Today’s employers demand knowledge and experience, and expect new hires to be able to hit the ground running with the right skills for the job. As a vocational and technical education teacher, you’ll prepare students for the working world with the academic and hands on instruction they need to be ready for their careers.
The Benefits of Earning a Master’s Degree in Vocational and Technical Education
With a master’s in vocational and technical education, you will be qualified to teach and lead students and they learn necessary skills for their chosen careers. A master’s degree is considered above average for this teaching position, so with an advanced degree in vocational and technical education, you’ll be able to take on leadership roles and often, earn higher pay as well.
Curriculum Offered in a Master’s in Vocational and Technical Education Program
Most programs in vocational and technical education focus on instructional planning and evaluation, curriculum development, and organizational management. You’ll also typically find a mandatory classroom internship, as well as specialized courses in classroom safety and laboratory management. Common course titles may include:
- Curriculum Development for Career and Technical Education
- Human Learning
- Occupational Safety and Health
- Organizing and Coordination of Career and Technical Education
- Conducting Cooperative Education Programs
Schools That Offer an Online Master’s in Vocational and Technical Education
Online master’s degree programs in vocational/technical education are as varied as the profession. Some focus heavily on business and industry; some are geared toward technology integration. For example, these two degrees concentrate on educational leadership:
- The online master of science in career and technical education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout caters to educators interested in career and vocational leadership positions. An internship, workshop, thesis, and field experience complement classes in educational theory.
- In tandem with a capstone project and credit hours in educational leadership, students enrolled in an online master of science in career and technical education leadership from the University of Central Missouri can choose one of three areas of focus: teaching leadership, administration leadership or industry training.
What You Can Do with a Master’s in Vocational and Technical Education
An accredited master’s degree in career and technical education lays the groundwork for a number of leadership roles, most often in teaching. Otherwise known as career and technical educators, vocational educators focus on training students for a chosen career. They teach in high schools and community colleges, private trade and technical schools, corporate settings and adult education programs, and provide students with valuable on-the-job experiences.
Outside of the classroom, successful graduates have gone on to careers such as:
- teacher leaders
- curriculum specialists
- school administrators
- technical trainers
- adult instructors
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects healthy growth in career and technical education employment for high school and middle school teachers from 2012 to 2022. Graduates will find good opportunities in public K-12 settings, but don’t discount the private sector, either: a number of positions are available in fields such as technical training and industry education coordination.
Career and technical education teachers will typically earn an above average salary of $51,910, but your salary may be higher or lower depending on the setting where you work and the demand for available teachers. Of all career and technical educators, high school teachers will earn the most, with an average annual salary of $55,160.
