UofL Master of Education Online Degrees
How To Choose A Master’s Program for Your Teaching Career

How To Choose A Master’s Program for Your Teaching Career

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UofL Master of Education Online Degrees

You’ve finally taken the plunge to pursue your master’s degree – an exciting and rewarding decision.

While your state may not require a Master of Education or Master of Arts in Teaching, choosing to advance your degree is a smart choice for:

  • Working towards your Rank I and Rank II certifications, and increasing your earning potential
  • Becoming a better teacher, with more expertise in pedagogy and educational technology
  • Opening doors for promotions to administration positions in education
  • Improving opportunities to teach at the university or college level

Whatever the motivation, obtaining your master’s degree is an excellent way to advance your career and understand how to help your students succeed.

But, you’ve found yourself at a crossroads.

Of all the teaching graduate programs, which one is best tailored to your interests, motivations and goals?

Key Differences Between Teaching Degree Programs

At a glance, the Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Education degrees seem similar, and prospective students often use these terms interchangeably. However, it is important to note the differences in curriculum and admission requirements between teacher education programs. While subtle, they can be critical to your career path.

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

A MAT degree is focused primarily on advancing your teaching career by enhancing your ability to work directly with students through hands-on teaching experience.

The MAT program emphasizes advanced coursework to help you hone your expertise in a specific subject area such as Art, Music or Early Elementary Education. MAT candidates focus on pedagogical theory and developing the practical skills needed for implementing this theory in the classroom. In other words, the MAT teaches teachers how to teach.

Master of Education (MEd)

A MEd is less centered on developing skills in a specific subject area. Instead, this is the path to choose if you need to fulfill continuing education requirements, maintain or add to your teaching credentials, or expand your knowledge and skills beyond the classroom to widen your career opportunities in the field of education.

As a certified teacher, you can pursue this degree and still remain in a classroom setting. The framework of the MEd degree, however, is designed to equip you with additional proficiency in specialized areas including curriculum development, counseling, policy development or administration. In other words, the MEd focuses on attaining career-specific credentials.

Master of Arts in Education (MAEd)

Less popular than the MEd and MAT degrees, a MAEd primarily emphasizes classroom teaching rather than administrative work. This is the most fitting degree if you want to gain practical, hands-on experience in the classroom but do not have an interest in pursuing administrative education roles.

Master of Science in Education (MSEd)

The MSEd degree, also less well known than the MAT and MEd, is an excellent choice if you are more interested in data and statistics behind different pedagogical theory and practice. This is the ideal degree for students interested in educational research.

Master of Education in Teacher Leadership (Teaching & Learning) (MEdTL)

This graduate degree at the University of Louisville is available completely online. The curriculum prepares you to serve as a leader, work strategically with learners of all ages, facilitate change at the classroom and institutional level, and coach others to lead in the teaching field.

Developed especially for Kentucky-certified teachers, this innovative program centers on pedagogical theory and practical teaching techniques that will help you pursue a successful career in supporting new teachers, developing professional training and transforming the way education is delivered.

What’s Your Next Move?

If you are already teaching and balancing life inside and outside the classroom, thinking about pursuing a master’s degree can be daunting. However, an online learning format can allow you to pursue your degree when and where it works for you.

UofL currently offers two master’s degrees 100% online: the Master of Education in Special Education and the Master of Education (Teaching and Learning) with endorsements in ESL, Classroom Reading, and Instructional Technology. Our advising team is exceptional and can help you navigate the various options available, providing guidance at every step of the way.

Obtaining a master’s degree in education can sharpen your teaching and leadership skills, improve your career opportunities and, most importantly, prepare you to best serve your students and school. Having clear career goals and knowing your options for earning your next education credential can help you choose the path that’s best for you and your students.

Know your options inside and outside the classroom, and choose the path that’s best for you and your students.

Master of Science in Social Work at University of Louisville
Advice from a Non-Traditional Student

Advice from a Non-Traditional Student

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Sara Keinath isn’t your traditional student. An active wife, mother and career professional, her passion for social work led her to pursue her Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) at UofL — an online degree that provides the learning flexibility she needs.

How did you start your social work career?

“I am a wife, mother and non-traditional student who went back to school a little later in life. I was unsure whether social work was my true calling until late in my undergrad career, but now I feel like this career is most certainly my home.”

Why the MSSW program?

“When I was pursuing my undergrad in psychology, I knew I would need to continue my education, but was unsure what I wanted to do. I tossed around getting a Psy.D. in clinical psychology, because I thought I wanted to do counseling. That was until I did an internship that focused more on case management. Then I did my research and realized that a MSSW degree would allow me to do case management work along with the clinical/counseling side, plus offer the job opportunities that are more widespread.”

Did you consider a specialization?

“I did not specialize, simply because I wanted to have a more general experience and it allowed me to pick and choose my electives to get that broader educational experience.”

Why did you choose UofL?

“I chose UofL, because at first I was looking at local programs and I was impressed with the Kent School’s curriculum and reputation. The majority of social workers I had talked to had been educated there and had positive things to say about the program. Then when UofL started to offer the online program option, it became the obvious choice for me.”

What did you find most valuable in the online format?

“I liked that the online courses offered the same content and the same professors as the on-campus program. I am a non-traditional student who went back to school once my children were in school. Due to my family’s schedule, a traditional format wouldn’t have been ideal. I needed flexibility and the online program afforded me that. Being able to spend time with my family and be an inspiration to them are very important things to me.”

How has the internship helped you in your current position?

“I am currently employed at Hosparus and have always loved hospice work. That was my goal even before I started the UofL MSSW program. They have employed many interns over the years, and due to my internship there, I was offered a permanent position. Without that ‘in’ I highly doubt I would be an employee there. I am very thankful that it worked out that way.”

What are your professional plans for the future?

“As of now, I honestly just really like where I am. I have no desire to go anywhere else. Having said that, I am currently pursuing my LCSW and once I finish that program, I do hope to do some private practice work on the side.”

What advice do you have for other students in an online social work program?

“My advice is to stay on top of the work. It can be easy to say, ‘I’ll do that later,’ but then before you know it you have dug a hole that is too deep to crawl out of. Also, getting to know your classmates and networking with professors has to be approached differently in the online learning setting. I highly encourage students to make the effort to form those relationships, because this program can be difficult and they will need that support from those students who are in it with them.”

About UofL Online Learning

If Sara’s story resonates with you and you’re interested in pursuing a master’s in social work, visit our online MSSW program page.

The University of Louisville currently offers more than 20 online programs in various areas of study for adult learners who are not able to come to a physical campus, but want to earn a college degree or certificate and advance their career.

How U.S. Employers Are Investing in Employees’ Education

How U.S. Employers Are Investing in Employees’ Education

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How US Employers Are Investing in Employees' Education

Tuition reimbursement is a growing trend in the U.S. job market. Some companies, like Louisville’s own UPS, use tuition reimbursement as a powerful recruiting tool.

Others see such programs as a long-sighted opportunity to build the knowledge base within their company, and also as an opportunity to build a lasting relationship with the people they hire. One study found that employees who took advantage of tuition reimbursement programs were more likely to receive a promotion and stay with the company.

With measurable benefits for all parties, it’s clear that employers increasingly find it valuable to invest in their employees’ education.

Higher Education: An Investment Opportunity

The 2007 BLS Employee Benefit Survey indicated that 73% of professional and technical full-time employees had access to a tuition reimbursement program where they worked. And while it may still be rare to find an employer who will cover every last dime of all expenses associated with furthering your education, the vast majority will cover a significant portion.

The range of employers who offer tuition reimbursement is also growing. At one time, only employers in highly specialized fields, such as engineering, saw the benefit of funding their employees’ education. Now, the trend has spread across the marketplace.

From banking and financial organizations like Bank of America and Wells Fargo to retail giants like Starbucks and Home Depot, companies across the map are developing competitive tuition reimbursement programs to help them recruit and retain talented employees.

EdAssist’s 2012 review of employer tuition assistance programs includes this breakdown of tuition reimbursement by industry.

US Employers Invest in Tuition Reimbursement Programs

These figures are from 2012 and all trends indicate that tuition assistance programs are only growing across the board.

7 Questions to Ask About Tuition Assistance

As you consider available opportunities to further your education, here are seven questions to ask your HR representative about tuition assistance:

  • Does my workplace offer this benefit and if so, is there an annual limit or a fixed percentage of expenses covered?
  • Is there a cap to my lifetime education expenses?
  • What is the GPA requirement to receive the full benefit?
  • What types of degrees or certificates and what areas of study are covered?
  • How long do I have to commit to working for the company after I finish my degree to avoid having to pay back the benefit?
  • How long do I have to be with the company in order to start using this benefit?
  • Can I also pursue scholarships and grants in addition to my employer-provided assistance?

UofL Online Offers Education Pathways that Bring the Finish Line Closer

Of course, managing the costs of your education is only half the battle as a working professional. You must also find the time to study and attend class amongst the demands of family, work, and other commitments. UofL Online broadens access to the type of rigorous, research-based education traditionally only available on campus.

Our online programs offer innovative, flexible learning opportunities that address the needs and desires of working professionals pursuing higher education. For instance, the J.B. Speed School of Engineering has a longstanding reputation for excellence and now offers a master’s in engineering management and a master’s in civil engineering 100% online as well as two graduate certificates in structural or transportation engineering.

In addition, our newly-launched Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Accounting program is designed for those with a non-accounting bachelor’s degree who want to pursue an accounting career, but are not interested in earning another undergraduate degree. This program offers students a marketable accounting credential, as well as enough accounting coursework to sit for the Kentucky CPA exam.

Our Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Learning, our B.S. in Healthcare Leadership, and our R.N. to B.S.N. programs offer course credit based on real-world professional experience and knowledge to help bring the finish line closer. We know how valuable education is in the 21st century marketplace and we’re here to help you earn a degree in a way that suits your schedule.

UofL Online Cybersecurity and Data Science Programs
As Cybersecurity Threats Rise, UofL Online Sees Opportunity

As Cybersecurity Threats Rise, UofL Online Sees Opportunity

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UofL Online Cybersecurity and Data Science Programs

The Computer Science department at the University of Louisville has realigned two of their Graduate Certificates to reflect industry standards and market demand.

Cybersecurity: A State of Emergency

In 2015, IBM’s President and CEO, Ginni Rometty, made a statement that data is the world’s new natural resource and the basis of competitive advantage in many industries. She followed up these points with a straightforward conclusion:

“Cybercrime is the greatest threat to every company in the world.”

And she wasn’t exaggerating.

In 2016 alone, we witnessed a wide array of cybercriminal activities:

With cybercrime damage costs expected to reach $6 trillion annually by 2021, and an anticipated 1.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs by 2019, the fields of data mining, network security, and information technology now offer more career options than ever before to those with adequate credentials.

UofL Online Sees Great Potential in Data Science and Cybersecurity Programs

The University of Louisville has a long and reputable tradition in providing high quality programs in computer science, data mining (now data science) and network security (now cybersecurity) that fulfill the needs of this growing industry.

The Graduate Certificate programs in Data Science and Cybersecurity will continue to prepare excellent professionals who will be instrumental in managing and securing data for companies of all sizes in the public and private sectors alike.

As described by Dr. Mehmed Kantardzic, Director of Computer Engineering and Computer Science programs at the University of Louisville, “The extraordinary use of computers and flood in production of online data is changing forever the way decisions are made in many disciplines, including finance, medicine, pharmaceuticals, bioinformatics, social welfare, government, education, retail, marketing, security, and the list goes on.

Dramatic growth in the amount and complexity of data that can be collected and analyzed is affecting all aspects of modern society. In today’s fast-developing digital world, data science professionals need skills to collect, process and extract values from big, diverse data sets, and visualize and communicate their findings to other professionals.”

According to the Data Science Association, there are certainly many technological shifts occurring across all industries, so the need for skilled data science and cybersecurity professionals to protect and interpret big data is increasing.

  • The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) uses data science to monitor the financial market and prevent illegal trading activity.
  • Utility companies are installing smart meter readers to collect data, which is then used to improve the customer experience and drive energy efficiency initiatives.
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses big data to study patterns of food-related illnesses, allowing faster treatment response times.

Online Graduate Certificate Overview

UofL’s 100% online Graduate Certificate programs range from 12 – 18 credit hours, allowing current students entering the field and those working as data mining and network security professionals, data scientists, cybersecurity specialists or forensic data analysts to acquire valuable education credentials and advance their careers.

Dr. Mehmed Kantardzic adds “Our Data Science Graduate Certificate Program balances theory and applications, enabling our students to handle the flood of big data, and have abilities to create data-driven solutions that boost competitive businesses and new scientific discoveries.”

Professionals who want to enroll in the online graduate certificate programs or the MS in Computer Science program at UofL can learn more about admission requirements and course details by visiting the program website.

About UofL Online Learning

The University of Louisville currently offers more than 20 online programs in various areas of study for adult learners who are not able to come to a physical campus, but want to earn a college degree or certificate and advance their career.

The University of Louisville is a nationally-recognized, metropolitan research university, with a commitment to the liberal arts and sciences, as well as the intellectual, cultural, and economic development of our diverse community of learners.

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