Specialized skills are essential in the education field to qualify for senior positions, whether they entail leading a school or district or teaching students with special needs. Students in the Master of Education program at the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement can tailor their degrees to align with their career aspirations, interests, and lifestyles.
The online MEd at Tulane University offers four focus areas: equity-centered education leadership, learning experience design, teaching English learners, and special education. Students can also customize their learning experience by choosing the pace at which they complete their degrees.
Continue reading to learn more about online MEd specialization options and the unique benefits of earning your education graduate degree from Tulane University.
Specialization in Education
Pursuing a master’s degree with a specialized focus is a proven way to acquire the skills and qualifications necessary to reach your career goals. It can help you qualify for senior positions, diversify your career options, and advance as an education specialist in an area you are passionate about.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that a master’s degree is strongly recommended for aspiring school principals, other administrators, and instructional coordinators. Employers often require or seek candidates with an MEd for roles in special education, English as a second language instruction, and education policy advocacy.
Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of customizing your MEd degree.
Become an Education Leader With an MEd
Learn Alongside Top Faculty and a Diverse Peer Group
How You Can Customize Your MEd Degree at Tulane
The 30-credit-hour Tulane online MEd program consists of 15 credit hours of core coursework, 12 credits of elective courses related to your chosen specialization, and three credits of elective coursework in any field, enabling students to combine core education courses focusing on topics like learning processes and educational research with specialized coursework related to their interests.
Tulane’s online MEd program offers four specialization options:
- Equity-centered education leadership equips graduates to promote equitable education in varied settings. Typical career paths for this specialization include school or district leader or educational policy analyst.
- Learning experience design teaches students to create goal-oriented, inclusive, learner-centered experiences. Graduates often pursue roles in learning experience design or curriculum design.
- Teaching English learners trains educators to identify opportunity gaps in learning practices affecting multi-language learners and advocate for more inclusive teaching practices. Graduates often work as English as a Second Language (ESL) managers and specialists.
- Special education covers special education best practices and teaches how to accommodate learning differences. Graduates often work as special education teachers and curriculum specialists. Note: This specialization requires 33 credits to graduate; you will earn a graduate certificate in special education.
Within these specializations, students can customize their degrees to align with their professional goals through elective coursework. For example, students interested in learning design could take the Foundations of Instructional Design and Applications course as an elective, regardless of their specialization, while those interested in building stronger community ties might take the Engaging Family and Community Stakeholders course.
The Benefits of Aligning Your Degree to Your Goals
Specialization deepens your expertise in a specific subject area. The MEd program’s focus on hands-on learning means your specialization will include opportunities to gain real-world experience in line with your career goals and build a portfolio of achievements to share with prospective employers. These will help you stand out in the competitive education job market.
Tulane online MEd adjunct professor Stoney Gaddy explains: “In our authentic and project-based approach, students will have plenty of opportunities to shoot for the stars and devise innovative perspectives or approaches for a classroom or for an online course. Who knows? It might end up being a good research project down the road to take back to their classrooms or current roles. They can experiment in our courses, get quality feedback, and take it with them to apply in their world.”
Learn From the Experts in Your Field of Interest at Tulane
Enrolling in a specialized MEd program means you’ll engage with faculty members who are active practitioners within your specific subfield. The Tulane online MEd faculty is diverse, providing students a unique opportunity to connect with professionals from various backgrounds.
“One of the extraordinary things about the program — and candidates can see this for themselves — is the SoPA faculty. It is diverse. You have principals, you have people who are in charge of entire research organizations, you have scholars, and you also have people who were classroom teachers. There is a wide array and so much to learn from the faculty,” explains Tulane faculty member Leah Peterson.
Earn Your Specialized MEd at Tulane
Enrolling in a specialized MEd program delivers many benefits, including the opportunity to align your career with your interests, qualify for more senior roles, and stand out in the job market. To learn more about each of the specialization options offered as part of the Tulane online MEd, explore the program website. Then, connect with an enrollment advisor for personalized advice on choosing the right specialization for your career goals.