2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Education

University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Arts in Education - Curriculum and Instruction. The degree is designed for application in various educational systems and environments. UMass Global uses a "scaffolded iterative approach" to instruction so students can gain refined problem-solving skills applicable to real-life teaching scenarios instructing learners of various backgrounds and learning levels. Graduating requires 30 credit hours, which generally takes full-time students at least two years.

UMass Global provides Blackboard to its online learners to access coursework and instruction. Those enrolled in the online master's degree with a concentration in curriculum and instruction may choose from courses like Collaboration for Inclusive Schooling, The Art and Craft of Teaching, Teaching Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities, and Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders: Etiologies and Characteristics.

Auburn University (AU) is a public institution in Alabama offering an online Master of Education in Adult Education that can help students who are interested in employee training and development in the workplace. This online degree program requires completing 30 credit hours, which generally takes two years of full-time enrollment to finish. Similarly, AU offers over a dozen other graduate degrees in education that students can complete remotely in majors such as agriscience education, collaborative teacher special education, business/marketing education, and English for speakers of other languages.

AU uses Canvas in order to deliver its online curriculum to remote learners. Online adult education graduate students take courses that include Nature of Adult Education, Teaching the Disadvantaged Adult, Methods of Teaching in Organizations, and Teaching in the Non-School Setting. Independent study and a practicum are also required to graduate.

The University of San Diego (UCSD) is a public institution in Southern California offering an online Master of Education for practicing K-12 teachers with at least two years of teaching experience in various settings. It’s offered in five specializations: (1) technology and innovation, (2) STEM, (3) inclusive learning: special education and universal design, (3) curriculum and instruction, and (4) school leadership. Graduating with an online master's degree in any of these specialties requires completing 30 credits, which generally takes two years of full-time enrollment.

UCSD’s online curriculum is delivered via Blackboard. Depending on the specialty students choose, they can choose from classes such as Changemaking with Technology, STEAM and Special Student Populations, Social Justice and Educational Equity, Ethical Leadership in an Era of School Reform, and Media Literacy in the Classroom.

The University of Washington - Seattle (UW Seattle) is a public institution in the Pacific Northwest offering an online Master of Education in Special Education - Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a growing discipline utilizing both psychology and education. Graduating requires completing 30 credits, which takes about two years of full-time study. Students interested in becoming Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI)-certified must complete additional coursework to qualify.

UW Seattle distance learners use Canvas to access coursework. Those enrolled in the online ABA program may take the following classes: History and Philosophy of ABA, Ethics and Professionalism in ABA, Supervision in ABA, and Designing Comprehensive Behavioral Interventions. Courses are delivered synchronously, usually late in the afternoon, to accommodate teachers and students who work full time.

California Baptist University (CBU) in Riverside is a private, nonprofit, faith-based institution offering an online Master of Science in Education: Specialization in Early Childhood Studies (MSE/ECS) to provide both broad and specific skills so students can become leaders in early childhood education. Graduating requires completing 33 credits, and this process can take some full-time students as little as a year. Additionally, CBU offers an online Master of Science in Education: Specialization in Educational Leadership and an online Master of Science in Education: Specialization in Curriculum and Instruction.

CBU delivers its online curriculum via Blackboard. Distance learners in the MSE/ECE log in to Blackboard to participate in courses, such as Early Childhood Literacy and Development, Critical Issues in Special Education, Leadership and Supervision in Early Childhood Settings, and Advanced Studies in Early Childhood Development.

As part of the largest public university system in the U.S., California State University - East Bay (CSUEB) offers an online Master of Science in Education - Online Teaching and Learning for those interested in becoming eLearning instructional designers, technologists, administrators, or specialists in this burgeoning field. Due to its self-paced format, full-time students can generally complete this 30-credit program in as little as a year.

CSUEB uses the Canvas learning management system for online program delivery. MSE students in the online teaching and learning program take classes such as Creating Digital Media for Online Instruction, Building the Online Environment, Content Development for Online Learning, and Supervising and Evaluating Online Teaching and Learning. Students must also complete a capstone project to graduate.

St. Paul's Hamline University (HU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) to graduate students who want to help promote equity in schools, build learner communities, and advocate for improvements to the U.S. educational system. Students must complete 34 credits to graduate through independent work and synchronous activities. Program completion generally takes full-time students two years. HU also offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

HU provides access to its distance learners so they can participate in class and complete coursework. Those enrolled in the online MAEd program take courses such as Understanding Learning, Designing Effective Learning Environments, Investigating Contemporary and Critical Issues in Education, and Educating for Equity and Social Justice. They must also complete a capstone project to graduate. Students are allowed to take up to five electives at another accredited institution.

Jacksonville State University (JSU) is a public institution in Alabama offering an online Master of Science in Education - Early Childhood Education (P-3) to help prepare students for career advancement instructing young children beginning the process of formalized learning. Graduating requires completing 33 credit hours, which may take full-time students two years. JSU also offers 11 other concentrations within the College of Education and Professional Studies, such as library media, elementary education, instructional leadership, and reading specialist.

JSU utilizes Canvas so distance learners can participate in online classes and engage with their instructors and peers. Those enrolled in the online master's degree program in early childhood education take courses such as Diversity in Today's Classroom, Multicultural Literature, Advanced Twenty-First Century Teaching and Learning, and Intervention in the Early Childhood Classroom. Mastery of the curriculum prepares students for early childhood education certification.

The University of North Alabama (UNA) is a public institution offering an online Master of Arts in Education - Collaborative Special Education (K-6) in two paths: (1) initial for students holding state teaching certification in any field and (2) advanced for those holding state teaching certification in collaborative special education. Graduating either path requires completing 33-36 credit hours, which generally takes full-time students two years. Other options at UNA include an online Master of Arts in Education - Elementary Education (K-6) and an online Master of Arts in Education - Secondary Education - Curriculum and Instruction.

UNA delivers its virtual curriculum via Canvas. Online collaborative special education students participate in remote learning through courses, such as Special Education Assessment, Instructional Technology, Dyslexia/Related Learning Disabilities, and Autism and Developmental Disabilities. Students in the initial path must also complete a practicum to graduate.

Boston's Northeastern University is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Education in eLearning and Instructional Design through its Global Network with the opportunity for students to work on short-term, real-world projects virtually through its Experiential Network (XN). Graduation requires 30 credits, which may take full-time students as little as 1.5 years. NU also offers an online Master of Education Learning and Instruction.

Northeastern's distance learners access online coursework and instruction via Canvas. Curriculum in the online eLearning and instructional design program includes courses such as Experiential Learning Theory and Practice, Culturally Responsive Experiential Teaching and Learning, Open Learning, and E-Learning Design as a Collaborative Profession.