Move your career forward while enriching others' lives – and your own.

You’ve made the decision to teach, thereby improving our schools and communities – not to mention the individual lives of your students. Earning a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) degree could be the next step that launches you into new possibilities in education. University of the Cumberlands’ master's in education online program offers several study options for you to emphasize a specific passion of yours, all with the convenience and flexibility of online courses. 

Anchor: Stats
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

Master of Arts in Education

An online Master’s of Arts in Education is designed to help educators and teaching professionals like you take the next step on their career paths—traditionally toward a job in administration or for educator roles outside of their current area of teaching expertise. Our online degree program offers concentrations that touch on literacy, counseling, and leadership, helping teachers qualify for specialized positions in and around the classroom.

Course Requirements

Teacher Leader

An online Master of Arts in Education is designed to help educators and teaching professionals like you take the next step on their career paths—traditionally toward a job in administration or for educator roles outside of their current area of teaching expertise. Our online degree program offers concentrations touching on literacy, counseling, and leadership, helping teachers qualify for specialized positions in and around the classroom.

Course Requirements

Option 6 is Kentucky's university-based alternative certification route.  Teacher or administrative candidates who are fully admitted into one of the programs below are eligible for hire via Option 6.  Upon receiving an offer for hire in a qualifying position, Option 6 candidates may earn a temporary/provisional license for employment as a teacher while concurrently completing coursework in one of the programs below.

The Option 6 program is for individuals enrolled concurrently with employment as a teacher (in the MAT program) or as an administrator (in the MAED or Ed.S. programs).  Candidates in the Option 6 programs follow Track B for Continuous Assessment, while candidates in the Traditional programs follow Track A for Continuous Assessment.  Students must have passing scores on all state-required exams before a recommendation can be made for professional licensure.

The following programs provide eligibility for Option 6 upon full admission:

  • School Principal, MAED
  • School Counselor, MAED
Anchor: Mission & Goals

Mission and Goals

UC's Master of Arts in Education online, you'll gain an understanding of critical concepts and master crucial higher education skills. This program is designed to support a lifelong pursuit of professional achievement, responsible service, and leadership.

Strengthen your research, communication, and critical-thinking skills.
Master a chosen content area, such as math, English, history, etc.
Learn best practices for coaching and mentoring teachers.
Understand how to teach reading in your content area.
Complete a degree that increases your effectiveness and boosts your credibility.
Anchor: Career Outcomes

Education Careers & Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Curriculum and Assessment Director: $120,130

Curriculum and Assessment Director: $120,130

Plan coordinate, and direct skills- and knowledge-enhancement programs for an organization’s staff. 

Instructional Coordinator: $63,740

Instructional Coordinator: $63,740

Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, implement it, and assess its effectiveness. 

Principal: $98,420

Principal: $98,420

Elementary, middle, and high school principals oversee all school operations, including daily school activities. 

School Counselor: $60,510

School Counselor: $60,510

School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment. 

Educational Development Specialist: $61,570

Educational Development Specialist: $61,570

Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that improve the skills and knowledge of their employees. 

Postsecondary Teacher: $79,640

Postsecondary Teacher: $79,640

Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. 

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

A Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) is a graduate degree designed for licensed educators who wish to further develop their knowledge, skills, and dispositions to enhance teaching outcomes. This program focuses on advanced educational theories, research, and practices to improve teaching effectiveness and prepare educators for leadership roles.

The MAEd program at the University of the Cumberlands can be completed in as little as 30 credit hours, which typically takes about two years of full-time study. The duration may vary depending on the student’s pace and specific program requirements.

Yes, the University of the Cumberlands offers the MAEd program online, providing flexibility for working professionals. The online format allows educators to balance their studies with personal and professional responsibilities.

Yes, earning an MAEd is worth it for educators seeking to advance their careers, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their earning potential. The program opens doors to various educational leadership roles and specialized teaching positions.

With an MAEd, you can pursue various roles such as curriculum and assessment director, instructional coordinator, principal, school counselor, educational development specialist, and postsecondary teacher. These positions involve overseeing school curriculums, developing instructional materials, and providing educational guidance and leadership.

To get an MAEd, you need to have a bachelor’s degree and meet the prerequisite requirements for the program. After being accepted into an accredited MAEd program, you will complete the required coursework and any necessary practicums or internships. The University of the Cumberlands offers an online MAEd program that includes 30 credit hours of coursework.

A Master of Education can be either an MA (Master of Arts) or an MS (Master of Science), depending on the institution and the program's focus. An MA typically emphasizes the theoretical aspects of education, while an MS may focus more on the scientific and research components.

The choice between a Master of Arts (MA) and a Master of Education (MEd) depends on your career goals and interests. An MAEd often focuses on advanced teaching methods and educational theories, making it suitable for those interested in becoming educational leaders or specialists. An MEd might be more appropriate for those interested in the administrative and policy aspects of education.

A master’s degree in education typically requires around 30 to 45 credit hours, depending on the specific program and concentration. The MAEd program at the University of the Cumberlands requires 30 credit hours.

Yes, you can teach with a master’s in education. An MAEd can qualify you for advanced teaching positions, specialized roles, and educational leadership positions. It can also enhance your teaching credentials and increase your eligibility for higher-paying jobs.

A master’s in education generally takes about two years of full-time study to complete. The exact duration may vary depending on the program's structure, the student’s pace, and whether the student is studying full-time or part-time. 

Yes! University of the Cumberlands' School of Education is accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB) and has national accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level. UC’s School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.

For more information:

KDE/EPSB – State Accreditation
University of the Cumberlands' School of Education is further accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB), 100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601. (502) 564-4606. Fax: (502) 564-7080.

CAEP – National Accreditation
The School of Education at University of the Cumberlands (UC) is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level.  CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement.  UC’s School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.
 
CAEP Address: 1140 19th St NW #400, Washington, DC 20036
CAEP Phone Number: (202) 223-0077

You will be working with staff in the School of Education to make sure you are on track. UC offers a variety of programs in education so certain requirements do not apply to everyone. It is important to review your specific Plan Program/Curriculum Contract to know what is required of you.

The School of Education has provided a list of items you are required to have turned in by the time you complete your program. The list can be seen on your MyUC account located under the “Student Tab”. The list appears in red and will show the item(s) that are past due. Please do not be alarmed when you see this, it is a computer glitch and you need not worry. We are simply letting you know what is still needed from you at this point, as well as, what will be required of you to complete the program. It is our hope that you will have a smooth transition when you exit your program.

Certification & Reciprocity for Education Programs

Learn more about the certification process for Cumberlands education programs.

Students walk to class near the Grace Crum Rollins Center
Anchor: Faculty

Faculty Experts

Learn more about the professors you will interact with during your studies.

Dr. Debbie Richard

Dr. Debbie Richard

Professor
EdS - Educational Specialist
Education
Master in Education

Dr. Debbie Richard

Contact Information

deb.richard [at] ucumberlands.edu
Dr. Eric Jay Rosser

Dr. Eric Jay Rosser

Associate Professor
Education
Master in Education
Master in Teaching

Dr. Eric Jay Rosser

Contact Information

eric.rosser [at] ucumberlands.edu
Jennifer Chambers

Dr. Jennifer Chambers

Associate Professor
Education
Master in Education

Dr. Jennifer Chambers

Contact Information

jennifer.chambers [at] ucumberlands.edu
Luecker Building, RM 120
Bronze statue in front of a campus building

Graduation Education Handbooks & Resources

Education students in our graduate programs will need to access program handbooks, forms and other resources throughout their academic career.

Request Information

Ask us your questions and find out if the Master of Arts in Education program is right for you.

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