This section will address how to select which program you should attend.
MOTIVATIONS FOR DEGREE
Entering the education profession is both challenging and rewarding, providing you with the opportunity to impact the lives of students and communities across the country and across the world. Not only is there diversity in the education classroom, there is also a range of career options within education. Future educators and trainers are expected to think critically and creatively about the processes of teaching and its place in society. In addition to the teaching profession, students are prepared for working in educational research as well as in policy-making and organisation. They gain advanced knowledge on such topics as: learning theory, instructional design, methods of instruction, learning technologies, knowledge delivery, assessment methods.
Course Structure
The broad area of education and training engages students in the investigation of educational theory, policy, research and practice, and prepares them to pass knowledge and best practices to others. Education and training features a high level of multidisciplinary study, including knowledge of psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, history and more.
Career Prospects
Note: The careers listed below are based on information from US-based sources, so they may be more relevant for US citizens and the US job market. This means that if you plan on working in the US, as a non-US citizen, you may face different job prospects (as compared to US citizens). It also means that the job prospects in Pakistan may be different too -- for this, we recommend you to inquire and research about the career pathways this degree has to offer in the Pakistani job market.
Choosing whether or not to continue your schooling can be a tough decision. There are certainly many factors to consider. Below we list some potential benefits of earning a Master's degree in Education:
- Career Advancement -- earning a master's degree may strengthen job applications for higher-level positions. It is also possible that some job positions may require you to earn this degree (for example, to teach at some universities you may need a Master’s level degree in Education).
- Intellectual and Professional Development -- an advanced degree program can deepen your subject area knowledge and introduce new concepts and methodology that may improve your skills within this field.
- Field Switch -- if you have done a degree in another field and hope to switch to Education, you can consider doing a Master’s degree in Education to improve your knowledge and exposure to this field.
Note: If you have completed a Bachelor’s degree in a field other than Education, and if you want to shift to the field of Education (particularly for teaching) and your goal is to work in the US, then you can consider getting an Alternative Teacher Certification (for more information on this, click here).
Popular careers with a Masters in Education include:
Note that this is not an exhaustive list.
- Teaching
- Education is a diverse profession, with opportunities to teach different age groups, subject areas or types of students (including children with disabilities or other special needs).
- Education Counselling (Guidance Counselor, School Counsellor, Career Counsellor)
- Education Administration
- For secondary school and below: Principal, Vice Principal
- For post-secondary: Academic Dean, Provost, Admissions Director, Registrar
- Instructional Coordination and Design: Curriculum and assessment director, curriculum specialist, instructional designer
- Corporate Development: Staff training, Development managers etc.
- Other roles within this field Education-related work in museums and galleries.
Useful links:
TYPES OF DEGREE
Master’s degrees in Education: it can be said that such programs are more geared towards developing leadership skills within the Education sector (as compared to more teaching-oriented degrees, explained below). Types of such degrees include:
- Master’s of Education (M.Ed., Ed.M.) -- some say that in the US this degree tends to be pursued by people who are already in the field of teaching and now aim to deepen their knowledge and take up a more leadership role within this field. Such a degree type tends to be offered for particular specializations, for example in curriculum design and education leadership.
- Master’s of Science in Education (M.S.Ed/M.S.E) -- this degree tends to be more research-oriented and can be pursued by people in the field who aim to advance knowledge within the field of Education. It can also be considered to be more leadership-oriented.
- Master’s of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed) -- such degrees also tend to have a research component, whereby you can be required to research within a particular specialization in the field.
Specifically teaching-oriented degrees: It can be said that such degrees focus more on developing your skills as a future teacher. Types of such degrees include:
- Master’s in Teaching (M.I.T)
- Master’s of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T)
- Master’s of Science in Teaching (MSc)
For information on whether you should go for a Master’s degree in Teaching, click here.
In addition to these, Master’s in Academic Content Areas or Master’s Plus Degrees can also be pursued if you want to deepen your knowledge and teaching skills for a particular subject area. Examples of such programs include Master’s of Arts in English or Master’s of Science in Mathematics etc., depending on your area of interest. Such programs can include courses in teaching practice (or lead to a teaching certification), in which case they can be referred to as Master’s Plus Programs (MA+, MAT+, or MS+) -- you will need to check the program’s courses/modules to find out if this is the case. If you eventually want to do a PhD in a particular subject area then such degrees can be useful (as a form of academic enrichment).
If you are considering a Specialist Masters Degrees in Education, the following are some options:
- Masters Degrees in Early Childhood Education
- Masters Degrees in Educational Leadership
- Masters Degrees in Secondary Education
- Masters Degrees in Educational Psychology
- Masters Degrees in Music Education
Note that this is not an exhaustive list.
PROGRAM SELECTION
How to select the best option for yourself (among degrees/programs within this field)
Selecting the graduate program in Education that is best for you requires thoughtful consideration. You will need to consider the following:
- Career Goals: First, you need to think carefully about your career goals and training interests -- this involves considering areas within the field that you want to specialize in. For example, if you want to teach special education then you have to look for programs that offer specializations in this.
- Education background: You also have to consider your degree background before deciding on a Master’s program. For example, the kind of Master’s programs you pursue will depend on whether or not you have a background in Education (i.e. if you have studied Education or if you did your previous degree in a field other than Education). With regard to this, as mentioned before, Master’s in Education programs tend to be pursued (in the US) by students who have already studied in this field previously, and Master’s in Teaching programs tend to be pursued by students who have not.
- Program resources: Then, once you have narrowed down the degree and program options, you need to compare and shortlist programs. For this, you will need to compare the kind of resources different programs offer and figure out which resources you need to reach your study/training goals. One of such resources to consider are faculty members:
- Look at the Education program website to determine whether the faculty is taking a student, and to learn about current faculty interests
- Read their most recently published papers
- Carefully read their website
- Search NIH Reporter to see whether they have active grants that they are working on right now.
- Accreditation: Other factors to consider when shortlisting programs include accreditation -- there are hundreds of schools offering accredited degrees. You should be looking out for institutional accreditation and/or program accreditation (program accreditation is ideal).
- Courses within the program: check out the syllabus of the programs you are interested in and shortlist the ones that have courses that could benefit you in terms of your career/study goals.
FIELD/SUB-FIELD SELECTION
In a nutshell, the following sub-fields and/or degrees are available for Education:
- School education
- Higher education
- Vocational education
- Counseling
- Coaching
- International education
- Academic research
- Educational leadership
- Special education
- Speech and language pathology
- Continuing education
- Adult education
- Online education
- Education administration
- Early childhood education
- Instructional technology
Note that this is not an exhaustive list.
How to select the best option for yourself (among specializations and sub-fields within this field)
Different specializations within this field tend to lead to different career paths and so it is important to evaluate each of them (and their corresponding career implications) when trying to select the best option for you. Aside from the career path, you also need to consider the career scope of pursuing various specializations in the country you are planning on working in later. For example, if you want to eventually become a school counselor in Pakistan, you should first check the kind of job prospects school counselors have here (what the entry requirements tend to be, whether their demand is high, etc.) and then consider specializing in School Counselling.
ALLIED FIELDS
If you are interested in Education, you may also like:
- Psychology
- Business
- Economics
- Sociology
How to select the best option for yourself (among allied fields)
Whether you study Education or other similar fields, such as the ones listed above depends on your interests and your career aspirations. We recommend that you critically consider the content of this tip sheet and otherwise research about other relevant things regarding Master’s level study in Education, and decide whether the field is good for you. You should also check out our tip sheets on the fields above to see whether they suit you more or if they fit your academic background more than Education.
ACTION-STEPS/RESOURCES
- No. of Universities to Apply: You should apply to at least 8 to 10 universities.
Top programs:
Here are some links that could help you with :
Note that the ranking of a university should not be the only factor considered when choosing universities. Though the rank is an important thing to keep an eye out for, there are many other things that you should consider when choosing amongst universities/programs (some of which is explained above in the ‘Program Selection’ section).
A lot of our tips talk about how you can strengthen your application, but you can build a stronger application when you’ve done the things this program values in the years prior to the application. The application itself is the communication part (in which you communicate what you've done to the admission committee); but this section gives guidance on the substance part (what you can actually do before you apply). In this section we talk about what you can do in the years leading up to applying that can make you an ideal candidate. Supplement the following tips with general tips (under the tab of ‘Pre-Application’) to become a competitive applicant.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
Degree Requirement:
If you are applying for a Master’s in Education program, all programs do not necessarily require you to have a Bachelor’s degree in Education -- usually, they would prefer that you have a strong academic background (good grades/GPA). In such cases, relevant teaching experience is valued (the kind of teaching experience that gives you enough exposure to be able to pursue a Master’s level degree in Education.
Master’s in Teaching programs tend to accept applicants from various academic fields. Otherwise, if you are pursuing certain concentrations within the field then it is likely that the program will prefer that you have some relevant background for that concentration. For example, if you are applying to a Science Education program then having a Bachelor’s degree in Science or Science Education could give your application an edge.
CourseWork and Transcripts:
CourseWork
It is strongly recommended that you take a few good courses in instructional design, the science of learning, and/or program evaluation. Additionally, you should try taking the following courses during your undergraduate if you want to pursue a Masters or Ph.D. in education:
- Introduction to education describes the historical, sociological and philosophical concepts that form the theory and objectives of effective learning
- Human development and psychology examine how children and adolescents explore their world, learn concepts and form ideas
- Teaching methods to promote literacy focus on cognitive development and how oral skills, language and information is processed by the brain
- Learning theories can provide prospective teachers with the ability to design and assess effective curriculum and assignments
- Foundations and assessment of special education helps aspiring teachers to identify learning disabilities and adapt programs and learning styles for children with special needs
- Technology courses may focus on multimedia for learning in the classroom and distance learning via the internet
Transcripts
Check your college’s Registrar’s policy when it comes to ordering your official transcripts.
- Some programs will require transcripts to be sent directly to them from your undergraduate college, while others want you to include your transcript along with any other paper materials you may be submitting. You will need to plan far in advance how many transcripts to have delivered to your house (or for you to pick up in person at your college’s Registrar, if you are still in college or live near your college), and arrange for others to be sent directly to specific programs (make sure you know whether to send them to the Graduate School or the Education Department for each school).
GPA Requirement:
Generally speaking, students must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better for admission to most graduate programs, although the more competitive programs may require a GPA over 3.5. Most programs are interested primarily in grades during the past two years, so don't worry too much if your freshman or sophomore grades are weaker.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research experience is not usually a requirement for admission into Education programs (Master’s level).
To learn more about the education research, visit: American Educational Research Association for Graduate Students
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Professional Experience is an integral part of preparing for a profession in education. It is a core requirement of all teaching degrees -- it helps link theoretical studies to practice. Professional Experience aims to help prepare students for the multitude of roles in Primary and Secondary schools and Early Childhood environments and provides opportunities to develop professional communication skills and exposure to a variety of educational environments and workplaces to prepare for the profession.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Volunteer/Social work can help you develop relevant skills and can strengthen your application. There are several institutions in Pakistan working for the cause of Education with which you can volunteer and make a difference today. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
This section provides an overview of general guidelines pertaining to the application process. It also delineates the key components of the application process.
GENERAL ADVICE
Refer to the Program Selection Section for further information.
COMPONENTS
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Component
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Is this component required?
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How important is this component (in the overall review of the application for admission)?
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Standardized tests or entry exams
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GRE - For all Education Programs
GMAT - For Ed.L.D/MBA in Education Management
TOEFL - For International Applicants
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Very Important
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Transcripts (past academic records)
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Required
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Important
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Letters of recommendation
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Required
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Very Important
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Personal Statement
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Required
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Very Important
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Resume or CV
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Required
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Very Important
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Interviews
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Sometimes required
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Important if required
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Writing Sample
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Required
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Very Important
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- At this point, if you are seriously considering graduate school, begin your search by reading:
Complement the above field-specific tips with general tips on overview (under the tab of ‘overview’).
Pakistani applicants suffer most because of inadequate information -- or wrong information -- about essays and personal statements. This section will address those inadequacies specifically in relation to applying for this program. Supplement the following field-specific tips with general tips (under the tab of ‘essay’) to craft a stellar personal statement.
BASIC INFORMATION
Personal Statement is one of the most important components of your application. If you are applying to graduate school in Education, then you’ll need to write a personal statement as part of the application. Personal statements can be tricky as you do not want to simply repeat what is stated elsewhere in your application, but you also don’t want to turn it into an autobiography. Things like your GPA, accomplishments/awards, and a list of courses you have taken do not fit.
Your personal statement should be, well, personal. The general suggested length is usually between 500 to 1,000 words. Some programs include a prompt or provide information on what they want you to cover in the essay -- if this is the case, remember to follow these requirements closely (they should be your primary guide, and then the tips below follow after).
ACTION-STEPS/ RESOURCES
Which resources should I make use of?
- Read the following links before you start planning your personal statement:
- Also, before you start outlining your statement, ask yourself a few questions to get an idea of what you’ll need to include. Jot down each of the following questions and leave some space to answer them.
- Who am I?
- Why do I want to be a teacher?
- How should I address my academic record?
- How can my experiences enhance my application?
- Who is my audience?
- Now take a few minutes and come up with some answers to these questions. Don’t spend too much time on this step; just write down your general thoughts. Once you do that, you will be ready to dive in and start writing your personal statement.
TIPS ON GOOD AND BAD STATEMENTS
What is essential in the statement:
- Generally, you need to include:
- Your interests in Education and how you came to have those interests
- What your goals and ambitions in the field of education are
- How the program to which you are applying can help you to achieve those goals; why do you want to earn your degree at this school?
- Follow this general form for a solid intro:
- HOOK: Your starting line/s should aim to grab the reader’s attention-- for this, you should use a broad, but strong statement about the education sector.
- LINE: Write two to three sentences that develop that idea and narrow it down to focus on you and your areas of interest.
- SINKER: Then you write your thesis statement, which can include why specifically you want to study abroad at their school for the particular program you are applying to.
- Then you should focus on your educational background. Remember that you have already submitted your resume and you don’t need to repeat anything -- just briefly explain your reasoning for pursuing your major and your education concentration (why you decided to study that specialization)
- Remember to tell your story and motivations -- Why do you want to work within the field of education? What inspires you about the profession you are interested in? If you plan to become a teacher, you should write about what type of teacher you see yourself becoming? How did your student teaching experience inspire you to continue on this path? You should use anecdotes but it is recommended that you don’t go overboard with these. Remember that the examples you give to explain your motivations etc., should be based in a professional context (i.e. based on professional situations).
- Before applying to a university, hopefully, you did some research about the program and then applied because of some particular reasons. Now in your personal statement, you need to outline these reasons. When writing this, make sure to not go overboard with praise about the program (they are well aware of their strengths so you don’t need to waste too much of your word limit with this).
What are some elements of exceptional statements:
- Don’t just write that you want to do better or be better educator -- outline your specific goals for applying for this master’s degree. Write about your career goal that made you apply for this degree/specialization.
- If you are switching careers/fields then make sure to research and read up on any relevant vocabulary mentioned in the application/prompt. If you are already in the field, then avoid using too much jargon, abbreviations or acronyms.
- If you can, write about where you see yourself in the future (5-10 years from now) and how this degree can help you achieve this goal.
- If you are already within the field of education, then you should write about experiences in the field that inspired or motivated you to pursue higher education. Also, include some information on the kind of impact you want to make by pursuing a Master's and advancing in your career.
- If you were working/studying in a different field then you should write about who or what inspired you to go towards this field (switch to this field). Such experiences can include attending conferences, talking to professionals, etc.
How can applicants manage the process of writing?
You may be required to write other types of essays, namely: research summary and/or statement of purpose. Go to American Educational Research Association for Graduate Students and Purdue Online Writing Lab to find out more about writing a research statement in Education.
This section will cover the basics about recommendation letters, which are one of the most important parts of the application process. Supplement the following field-specific tips with general tips (under the tab of ‘recommendations’) to ensure you have strong letters of recommendation.
BASIC INFORMATION
Letters of recommendation are extremely important, so choose your recommenders wisely.
You are required to submit 2-3 letters of recommendation. You should have at least one academic letter and others from individuals providing information about your experience working within the field (or a professional LOR).
Suggested timeline: Distribute materials by early October.
Note:
- When choosing academic recommendations, former professors are the best options. Ideally, such professors should be working within your field of interest or the field you studied in. Otherwise, if you are familiar with your previous university’s education department, then a letter from them would also be great. Remember that such recommenders should be able to write a good quality letter for you (to do so they should be familiar with your work and should be able to say positive things about your chances of succeeding within the field of Education). In this way, it is better to choose professors/faculty who you have taken more than 1 class with.
- Otherwise for professional letters, anyone you have worked for, ideally within the field of education (or a related field), would be best.
INTERVIEWS
Basic Information:
Interviews are very rarely asked for in this field. However, most programs will grant you an interview if you request it, and an interview may help you decide whether a given program will provide what you want (make sure to confirm that it is an online interview). Some schools use telephone interviews to help guide their selections.
Interview Tips:
- Before going to the interview, make sure to map out your career interests and goals, alongside your previous educational background. When doing so, make sure to keep an eye out for relevant experiences or goals that make you a good potential candidate for the program. For example, if you are interested in working with students in urban areas, you should first check out whether the program has a history of placing students in such areas of work -- if they do, then you should be prepared to discuss this in the interview.
- Some potential questions you could be asked:
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- Tell us about yourself.
- What have been your strengths and weaknesses as an undergraduate student?
- State three strengths that you have and why you consider them strengths.
- What would one of your undergraduate teachers say about you as a student?
- How has your undergraduate background prepared you for this school?
- What courses have you enjoyed the most?
- What courses have you struggled with?
- Why should we consider you for our program instead of several other equally qualified candidates?
If you are applying for a teaching degree:
- Why do you think you would make a good teacher?
- How did your student teaching experience prepare you for the classroom? What do you still have to learn?
Remember that the interview goes both ways. Just as they are interviewing you, you are also interviewing them. Make sure to clarify any queries you have about the program. The following are some sample questions you could ask:
- How is this program different from the ones at competing teaching/education colleges?
- Where are your recent graduates employed?
- I've read articles written by professor “X.” Are students involved in assisting faculty members with related research projects?
- What types of educational research projects are current students pursuing?
- What is the timeline for candidate selection?
Complement the above field-specific tips with general tips on preparing for interviews (under the tab of ‘interview’).
STANDARDIZED TESTS
Tests Needed:
- GRE General - Required by most programs
- TOEFL - Required by most programs for international applicants
- GMAT - For Ed.L.D, MBA in Education Management & Leadership
Resources:
