Best Online Master’s in K-12 Education Programs

Open to students based anywhere in the world, Clemson University's entirely online master's in teaching and learning can be completed in 18 months. This program offers four specialization options: instructional coaching, effective and reflective teaching, STEAM learning, and early childhood experiential learning.

The curriculum splits its 30 required credits into an 18-credit standardized core and a 12-credit specialization path. Career-boosting benefits of this program include a wider set of professional options and certifications that qualify most graduates for increased wages.

Students do not require formal licensure to be admitted into this program, although degree-seekers should have firsthand teaching experience in a formal or informal educational setting.

Philadelphia's Holy Family University provides an online master of education program designed for teachers with Level I Pennsylvania certification (or the equivalent). It delivers the academic requirements needed for Level II licensure, and graduates can also qualify for a formal endorsement in special education, reading, educational administration, English as a second language, or autism education.

Candidates interested in a generalist focus can configure the program to include classes from multiple specializations. Students can derive further value from HFU's relationships with Philadelphia-area school boards, which go on to hire many graduates.

All specialization options support online delivery format, although learners local to the university's campus may also opt for a blended model that combines distance and classroom learning. Admission requirements include two letters of recommendation, a personal statement of 250-500 words, and evidence of strong academic achievement.

Missouri State University's online master's in education literacy emphasizes the importance of reading, making it a good option for aspiring English and ESL teachers. Cousework can be completed entirely online and the school offers competitive tuition rates.

The curriculum of this program emphasizes one-on-one teaching techniques that boost literacy and accelerate student reading comprehension. Participants also complete a six-credit graduate clinical.

Learners emerge ready for careers as specialized educators in roles like reading program supervisors, literacy coaches, Title I teachers, and reading interventionists. In addition to a master's degree, graduates also receive special reading teacher certification. Students should already have a teaching license before applying.

Texas A&M International University offers an online master's in educational administration and leads to a master of science designation. The 30-credit program enables motivated learners to meet graduation requirements in 10 months.

The program develops professional educators for leadership roles in schools and administrative bodies, and it is endorsed by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification. The program's practicum requirements offer candidates the opportunity to apply their skills under the tutelage of a field-based mentor.

Applicants must hold a current Texas teaching certification (or the equivalent) and have at least two years of classroom-based teaching experience. Learners proceed through coursework at an accelerated pace by taking classes during seven-week terms. Students pay by the course and in-state students save on tuition.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville's online master of education program follows a cohort structure and offers start dates in the summer and fall. Students who earn this 33-credit degree learn about applied research and innovative approaches to classroom management.

Delivered mostly online with brief campus residencies, the program combines universally applicable strategies with specialization options. After completing a generalist set of core courses, learners can choose one of six concentration study paths.

Concentration options include differentiated elementary instruction, reading education, English as a second language education, and education for students with visual impairments. Secondary teachers can also specialize in specific subject areas, including English, history, math, biology, chemistry, and physics. The final specialist option covers collaborative education for students on the autism spectrum.