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Online Master of Science Degree in Education

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Program at a Glance
  • Concentrations are available in educational leadership, teaching literacy and language, or teaching students with special needs.
  • National Board Certified Teachers may be eligible for transfer credit, which can save you time and money on your degree.
  • Pursue certification in specific states with the help of our established partnership with the American Board.
COURSE EFFORT 20–25 Hours per Week
COURSE LENGTH 6-Week Terms
Course Details
CREDITS REQUIRED 46–54
COST PER CREDIT $420
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How Do I Get Started?

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Master of Science in Education Overview

If you are already a P–12 teacher and want to enhance your knowledge and advance your career, or if you are looking to begin your teaching career, Purdue Global offers a convenient, flexible solution for earning your master's degree in education online. This program can help existing teachers improve their teaching skills, increase their professional marketability, and pursue career advancement in areas such as teacher leadership, professional development, or mentoring.* The curriculum will help graduates promote student learning and development and school achievement, and explores diverse learners, academic content and pedagogy, assessment, and professional responsibilities and relationships.

Degree Concentrations

We offer three concentrations in the online master’s in education to help you achieve the academic competencies required in a specific area of teaching:

  • Teaching literacy and language: Develop skills for teaching basic reading and writing skills to elementary, middle, and high school students.
  • Teaching students with special needs: Examine best practices and methods for adapting curricula to accommodate children with special needs.
  • Educational leadership: Examine best practices for educational leadership in the areas of school finance and operations, curriculum development for school improvement, and supervision and staff development.


If you are interested in becoming a certified teacher and live in a state that is not covered by the Classroom Pathways Bundle, you must independently research and pursue alternative certification in your state.* On its own, the Master of Science in Education will not lead to certification and is not state-approved for licensure. Your Admissions Advisor can explain how to pursue alternative certification and whom to contact in your state.

Licensing requirements for teaching grades K through 12 vary by state. In almost every state, you must enroll in a state-approved certification program that may include completing coursework, a supervised teaching internship or student teaching course, and/or passing a subject area and pedagogy exam.

Note: Completion of the Master of Science in Education is not required to pursue a state alternative teacher certification program. Purdue Global makes no representations or warranties as to whether the program meets the specific requirements for any individual state or school system for pay increase purposes. Students must independently research the requirements in their state or school system. At this time, residents of Kentucky may not enroll in this program.

See the University Catalog for policy and degree plan information specific to this program.

Pathway to Certification

The Classroom Pathways Bundle is a unique enrollment package for students interested in teacher’s certification in specific states. It consists of two separate and distinct programs: Purdue Global’s Master of Science in Education and the American Board’s Plus+ Program.

Learn more about the Classroom Pathways Bundle
Opportunities for Professional Development

Take advantage of the Graduate Resource Center, a self-paced course for graduate students that includes information on professional memberships and clubs, career services, social networking, and more.

Purdue University Global Is Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission

This accreditation covers all academic programs, all regional locations, and all programs provided via distance education. For more information, please visit HLCommission.org or call 800-621-7440.

Career Opportunities

The online MS in Education program is designed to help you start a career in teaching or improve your teaching skills and increase your professional marketability. Graduates may pursue career advancement in areas such as teacher leadership, professional development, curriculum development, and mentoring.

Top 5 Skills Employers Are Looking for:

  1. Instructing
  2. Speaking
  3. Active Listening
  4. Learning Strategies
  5. Reading Comprehension

Top Jobs With This Degree

Labor market, salary, and projected growth information are supplied by Emsi. Average salary range is based on national data. Projected growth represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2018–2030) at the state level and is based on your geographic location. Actual outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, and opportunities for employment. Purdue Global cannot guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

Note: you should contact your school district to ensure that a Purdue Global Master of Science in Education degree will satisfy specific state or district requirements for an increase in pay, renewal of a current license, or recertification of an expired license.

Program Outcomes to Support Your Teaching Career

Designed to help you become proficient in five program competencies based upon national and professional standards for teachers, coursework focuses on:

  • Applying action research and other assessment theories and strategies to evaluate and improve your teaching practice and enhance student performance in the classroom.
  • Exploring the reflective decision-maker model and developing competencies required for effective teaching, including various approaches to classroom management and discipline.
  • Designing curricula for K–12 education in accordance with local and national standards.

NBCT Status Can Save You Time and Money

If you received National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) status through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) prior to enrollment, you may receive transfer credit that can be applied toward the following courses:

  • ED502: Transforming Teaching Practice
  • ED532: Curriculum Design
  • ED562: Student Assessment
In order to receive credit, you must request a letter of verification from NBPTS via their web form and attach the Articulation Partner Record Request Form (available from an Advisor) to the request. Verification from NBPTS must be received by Purdue Global’s Office of the Registrar by the end of the first term.

VIPKid

VIPKid connects educators with children in China for one-on-one English language learning, all online. Purdue Global students and graduates interested in online teaching can set their own schedule and teach from anywhere. Our alliance offers VIPKid teachers and their immediate family members tuition reductions on Purdue Global programs.† Speak to an Advisor to learn more.

Promise Open Doors

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences is pleased to announce a partnership with Promise Opens Doors, an organization that offers an online certificate program for educators interested in working abroad and helping others learn English.

Learn More

Courses teach you how to most effectively promote student learning and development and school achievement, and allow you to demonstrate an understanding of the program’s four knowledge goals: diverse learners, academic content and pedagogy, assessment, and professional responsibilities and relationships.

Sample Courses
  • Transforming Teaching Practice
  • Research Methods for Education and Instructional Technology
  • Classroom Management
  • Curriculum Design
  • Educational Leadership
  • Student Assessment
See All Education Courses

Developing expertise in a particular subject is essential, especially for middle and high school teachers who must exhibit a high level of proficiency in the subject area they teach.

Focus on a concentration in educational leadership as part of the educational leader track or choose from two concentrations in the standard track.

  • Teaching literacy and language
  • Teaching students with special needs
  • Educational leadership
Credit Breakdown
  • Core Credits34
  • Elective Credits12
  • Total Credits46
Credit Breakdown
  • Core Credits37
  • Elective Credits17
  • Total Credits54

Ways to Save

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Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

View Education Faculty Directory
grad hat icon 98% Faculty members who have advanced degrees
diploma icon 48% Faculty members who hold a doctorate
tablet icon 264 Faculty publications in 2019–2020
student at desk icon More Than 45,000 Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2019–2020

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2020. 2019–2020 academic year.

Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about the Master of Science in Education and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.

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NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Purdue Global cannot recommend students who complete the Master of Science in Education (MSE) for licensure. Licensing requirements for teaching grades K-12 vary by state. Earning a master’s degree could provide you with the background and practical experience to meet nationally recognized standards; however, enrollment in the MSE is not required for pursuing a state alternative certification program. This program is not state approved for teacher certification or endorsements of any kind. Purdue Global makes no representations or warranties as to whether the degree or any individual courses meet the requirements for any specific state or school system for pay increase or job advancement purposes, or licensure or certification. Refer to Licensure and State Authorization for additional information on licensure and state authorizations.

†Contact an Admissions Advisor for details. May not be combined with other Purdue Global tuition reductions or ExcelTrack™ pricing. Eligible family members include spouses, domestic partners, parents, siblings, and children.