Education Specialist Degrees in Maryland
Education in Maryland is known for being comprehensive and flexible for all students. While the field does have its challenges, education professionals tend to respond promptly to changes in research, standards, and policies. If you’re a Maryland teacher, you could be ready for the next step in your career. If you have a Master’s degree in education, you may further specialize your knowledge of teaching with an education specialist degree in Maryland. This is also an option to consider if you would like to move into administration or counseling from teaching.
Role of Educators With an Ed.S Degree in Maryland
Do you have the experience and passion needed to take your education career to the next level? Learn more about this opportunity by contacting education specialist programs in Maryland.
Making education more equally accessible for all students is a major focus in Maryland. The state recently devoted $5 million to a scholarship fund that is to be used to take poor students out of failing schools and put them into private schools (Washington Post, 2016). This means that the pressure is on teachers in failing schools to improve student performance and outcomes.
Standardized testing has been in the spotlight all over the country, and Maryland is one of the first states to take a step in the right direction. Maryland legislators recently passed a bill that limits the amount of time schools can spend on standardized testing (Delmarva Now, 2016). Schools can now spend no more than 2% of their minimum required teaching hours on standardized testing, a move that should give teachers more freedom to teach what students need instead of teaching to the test.
This is a great time to explore your teaching potential. Learn more about some of your Ed.S options by contacting Maryland schools below.
Getting Your Educational Specialist in Maryland
Your career could reach new heights with an Ed.S degree in Maryland. This post-Master’s certificate includes between 30 and 40 credits, with some demanding specialties requiring a bit more. Subject area specialties, such as mathematics and language arts, tend to be on the lower end of the scale, while specialties like school counseling and school administration tend to require more credits.
You may have the most options available to you if you begin this degree after earning a Master’s degree in education. EdS programs assume a certain level of competence and familiarity with advanced teaching concepts. Having said that, there are some online and in-person programs that allow you to combine a Master’s degree and EdS degree.
To take the first step in earning a new degree, you need to give serious thought to the specialty that you want to pursue. If you’ve worked as a teacher for several years, you may choose to specialize in the subject area you already teach. If you would rather use this degree to change your career path, you can look into different teaching certifications, curriculum development paths, and administrative careers.
Some of the Ed.S program options available in Maryland include:
- Administration and Supervision
- Library Media Specialist
- Gifted and Talented
- Mathematics
- STEM
- TESOL
Before selecting a program, you should be well-versed in the school’s learning goals and program outcomes. A good way to get a feel for a specific program is reading its curriculum. The courses you take determine what you learn and how you grow as an education professional.
As a gifted and talented EdS student, you may take courses like:
- Foundations of Gifted and Talented Education
- Characteristics of the Gifted and Talented
- Curriculum for the Gifted and Talented
- Strategies for Gifted and Talented
You may find that each program’s curriculum is highly specialized. For example, if you
go into a specialty like administration and supervision, your curriculum may include:
- Empowering Teachers
- Curriculum Development
- Legal Issues for Teachers and Administrators
- Learning Theory and Practice
- Perspectives in Education
Just as important as your coursework hours are the hours you spend in the classroom, in an internship, or in a practicum. Each institution sets its own practical experience requirements, so you may wish to select a school that aligns with your professional goals.
An education specialist degree may take well over two years, especially if you attend courses part-time while teaching full-time. However, the benefits of this degree far outweigh the sacrifice. You may currently be frustrated by how much you have to get done in just seven hours per weekday; with an Ed.S degree, you may be able to use your time more efficiently with evidence-based teaching techniques. In addition, you can learn from the experienced teaching professionals in your program. You may build your confidence as a teacher, helping you communicate better with peers, students, and parents.
Working With an Education Specialist Degree in Maryland
Once you’ve finished your education specialist degree and you’re ready to use it in your career, you have to find out whether or not you need to change your teaching license. This process goes through the Maryland State Department of Education. Specialties like school administration, special education, and school counseling generally require an additional or different license.
The career path you choose may determine your salary potential and your job outlook. Some of the paths you may pursue are listed below with average salary data and expected job growth through 2022:
- School administrator: 7% expected growth; $103,100 average salary (O*Net, 2016)
- Instructional coordinator: 6% expected growth; $65,200 average salary (O*Net, 2016)
- Secondary school teacher: 7% expected growth; $
66,230 average salary (BLS,2016 )
Achieving this level of education also puts you in a position to be a leader to your fellow teachers. Make your presence known in groups like the Maryland State Education Association and the Maryland Association of Science Teachers.
The future of education is dependent on teachers like you. Make the most of your teaching career and explore your EdS options. Check out the list of advanced teacher degrees in Maryland below and contact them to learn more about how you can get started.
