Master's in Teaching vs. Master's in Education: Unveiling the Differences

For teachers and administrators, advancing in education without a master’s degree is possible, but there are compelling reasons to pursue an advanced degree. Earning a master’s-level education degree can lead to a salary boost, job security, and increased opportunity in and out of the classroom. You’ll also develop expertise, whether you’re interested in classroom management strategies or personnel management best practices-provided you choose the right master’s program.

Two graduate degrees dominate the education space: the master’s in teaching and the master’s in education. Many guides will tell you that the former is focused on classroom technique whereas the latter is focused on education administration, full stop. Unfortunately, it just isn’t that simple.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and Master of Science in Teaching (MST) are commonly presented as the best degrees for teachers (or aspiring teachers) who want to spend their careers in the classroom. The Master of Education (MEd) is held up as the best degree for administrators, policymakers, and curriculum designers. And there’s some truth to these characterizations.

However, each of these degree pathways can cover advanced pedagogic skills and/or a broad range of other education topics. There are MAT and MST degrees for teachers who want to transition into curriculum development and instructional design. There also are MEd programs focused on teaching strategies specific to certain grade levels, subject areas, and student populations. In other words, the difference between master’s in teaching and master’s in education programs isn’t nearly as clear-cut as most people assume.

Why Different Kinds of Master’s Degrees in Education Exist

Education is a complex discipline with many moving parts. Students come to school not only to learn facts but to socialize, broaden their horizons, and, in some cases, meet basic needs like nutrition. Teachers teach students using materials created by curriculum designers, but that’s not all they teach. In elementary classrooms, they also foster socialization. High school teachers teach teens how to become adults.

School counselors help address the mental health needs of students of all ages. Administrators keep schools funded, and policymakers set the standards schools must meet. Researchers look for ways to improve education systems. Educational psychologists research how students learn. There’s a lot going on under the umbrella of education.

It would be impossible to create a graduate degree program that could address every facet of education, which is why most education master’s programs tend to be concentration-based and/or subject-specific. MAT and MST programs are more likely to offer specializations related to subject area (e.g., art, mathematics, earth science, or social studies). In contrast, MEd specializations are often related to administration.

However, there are many MEd specializations designed for teachers. The Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College, for instance, offers several concentrations related to teaching, including elementary education, secondary education, early childhood education, and specializations focused on special education in elementary and middle school.

Master’s in Teaching: A Deep Dive

As the name implies, this teaching degree focuses on the practice of teaching. Generally, people who already have a bachelor's degree but want to qualify as teachers will have an interest in an M.A. in Teaching. On the other hand, people who already teach but want to expand their qualifications to other subjects or grades tend to enroll in a teaching master's program to build the skills that they need.

MAT and MST programs are typically designed to either prepare aspiring teachers to obtain teaching licenses and launch careers in the classroom or give licensed teachers the skills and credentials they need to step into more specialized roles. The curriculum in master’s in teaching programs varies by concentration. MST and MAT concentrations include:

Elementary Education

This program typically helps current teachers advance their careers and aspiring teachers earn initial licensure. You’ll focus on teaching elementary school students and may be able to choose a subspecialization in the program, such as special education.

Early Childhood Education

An early childhood education degree allows you to work with young children up to second grade. In this program, you’ll focus on developmental skills, such as language, and creating programs for this age group.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

This concentration allows you to not only teach ESL but other subjects to English-learning students. This program also can lead to administrative positions. Completing a Teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) specifically prepares you for classroom education.

Language Arts Education

In this focus, you’ll typically learn teaching methods, especially as they relate to reading, for middle school students. You may complete this track as a specialization within a middle grades education track.

Mathematics Education

This focus can help you teach math in middle and high school, including algebra and geometry.

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Middle Grades Education

This track prepares you to teach middle schoolers. You may pursue a subject-specific track as well.

Science Education

This degree prepares you to teach science, including subjects like life science, chemistry, and physics.

Secondary Education

A secondary education program helps you become a high school teacher. You’ll focus on a single subject during your degree programs, such as English or math.

Social Studies Education

Social studies programs can prepare you to teach middle or high school. They cover subjects like history and human development.

Special Education Instruction

Here, you’ll learn to teach special education students. Individual programs or tracks may focus on different age ranges-for instance early childhood or grades seven through 12.

There are also MST and MAT specializations that aren’t focused on specific grades or subjects. Less common master’s in teaching concentration areas include:

Culturally Diverse Education

A CLD endorsement prepares educators to teach with an eye towards embracing culturally diverse students and helping them grow. This education pathway can have different names, for instance Socio-Cultural Perspectives in Teaching and Learning.

Curriculum Studies

A specialization in this area prepares you to design curricula.

Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

You’ll learn to evaluate, help, and teach students with emotional and behavioral disorders. This specialty is part of a special education program.

K-12 Education Technology

In this program, you’ll learn to effectively utilize technology in your classroom.

Teacher Leadership

This is a great specialization for teachers who want a leadership role in their school or beyond. Professionals with this specialty may go on to conduct research.

In most master’s in teaching programs, the first few semesters are devoted to classroom management, instructional strategies, evaluation and assessment, planning and instruction, and practical skills related to teaching specific subject areas. MAT and MST programs often culminate in a supervised practicum placement (designed to give students teaching experience) or a capstone research project (for teachers with their own classrooms).

Master’s in Education: A Broader Perspective

In contrast to a master's in teaching, universities develop programs for a master's in education to attract licensed teachers who already have classroom experience. For instance, teachers may have an interest in working in administration as a principal or focusing on becoming a school counselor or reading specialist. An education master's degree can open these sorts of doors.

The MEd is often described as the advanced degree for teachers interested in career advancement beyond the classroom, but this ignores that there are many master’s in education programs with a pedagogical focus. If your goal is to work in educational administration or school counseling, earning an MEd is a smart idea, but there are also MEd programs for teachers.

The distinguishing feature of master’s in education programs may be their specificity. Most master’s in education program concentrations focus on specific professional goals or career pursuits. Consequently, there are many more MEd specializations than there are MAT degree and MST degree specializations. There are Master of Education concentrations for teachers related to classroom management, student engagement, learning theories, models of instruction, specific grade levels, and specific subjects, as well as plenty of specialization areas not focused on pedagogy like:

Applied Human Development

This field focuses on developing children, including classroom learning and physical education.

Athletic Leadership

Athletic leadership concentrations most commonly prepare graduates for collegiate positions in athletics administration.

Curriculum Design

Graduates from this track work to improve student learning outcomes-including for education companies. Teachers also can complete this degree focus.

Curriculum and Instruction

Similar to curriculum design, teachers and administrators can complete this degree to improve their educational content creation and implementation skills.

Early Childhood

Early childhood is typically offered as a teaching degree. However, you may be able to focus on early childhood leadership through a degree program, or concentration in another track, such as curriculum design.

Educational Administration

This program prepares graduates to assume leadership positions. You’ll learn about research techniques, public relations, and the business of running a school, among other topics. An MEd in Educational Leadership can offer a similar career trajectory.

Educational Psychology

With an MEd in educational psychology, you’ll be trained in areas like behavior assessment, learning styles, and cognitive theory. This degree is open to teachers and administrators, not only educational psychologists.

Educational Technology

This track is more commonly offered as an MEd than MAT or MST. Schools may offer a similarly named instructional technology program.

Higher Education Administration

This pathway prepares students for administrative jobs at colleges and universities. You may study theory and data-based research methods.

Instructional Design and Development

This pathway can be similar to a curriculum design degree. However, what you study depends more on the school’s program than the degree title. At University of Massachusetts - Boston, students in the instructional design track focus on adult education.

Global and Comparative Education

This degree track can help you work with international and multicultural students. Teachers who complete the program benefit from leadership courses, plus administration-directed coursework in pedagogy, policy, and theory.

Leadership in Education

Graduates from this program typically go on to become principals and superintendents, making policy decisions at the community level and beyond.

Measurement and Evaluation

This program prepares you for careers collecting data about student performance, analyzing it, and using it to improve outcomes.

School Counseling

In this program, you’ll complete educational psychology coursework, typically in preparation to become a school counselor.

Licensure: Is the MAT the Only Path?

It’s more common for part-time and full-time MAT programs and MST programs to fulfill teaching licensure requirements, but there are plenty of MEd programs with teacher certification tracks for aspiring teachers. Master’s in education programs also can help licensed teachers meet the educational requirements to achieve the next level of teaching license in states with multiple levels of licensure. What sets programs with licensure tracks apart from those without is that they tend to have core coursework, field experiences, practicum requirements, and student teaching placements built into the curriculum.

Career Paths: MAT vs. MEd Graduates

In general, MST or MAT holders earn these degrees because they are preparing for teaching careers. They may teach in a preschool, elementary schools, advanced high school physics, or teach gym, but they’ll teach. There are, however, career options for MST or MAT holders that don’t involve becoming a licensed teacher or even working with students in public schools. These include:

Academic Advisor

Academic advisors help students with academics. In a high school setting, this could mean helping them to successfully apply to college. For younger kids, advisors and counselors may address behavioral issues and diagnose children as special needs-potentially in a counseling role. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses the same terminology to categorize advisors and counselors. Counselors earn a median annual pay of $58,120; the BLS expects the job to grow at an above-average rate.

Corporate Trainer

Corporate trainers primarily focus on advancing employee education. This could mean developing and implementing training programs and evaluating the results. The BLS says the job outlook for training and development specialists is positive; they earn a median annual pay of $62,700.

Curriculum Developer

There are several positions in curriculum development-it’s an involved process requiring significant collaboration. Other relevant job titles include curriculum consultant, educational coordinator, instructional designer, and curriculum designer. The BLS refers to these professionals as instructional coordinators, and states that they earn $66,970 per year in median pay. The job outlook for Instructional coordinators is average.

Education Consultant

Education consultants are like guidance counselors, but don’t work for the school. Families often hire education consultants to help with academic problems or other issues. According to PayScale, the average educational consultant earns a salary of $63,092.

Education Policy Analyst

According to PayScale, these professionals earn around $63,000 per year. Their job is to assess and potentially create educational policies, usually for school districts and government agencies.

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