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.
Upcoming Start Dates
We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.
Course Effort
20 Hours per Week
Course Length
6-Week Sessions
Average Completion
1.5 years
Of Full-Time Study
Credits Required
45–46
(30-31 Semester Credits)
Cost per Credit
$420
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.
See the University Catalog for policy and degree plan information specific to this program.
Note: Completion of the Master of Science in Education is not required to pursue a state alternative teacher certification program. Students must independently research the requirements in their state or school system. Refer to Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page for state-specific licensure information.
Kentucky students please be advised that this program is not accredited in Kentucky by the Education Professional Standards Board and is not recognized for initial, additional, or renewal of certification or salary enhancement (rank change) for P–12 educators in Kentucky. For more information, please visit the Education Professional Standards Board’s website at: http://www.epsb.ky.gov/mod/page/view.php?id=12.
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.
Admissions Requirements
A bachelor’s degree is required to enroll in a master’s degree program. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Refer to the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.
Ways to Save
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Transfer Credits
Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions, including community colleges.
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Financial Aid
Title IV federal financial aid is available for many of our degree programs.
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Corporate Partner Benefits
Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.
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Military Tuition Reduction
55% reduction per credit for current servicemembers, 38% per credit for veterans for undergraduate programs.
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International Tuition Reduction
International students living outside of the United States are eligible for a 25% tuition reduction.
Program Cost Estimator
Calculate your estimated tuition and ways to save.
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.
What Courses Will I Take?
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.
See All Education CoursesSample Courses
- Transforming Teaching Practice
- Research Methods for Education and Instructional Technology
- Classroom Management
- Curriculum Design
- Educational Leadership
- Student Assessment
Concentrations
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.
Choose from three concentrations to focus your degree.
- Educational leadership
- Teaching literacy and language
- Teaching students with special needs
Program Requirements
- Core Credits29
- Concentration Credits16–17
- Total Credits45–46
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:
- Instructing
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- 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.
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
98%
Faculty members who have advanced degrees
50%
Faculty members who hold a doctorate
237
Faculty publications in 2020–2021
More Than 36,000
Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2020–2021
Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, September 2021. 2020–2021 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.
Take a Career Assessment
Discover your work interests and use them to chart your ideal career path.
NOTES AND CONDITIONS
*Licensure: 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. Refer to Purdue Global's State Licensure and Certifications page for state-specific licensure information.
†Tuition Reduction: 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.