to Pursue Meaningful Careers

MAT and MEd degrees prepare individuals for rewarding positions that promote positive educational outcomes. Earning either degree can lead to fulfilling work and making significant contributions in the field of education.

People who want to pursue a graduate degree in education can explore Warner Pacific University’s Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Education degree programs to learn how one of these programs can help them achieve their career goals. Both degree programs offer online options that can facilitate earning a degree while managing other commitments.

The MAT program, which is available on WPU’s campus in Portland, Oregon, or through WPU Online, prepares individuals to pursue their Oregon preliminary teaching license. The MEd program, available through WPU Online, enables licensed teachers to enhance their credentials and earn credits toward renewing or advancing their Oregon teaching license.

Start advancing your educational expertise today.

Sources:
Indeed, “Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education: What’s the Difference?”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Adult Basic and Secondary Education and ESL Teachers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, High School Teachers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Instructional Coordinators
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Middle School Teachers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Special Education Teachers
Warner Pacific University, 2024-2025 Catalog
World Bank Group, Education

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