Graduate programs in education vary widely. In general, you will begin with a masters program (an MA, MEd, or MAT) before a doctoral program (PhD or EdD). In some cases, an MEd or EdD will be project-based, while an MA or PhD will be research-based.
However, as Teri Roberts, Director of Academic Services for The Ohio State University's School of Teaching and Learning states, “graduate programs are usually individualized around student interests and career goals after students have met the general requirements.” She adds that, “most education programs can be field-based, so that students can immediately apply what they are learning.”
Increasingly, graduate education programs attempt to fit the lives of working adults. Dr. Dan Raisch, Associate Dean of the University of Dayton's School of Education and Allied Professions notes that, “more and more of the coursework is being done in cohort groups, on the weekends, in summer terms, and online.”
Jennifer Aunspaw, an elementary teacher in Miamisburg, Ohio, recently completed her master's degree on-line. Instructors with PhDs taught the courses in her 18-month program, and she was able to network with teachers across the country. She completed her assignments around her work and family schedule, but she cautions that “some people are not good with time management, [and] not everyone can remain focused without the classroom environment.”
Before applying to any graduate education program, make sure that it matches your goals and interests, and research the program's requirements and faculty interests. As Ms. Roberts suggests, convenience should not be the only criterion.
“Pick [a program] that suits your needs, that will give you the background and access to faculty that will be most beneficial to you, [as well as]…opportunities to change your mind about your area of focus once you are enrolled,” says Roberts.
