Master’s in Education Programs in Maryland
Maryland is one of a handful of states where earning a master’s degree (or completing significant graduate coursework) is part of maintaining your teaching license and advancing in the profession. This high level of accountability for teachers is one of the reasons that Maryland has long been ranked among the top states in the nation for its educational system.
In fact, in 2020, WalletHub released an analysis of innovation in education and, not surprisingly, Maryland landed among the top four states that were identified as doing the most to drive innovation in K-12 schools.
Whether you’re a current educator or an aspiring one in Maryland, one thing’s certain: a master’s in education will get you where you want to be. More and varied opportunities and a leg up on ensuring you’ll always meet educator requirements for licensure are just a few of the reasons why earning a master’s in education here just makes good sense.
Keep reading to learn more about the exciting and varied master’s in education programs available to you in Maryland!
Earning Your Master’s in Education in Maryland – Why Get a Master’s Degree?
You can earn your initial teaching certification with just a bachelor’s degree in Maryland; however, to teach beyond the ten-year mark, which requires earning the Advanced Professional Certificate, you’ll need to earn either a master’s in education or come to the table with significant graduate coursework on your resume.
The initial Standard Professional Certificate I here is valid for five years and cannot be renewed. To transition to Standard Professional Certificate II, you’ll need at least three years of teaching experience and the completion of at least six hours of college credit.
Not only will a master’s in education allow you to transition easily from Standard Professional Certificate I to Standard Professional Certificate II by satisfying the college credit requirements, but you’ll also position yourself to earn the Advanced Professional Certificate after ten years.
Earning a master’s in education in Maryland is both practical and valuable. Not only will it satisfy all of the education requirements necessary to advance and maintain your teaching certification, it is also the ideal route to take if you want to add another endorsement to your teaching certification if you want to pursue advanced study in areas like administration, educational leadership, literacy, policy studies, and more.
These flexible courses of study are also ideal for aspiring educators seeking teaching programs in Maryland leading to initial certification. Many schools now also offer specialized master’s in education programs for career changers who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and are pursuing a K-12 teaching career and initial certification in Maryland.
Types of Education Master’s Degrees
In general, there are two main types of master’s degrees. A Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree focuses on developing teaching skills in specific subjects and grade levels. A Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree focuses on educational theory and leadership skills. Note that there is no standard system for naming degrees — different institutions may use different designations.
Online Master of Education (MEd) and MAT Programs in Maryland
Sure, you’ll find a wealth of traditional, on-campus master’s in education programs in Maryland, but many programs are shifting from a campus-based experience to an online one. With flexibility and convenience in mind, online master’s in education programs offer the same rigorous courses of study as on-campus programs but allow students to earn their degree without interfering with their professional responsibilities and interrupting their busy schedules.
In Maryland, a number of public colleges and universities offer hybrid and/or online master’s in education programs:
- University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Towson University
- University of Maryland Global Campus
- University of Maryland College Park
- Morgan State University
- Salisbury University
Maryland is also home to a nice selection of private universities and colleges that offer hybrid and/or online master’s in education degrees:
- John Hopkins University
- Loyola University Maryland
- Notre Dame of Maryland University
- Mount St. Mary’s University
- McDaniel College
- Goucher College
- Hood College
- Strayer University of Maryland
Jobs and Salary Benefits with a Master’s Degree in Education in Maryland
Maryland is preparing to revamp its entire education system — a change which should be a boon for new teachers and those seeking an advanced degree in education. The Kirwan Commission on Excellence in Education, tasked with finding ways to ensure Maryland schools remain competitive, just released its most recent recommendation to state legislators. This bold recommendation proposes a major pay increase for all Maryland public school teachers, raising it by 10% between 2020 and 2022, with a minimum teacher salary of $60,000 to be phased-in by 2024. The commission is also proposing a new career ladder for teachers, with additional certifications to be offered by the state. This will increase average teacher pay in Maryland from the current $69,557 to $93,137 by 2029.
A master’s in education means much higher salaries for many of Maryland’s educators. For example, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality, the average difference in pay between BA and MA teachers in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools is $21,153 annually, or a whopping $364,584 over the course of a teacher’s career.
It’s a similar story in the Baltimore County Public Schools, where the average difference between bachelor’s prepared educators and master’s prepared educators is $17,040 annually, or about $484,878 over the course of a teaching career.
As of May 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a median salary of $76,840 for the state’s secondary school teachers and a median salary of $75,820 for its elementary school teachers. Teachers with significant experience and those holding advanced degrees like the master of education earn closer to the 75th – 90thpercentile in Maryland, which is $94,570 – $112,940 for elementary school teachers and $95,940 – $112,500 for secondary teachers.
Job growth in Maryland is also expected to continue at a strong clip. Between 2018 and 2028, the Maryland Department of Labor projects an increase of about 14.5% in the number of both elementary and secondary teachers in the state – about four times the national growth rate of educators during this time. During this period ending in 2028, the state expects about 2,810 annual job openings at the elementary level and about 2,030 at the secondary level, which represent a combination new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.
May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job growth data for kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, and high school teachers. Figures represent national data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2021.
Job growth projections sourced from the Maryland Department of Labor and reported in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2018-2028) database – https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm.
Masters in Education Programs in Nearby Sates
Delaware / Washington D.C. / New Jersey / New York / Ohio / Pennsylvania / Virginia / West Virginia
