Teaching & Education Resources for Future Teachers

Your teaching credential, induction experience, or authorization may help you complete fewer requirements in select UMass Global education programs. Choose the option that matches your experience and career goal.

• If you have completed a UMass Global’s CTEL Authorization or any Bilingual Authorization program, you may have 6 credits satisfied in the MA in Bilingual Education.
• Eligible students with a valid U.S. state-issued teaching credential or license may receive 12 credits toward the Master of Arts in Education. California teachers who completed a CTC-approved Teacher Induction or PASC Program may also qualify.
• A valid California Preliminary or Clear teaching credential may fulfill 30 credits in the matching Master of Arts in Teaching program. Select the program that matches your credential area.
  • Multiple Subject Credential: Complete your remaining 12 credits in the MAT in Elementary Education
  • Single Subject Credential: Complete your remaining 12 credits in the MAT in Secondary Education
  • Mild to Moderate Support Needs Credential: Continue into the MAT with MMSN Ed Specialist Credential

A Master of Arts in Education (MAE) degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree are both graduate-level educational programs but have different focuses and goals.

A Master of Arts in Education degree typically focuses on advancing a teacher's knowledge of educational theory, research, and policy. The program is designed to give teachers a deeper understanding of the broader context of education, including topics such as educational psychology, curriculum development, assessment, and educational leadership. Graduates of MAE programs may go on to pursue careers in education administration, curriculum development, policymaking, or research, as well as teaching positions.

A Master of Arts in Teaching degree is designed to provide students with advanced teaching skills and strategies. The program is often geared toward individuals with bachelor's degrees in a field other than education who want to become licensed teachers. MAT programs typically focus on practical teaching skills and may cover classroom management, instructional design, assessment, and differentiated instruction.

Earning a master’s degree can help educators build new skills, increase their earning potential and pursue opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. Programs in teaching, education, bilingual education, and educational leadership and administration offer different paths based on your career goals.

Depending on your school district’s salary schedule, a master’s degree may qualify you for higher pay. Beyond teaching, graduate study can help you prepare for roles in instructional coaching, curriculum development, educational leadership or administration. Career options depend on your program, experience and any required credentials.

To decide whether a master’s degree is worth it, weigh program costs against potential salary gains and the opportunities you want to pursue.

A master’s in Bilingual Education opens doors to roles where you support multilingual learners, influence language policy, and lead programs in schools and communities. You’ll develop expertise in language acquisition, culturally responsive teaching, sociolinguistics, assessment, and program design, preparing you for positions such as: 

• Bilingual/Multilingual Classroom Teacher or Specialist: Teach and support bilingual and multilingual learners in K–12 or higher education settings (in alignment with your local licensure requirements), designing instruction that honors students’ languages and cultures. 
• Instructional Coach or Professional Development Leader: Mentor teachers and facilitate training focused on bilingual/multilingual pedagogy, equitable assessment, and culturally responsive practice. 
• Program or Curriculum Coordinator: Design, implement, and evaluate bilingual, dual‑language, or multilingual programs, including curriculum development and needs‑based program improvement. 
• Policy Analyst, Advocate, or Educational Consultant: Analyze language policies, advise schools or agencies on equity for multilingual learners, and support organizations in aligning practice with research‑based, asset‑based approaches to language and culture. 
• Community or Nonprofit Education Leader: Lead initiatives in community organizations, NGOs, or international programs serving linguistically and culturally diverse populations. 

These pathways allow you to leverage your bilingual/multilingual education expertise to advance equity, expand access, and shape educational systems at multiple levels. 

Absolutely. The Master of Arts in Bilingual Education meets a clear workforce need: schools across the country are struggling to hire enough qualified bilingual teachers. In fact, more than half of U.S. states report shortages of bilingual and ESL educators, and several list bilingual education among their hardest-to-fill subject areas. Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Texas, and Wisconsin are among the states struggling the most. The root of the issue in the U.S. lies in a lack of role models and in inaccessible or unaffordable higher education programs that leave many would-be educators without the academic language skills to support their own students. 

A master’s in bilingual education also qualifies you for leadership, teaching, and instructional design roles in international schools, foreign universities, and multinational corporate training programs. Additionally, it opens pathways to work globally as an educational consultant, curriculum developer, or policy advisor for international nonprofit organizations and government language initiatives.

Yes. University of Massachusetts Global is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), and its School of Education is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). UMass Global offers CTC-approved California teaching credential programs.

UMass Global is also California’s second-largest provider of teaching credentials, based on new credentials issued during the 2020–2025 reporting period. See our Claims and Sources page for supporting information.

Teaching requirements vary by state, but most don't require a master's degree — you can begin a classroom career with an initial certification. However, earning a master’s in education can position you for career advancement, leadership roles, and increased earning potential. 

Many states offer salary increases for teachers with advanced degrees, and some require a master's degree for professional or continuing licensure. If you're already a credentialed educator, UMass Global's MA in Education accepts up to 15 total transfer credits, helping you finish faster while building the specialized skills that set master teachers apart.

A master's degree in education opens doors to diverse career paths beyond the classroom. UMass Global's MA in Education is designed for professionals who want to expand, advance, or redirect their careers in education, training, learner support, and related fields. 

Graduates advance into master teacher positions, curriculum specialist roles, instructional coaching, educational leadership, and training and development careers in corporate or nonprofit settings. 

Both provide classroom experience, but they differ in responsibility, pay, and how you secure your placement.

• Student teaching: Learn alongside a mentor teacher and gradually take on classroom responsibilities in an unpaid placement coordinated by UMass Global. You are not the teacher of record.
• Internship: Earn a salary as the teacher of record, with full responsibility for your classroom and support from the university and district. You must secure an eligible teaching position and complete university approval and the Verification of Employment process.