Candidates who aspire to be in positions of educational leadership often wonder how long it takes to get a Master’s in Education Administration. The length of time it takes to complete this degree program depends on where the student is in his or her education. It can take anywhere from two to six years or more. Upon earning the education administration master’s degree, the candidate is qualified for various administrative positions at colleges or universities.
What is a Master’s in Education Administration?
The master’s degree in education administration is a graduate degree program that prepares students for a leadership position in education. It’s typically a two-year program that can be taken on campus or online. Applicants are usually required to already have a bachelor’s degree and a current teaching license. Students complete courses in higher education administration, educational and curriculum supervision, adult education administration, special education administration, educational leadership, and K through 8 administration and principalship. Teachers and principals are required to be licensed in most of the states. In order to be licensed, the candidate must pass a state licensing exam.
How Long Does a Master’s in Education Administration Take?
The length of time it takes to earn a Master’s in Education Administration depends on where the student is academically at that point in his or her career. A student must have a bachelor’s degree in education and a teaching license. The bachelor’s degree takes full-time students four years to complete. While earning a bachelor’s degree, the student generally specializes in certain subjects the student already knows that he or she wants to be an education administrator and not a teacher. The student will also complete an internship working in a classroom or under the supervision of a principal or school superintendent.
Once the student has a bachelor’s degree, he or she can enroll in a master’s degree program. This program adds another two years of education. Many colleges offer education administration graduate programs through distance learning. This is often the ideal solution for those already working in the education field who wish to advance their education. Online students can earn a degree at their own pace. Students can take from two to four years to complete online programs. Considering the four years it took for the bachelor’s degree program and the two to four years for the master’s indicates that it can take up to eight years to earn the master’s degree in education administration.
Related Resource: 50 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Education Administration
Career Outlook
More students today are choosing postsecondary education to fulfill their career goals, and schools are focusing more on improving the education provided to students. Both of these factors keep education administrators in demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that postsecondary education administrators would see job growth of 10 percent between 2016 and 2026 while school principals would see a growth of 8 percent. A median wage of $92,360 was earned by education administrators, postsecondary education administrators earned a median wage of $92,360 while school principals earned $94,390 as of May 2017.
As the need to provide our children with the best possible education continues, more individuals are choosing careers as education administrators. Earning a Master’s in Education Administration can put an individual in a position where they can play a role in providing the best possible education to students.