I loved the Bread Loaf School of English program at Middlebury College. It’s a unique summer program leading to a Masters in English, catering almost entirely to English teachers. So the class conversations are literary, but somehow it’s all infused with teaching ideas, since it’s almost all teachers in every room. Through this program, I spent two summers in Vermont, two in Santa Fe, and one in Oxford. I’d be happy to talk about it here, in today’s episode on masters programs, but I already shared a complete review, from my perspective, of The Bread Loaf School back in episode 223, so I’m going to direct you over to that episode if you’re looking for a masters in English right now that you can do in person while you teach.
But then there’s the other option for an English teacher – a masters in the field of education. There are soooo many possibilities that it’s a bit hard to know where to start. So here I’m going to round up some top candidates that I considered when I recently decided to go back and get a second masters. They all appeal in different ways. In the blog post, I’ll let you know the name of the program, the format, the length, the description as given on the program website, and the current deadline to apply that they have listed for the nine programs I considered. In the podcast version, I’m going to zoom in on my personal top candidates. I’ll also share links in this blog post and the podcast show notes to the many ongoing conversations on masters programs always taking place in Creative High School English, and to the U.S. News and World Report Rankings for top programs.
Program: Learning Design, Innovation and Technology at Harvard
Format: In Person
Length: 1 year
Description: In our Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology (LDIT) Program, you will tackle promising and challenging frontiers of education — leveraging the science of learning, applying innovations in education technology, and developing powerful pedagogies to improve learning outcomes. You will experience a diverse, inclusive, and high-energy environment, while learning from leading HGSE faculty and top industry practitioners, as well as your fellow cohort members. Our LDIT Program will equip you to work in educational media and technology, instructional design, and curriculum development, to create new learning materials and experiences for preK–12 schools, colleges and universities, 21st century workplaces, and informal settings.
Deadline to Apply: January 5
Link: https://www.gse.harvard.edu/degrees/masters/program/ldit
Program: Learning Design, Innovation and Technology at Stanford
Format: In Person
Length: 1 year
Description: This 11-month, full-time residential program integrates powerful contemporary ideas about learning with emergent technologies to design and evaluate learning environments, products, and programs. The LDT program features a blend of theory and project-based courses, a real-world internship, and a major design project. It awards a master’s of science (MS) degree.
Deadline to Apply: January 8
Link: https://ed.stanford.edu/ldt
Program: U of MN Professional Studies in Learning Technologies
Format: Online
Length: Flexible
Description: The Master of Education, Professional Studies in Learning Technologies is a flexible, completely online program designed for professionals who want to learn how to design and facilitate interactive and engaging learning experiences in higher education, K-12, non-profit, government, and business contexts. The coursework will ground you in theory and applied technology to create online and innovative multimedia learning experiences. Graduate with a portfolio of your work, ready to take your career to the next level.
You bring the ideas; we’ll help you realize them.
Deadline to Apply: Rolling through the year, 3 starts
Link: https://ci.umn.edu/masters-professional-studies/learning-technologies-med
Program: Columbia Teachers College Masters of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching
Length: 2+ Years
Deadline to Apply: January 15
Description: The Ed.M. is an advanced master’s degree that offers a flexible program of study focusing on leadership in curriculum and teaching in a range of educational settings. This degree program offers students the opportunity to develop specialized understandings and a capacity for leadership in curriculum and pedagogy. Leadership is interpreted broadly in this program to include developing curricula, studying teaching, designing professional development, and engaging in action research, all with a focus on challenging inequalities and imagining new possibilities for education.
Link: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/academics/programs-search/?pillar=Education°ree=Masters
Program: University of San Diego Online Masters in Learning Design and Tech
Format: Online
Length: 20 Months
Deadline to Apply: Dec. 3
Description: If you’re ready to take your instructional design career to the next level, the University of San Diego’s online MS in Learning Design and Technology (LDT) delivers a transformative experience that will give you the competitive edge by building and refining in-demand skills that are sought after by employers.
Developed in collaboration with seasoned ID practitioners with experience across a variety of industries, the MS-LDT program goes far beyond a typical learning and instructional design education by helping you develop practical and immediately applicable skills. The program faculty is comprised of experienced learning design and technology professionals, so you’ll be learning from a team of experts who knows what it takes to grow and succeed in this exciting field.
Program: Online Master of Arts in Education at ASU
Format: Online
Length: unclear, I think it depends how fast you want to go
Deadline to Apply: Several Entry Points throughout the Year
Description: This program prepares teachers and professionals working in education to advance their careers. You’ll choose courses based on two focal areas to meet your personal and professional goals. You have two options when selecting your focal areas:
You can choose two Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation focal areas which include but aren’t limited to:
- Applied behavior analysis.
- Autism spectrum disorders.
- Early childhood education.
- Educating multilingual learners.
- Education for planetary futures.
- Environmental education.
- Gifted education.
- Global education.
- Learning design and technologies.
- Literacy education.
- Physical activity/physical education.
- Special education endorsement.
- Teaching pedagogy.
Or, you can choose one of the above MLFC focal areas and one of the below focal areas from our partner colleges:
- Data and society (New College of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts).
- Digital audience strategies (Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication).
- Social justice and human rights (New College of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts).
- Technical writing and communication (College of Integrative Sciences and Arts).
The program culminates with an applied project in which you’ll design and develop an inquiry study that addresses one or more problems related to your focal areas. You should anticipate needing access to a learner to complete coursework.
Link: https://asuonline.asu.edu/online-degree-programs/graduate/masters-in-education/
Program: MEd Online at UVA
Format: Online
Length: 1 year full time or 2-3 years part time
Deadline to Apply: 3 entry points throughout the year
Description: This 100% online master’s program is designed for individuals who want to make a difference in educational settings by developing more effective curricular and instructional practices to better serve students. The flexible and asynchronous program curriculum is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to be successful in an ever-changing educational landscape.
Link: https://education.virginia.edu/academics/programs/curriculum-instruction-med-master-education-online
Description of Coursework: https://records.ureg.virginia.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=62&poid=9211
Note: Wraps with a comprehensive exam rather than a project.
Program: Clemson Online Masters in Teaching and Learning
Format: Online
Length: 18 Months
Deadline to Apply: unclear, likely rolling for different entry points throughout the year
Description: Ranked among the nation’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs by U.S. News and World Report for six consecutive years, the M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning program provides superb quality at an economical price. The Clemson Master of Education in Teaching and Learning is a 100% online graduate program for current PK-12 educators. The rich, engaging curriculum will prepare you to advance your professional standing in just 18 months. Students have the option of personalizing their experience by selecting from one of four specialization areas: Effective and Reflective Teaching, Experiential Learning for Early Childhood, Instructional Coaching, or STEAM. Note: This program does not lead to initial teacher certification.
Link: https://www.clemson.edu/education/academics/masters/teaching-and-learning.html
Program: Michigan State Masters in Teaching and Curriculum
Format: Online
Length: 2 years
Deadline to Apply: Nov. 1, April 1, July 15
Description: The Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum (MATC) program is a fully online graduate program for both beginning and experienced teachers in schools across the United States and around the world. You can design a unique program of study aligned with your interests and goals. If you are a full-time practicing teacher, you will enjoy the opportunity to complete course assignments with the flexibility that comes with enrollment in a fully online asynchronous program. MATC courses are taught by instructors, including award-winning faculty in the Department of Teacher Education, who provide innovative learning experiences for students that embrace the possibilities of online learning. If you completed the College of Education’s teaching internship, you may utilize 9 of the credits earned through the internship to complete the MATC degree.
Link: https://online.msu.edu/programs/teaching-curriculum
Go Further:
Looking for more information? Masters programs have been MUCH DISCUSSED in our Facebook community, Creative High School English. You can peruse past posts here.
U.S. News and World Report publishes a myriad of rankings. Here is the current Best Curriculum and Instruction list and Best Secondary Education list.
