M.A. in Education vs M.Ed - Check Which is the Better Course

Master of Arts in Education (M.A. in Education) and Master of Education (M.Ed) are two courses that look similar ad can make students confuse time and again. Both of these programmes teach and train candidates in the field of education and teaching but the course curriculum, admission process, and eligibility criteria of both of them are different. Candidates who wish to pursue a career in teaching are usually in two minds regarding which course they should go for.

This article provides all the information about both M.A. in Education and M.Ed courses. The admission process and eligibility criteria for both the programmes are also given in detail. It is important to fully understand what a course entails and its scope before enrolling in it. M.A. in Education vs M.Ed is always a trending debate among candidates who are pursuing their higher education in this field. Students can go through this article to have a better grasp of the courses of M.A. Education and M.Ed so that they are equipped with the correct knowledge for making decisions about their careers.

Master of Arts in Education (M.A. in Education) - An Overview

The MA Education program is a postgraduate programme that comes under the stream of arts and humanities. MA Education courses can be studied in both regular and correspondence modes of education. It is a pedagogical course which is created to impart advanced lessons to eligible candidates in theoretical as well as practical educational thought processes. Students who are studying MA Education can only get a degree after the submission of a research dissertation.

MA Education basically deals with the fundamental aspects of Education and the factors that are related to it. Candidates who study this course get to learn about human rights, education psychology, environmental education, value education, life sciences and much more. The primary aim of the course of M.A. in Education is to build proficiency in pedagogy and leadership in the enrolled students. It has the objective of improving the understanding of schooling and also the appreciation of the economic, political, and social forces that are majorly responsible for influencing the decisions of educational leaders. M.A. in Education hones the skills in students that are needed in discussions and analyses of theories related to education for their application to real-world experiences while also providing competency in educational leadership.

Master in Education (M.Ed) - An Overview

M.Ed or Master of Education is a degree course of the masters level that deals with the study of innovative and new methods of teaching and educational research. It caters to the experimentation of new techniques in teaching and revised methodology of educational research. The programme of M.Ed focuses on different aspects of education which include instruction, counselling, curriculum, leadership, and educational technology and it also introduces students to new levels of teaching processes in particular. M.Ed course offers various specialisations and subjects.

The programme of M.Ed. is designed for potential educators or for those candidates who have a bachelor's degree in education and are seeking further in-depth knowledge of the field. M.Ed course focuses on many aspects of education as a stream and as an area of research. Therefore, it also covers certain sub-fields like administration, etc. This course of M.Ed trains the enrolled students and brings them out as leaders in the field of education due to its diverse focus on multiple aspects of education and its training. The programme is far ahead of what comprises the curriculum at the undergraduate level and encompasses the cultural, sociological and political aspects of education. Candidates who wish to pursue M.Ed can do so through the mode of distance education or regular mode. After completing the M.Ed course, candidates can opt to work not only as teachers but also as counsellors, headmasters/ headmistresses, administrators, etc.

Also Read: M.Ed Admissions in India - Eligibility, Top Colleges, Fees, Admission Process

M.A. in Education vs M.Ed

A detailed comparison of M.A. in Education and M.Ed is provided in the table below. Students interested in the courses can check the nitty-gritty of both the programmes and make a wise decision following that.

M.A. in Education: Eligibility Criteria

It is very important for the candidates to look for the criteria and understand if they are eligible for a particular course before joining it. Take a look at the eligibility criteria for M.A. Education below:

• To fill up the application form for M.A. in Education, candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject. Candidates holding a Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A. in Education) degree are only considered for admission into the M.A. in Education course.
• To apply for the course, students must complete their graduation from a recognized college or university that got approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) .
• To become eligible for the course, candidates need to secure a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in graduation.
• Before taking admission into the M.A. in Education course, candidates need to pass all exams of all the subjects taken at the undergraduate level.

M.Ed: Eligibility Criteria

Before candidates apply for the M.Ed program, take a look at the M.Ed eligibility criteria and see if they are eligible for the program.

• Only those candidates who have completed their Bachelor in Education (B.Ed) degree can only take admission to the M.Ed program.
• One of the main requirements for the M.Ed course is that candidates need to complete their undergraduate degree.
• The college or university from where candidates have completed their education must be recognised by the UGC.
• Candidates need to have passed the exams of all the subjects during their academia and 45% aggregate marks in their B.Ed is a must.

M.A. in Education: Entrance Exams

Admission to the M.A. Education course is done on the basis of the candidate’s performance in their graduation level or entrance examinations. Some of the popular entrance exams for M.A. Education are:

M.Ed: Entrance Exams

Some institutes offer admission to the M.Ed program on the basis of the marks secured in the qualifying examination (BEd/BElEd/BAEd/BScEd/MScEd) while some institutes take entrance tests. Some of the popular M.Ed entrance exams are:

M.A. in Education vs M.Ed: Syllabus

The M.Ed program involves quite a lot of practical work such as dissertations, participate in internships, pursue academic writing, attend workshops and seminars along with completing the theory portion. Take a look at the M.A. Education and M.Ed syllabus below:

M.A. in Education vs M.Ed: Top Colleges

In India, there quite a few colleges that offer M.A. Education course while M.Ed is offered in around 670 colleges in India. Given below is the list of top colleges that offer M.A. Education and M.Ed courses.

M.A. in Education: Career Prospects

The course of M.A. Education has been designed for addressing the emerging demand for experts in the field of teaching and training at various levels of education. This also includes the levels of administration and management of education. Students can also pursue courses like Master in Philosophy (M.Phil) or Ph.D (doctorate) if they wish to go for higher studies. The job prospects for students after completing the course of MA Education are listed below.

• Counsellor
• Educational Administrator
• Researcher
• Lecturer
• School Teacher
• Professor
• Private Tutor
• Principal
• Education Consultant

They can also work in coaching centers, home tuitions, education consultancies, publishing houses, education departments, research and development agencies, schools, etc.

Master of Education: Career Prospects

The job roles of a candidate who has completed M.Ed is not just limited to that of a teacher. Students can venture in various fields and career prospects after completing the course of M.Ed. The most common job roles chosen by candidates after completing M.Ed are given below.

• Soft Skill Trainer
• Teacher
• Professor
• Lecturer
• Counsellor
• Principal
• Home Tutor
• Online Tutor
• Instructional Technologist
• Curriculum Developer
• Junior Assistant

Also Read: UGC NET December 2019 Application Form Correction - Dates, Procedure, Guidelines

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