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MS in Education Online

Choose a Career-Focused Master’s in Education

Online

2 Years

35–40 Credit Hours

$503 per Credit

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Unlock Your Full Potential with an Education Master’s Degree Online

Imagine how expanding your teaching expertise could transform your career. With the online MS in Education degree from Southwest Minnesota State University, you’ll engage in enriching courses to gain credentials for advanced education roles.

This online MS in Education program offers seven emphasis areas, delivering skills you can immediately apply in classrooms. Additionally, the Reading K-12 and Teaching English as a Second Language emphasis areas provide the qualifications for licensure.

Program Details

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Tailor Your Master’s in Education with an Area of Emphasis

The MS in Education online includes emphasis areas for tailoring your degree to gain expert skills for the career you want. Choose the option that aligns with your professional goals and take the next step toward advancing your education career.

Teaching, Learning, and Leadership

Technology for Training and Learning

K–12 Reading

Teaching English as a Second Language

Sports Leadership

English

Mathematics

Master’s in Education Online Courses: A Curriculum for Future Education Leaders

35–40 Credit Hours

19 Courses

SMSU’s master’s in education online degree program includes 19 online courses for a total of 35–40 credit hours. Tailor your master’s degree by choosing from seven emphasis areas, acquiring the expertise to stand out in the field. By graduation, you’ll be prepared for the education career opportunities you want.

Course Highlights

  • ED 622: Research in Education
  • ED 625: 21st Century Based Teaching and Learning
  • ED 632: Linking Teaching, Content, and Learning
  • ED 635: Content and Curriculum Development
Curriculum Details

SMSU Admission Requirements

Start Date May 21, 2024 Summer Term 2024

Take the next step toward maximizing your professional potential by completing your application for the online MS in Education degree today. Support is available from the SMSU enrollment team.

Online Application FormApply Now
Application Fee$30 waivable fee*
Official TranscriptsSend official undergraduate transcripts
Minimum GPA3.0
Additional Admission ItemsProvide two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and your résumé if your GPA is under 3.0.

International Students

Additional information and requirements may be necessary for international students. Please contact our enrollment team to learn more.

It’s always the right time to invest in your education with SMSU. Contact an enrollment counselor by calling 1-800-201-2944 to get started today.

Admissions Details

Tuition and Aid: Invest in a Custom Master’s Degree

Calculate your cost for attending SMSU Use our tuition calculator to help you estimate your total tuition costs.  

Are you ready to invest in your future in an online master’s degree program? SMSU’s tuition and aid packages can assist you. With scholarships available and competitive tuition, we offer an affordable option for earning your MS in Education degree online.

Cost per Credit Hour$503
Total Credit Hours35–40
Total Estimated Cost**$17,605 – $20,120
Other CostsThe estimated tuition cost does not include factors such as textbooks, supplies, or additional fees and expenses.

Military Benefits

SMSU proudly welcomes active military and veteran students. We accept the GI Bill™ and VA education benefits. Learn more by contacting an enrollment counselor or by visiting our military benefits page.

Financial Aid Options & Support

Southwest Minnesota State University offers a variety of solutions to help you invest in your education. SMSU offers in-state tuition rates to all students, along with a variety of financial services, including military benefits, financial aid opportunities, and scholarships for qualifying applicants.

Take your next step in financing your education by completing your FAFSA today. Use SMSU’s school code: 002375

Tuition Details

What Can You Achieve by Earning Your MS in Education Online?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals who completed a master’s degree program earned an average of $11,908 more per year than their peers with only a bachelor’s degree in 2022.1 With SMSU’s online master’s in education program, you’ll open the door to advanced career opportunities with K–12 schools, higher education institutions, and other employers throughout the industry.

Jobs for Master’s in Education Graduates

ESL Teacher $58,590 per year2

High School Teacher $62,360 per year2

Program Outcomes

While earning your master’s in education online with SMSU, you’ll join a supportive community of diverse students and expert industry leaders. Pursue your goals of advanced teaching opportunities or obtaining licensure, and make an impact in your career as an SMSU grad.

What You’ll Learn

Meet Our Faculty

SMSU employs a faculty of experts who are top-skilled in their fields. Our educators are fully committed to providing each student with personalized and thoughtful instruction to help you succeed academically and professionally.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Debbie VanOverbeke

Dr. Debbie VanOverbeke coordinates the online master’s in education program, including all seven of the degree’s emphasis areas. VanOverbeke has been a professor of education at SMSU since 2003. She worked as Education Graduate Director from 2004–2013 and 2016–2020.

VanOverbeke earned her BS in Elementary Education with a concentration in mathematics from Southwest Minnesota State University in 1989 before earning her MS in Education with an educational leadership specialization from SMSU in 2000. She started her career as a teacher at the middle school and high school level in Minnesota. In 2003, VanOverbeke earned her EdD in Adult and Higher Education from the University of South Dakota. She has completed certificates and fellowships focused on math, science, and reading since graduating.

VanOverbeke boasts many committee memberships, including positions on the Faculty Executive Committee, SMSU Long Range Planning, SMSU Institutional Review Board, SMSU Graduate Curriculum and Graduate Council, MnSCU Salary Equity Committee, and the Minnesota Academy of Reading.

Her extensive publications include “Implementing Equitable Practice-Based Teacher Education to Advance Rural STEM Teacher Candidates’ Pedagogical and Content Knowledge,” “Pinterest + Research = Preservice Teachers’ Strategic Use of Instructional Strategies,” “Preservice Teachers + Pinterest = Engaging Content Development,” and more. She has also given many insightful presentations, including talks at the Far West Association for Science Teacher Education, the International Literacy Association 2017 conference, and many more.

Learn Online with Southwest Minnesota State University

Whether you’re enrolling in a degree program for the first time or completing a degree you previously started, learning online with SMSU provides the flexibility you need to be successful. Our online programs offer the same rigorous curriculum delivered on campus, plus the convenience of studying on your schedule from the location of your choice.

Discover SMSU Online

Sources and Disclaimers

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Career Outlook: Education Pays, at https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2023/data-on-display/education-pays.htm (visited October 3, 2023).
  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Educational Instruction and Library Occupations, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/home.htm (visited October 13, 2023).

*Contact our enrollment team for more details!

**Tuition costs and fees will vary based on semesters of enrollment and number of transfer credits accepted. Contact our enrollment team to learn more.