Master’s in Education – M.Ed. Degree for Career Switchers
Earn Your Master’s in Education, Impact Student Lives and Find Your New Calling
Are you a Career Switcher with a bachelor’s degree seeking to advance in the world of education, build your skills, and transition into a long-term career in teaching?
Once you acquire your initial teaching license, you can deepen your understanding of both the power of knowledge and the importance of a values-based education by furthering your own education and earning your M.Ed. in teaching.
With your M.Ed. in teaching, you can enhance your reputation in the classroom and access even more teaching opportunities. Our M.Ed. program can grant you unique insights into the new approaches and technologies transforming the classroom both today and tomorrow.
Grow Your Career Prospects
A master’s in education offers teachers increased credibility in their professions and gives them a competitive edge in the job market, especially when they’re just beginning their teaching careers. The M.Ed. in teaching can enhance your leadership abilities, enhance your leadership abilities, train you on new approaches and technologies in both curriculum and the classroom, and help you develop effective programs that improve student outcomes both within and beyond the classroom.
Earn a Higher Salary
With an M.Ed. degree, you can boost your earning potential by commanding a higher salary than you would with just a provisional license. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, teachers with a master’s degree can earn several thousand dollars more compared to their peers with just a bachelor’s degree. With an M.Ed., you can also qualify for administrative and principal positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, principals at elementary, middle, or high schools earned a median annual salary of $101,320 per year in 2022.
Help Fill the Critical Shortage
Teaching is a noble profession, but across the U.S., there’s a critical shortage of educators at all levels. By obtaining your license and gaining the qualifications you need to excel in the classroom, you can be a part of the solution. The M.Ed. in teaching program can empower you to meet the growing demand for teachers and ignite your passion for supporting student success.
Align Yourself with Excellence
Ranked among the Top 5 Best Online Graduate Education Programs in Virginia for 12 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report 2024, Regent’s M.Ed. program offers you the top-quality academic credentials you need to build or advance your career. Regent University is accredited by SACSCOC and offers the following CAEP-Accredited M.Ed. teacher licensure programs and advanced degrees: K-12 Special Education (Licensure), Career Switcher; Curriculum & Instruction – Gifted & Talented (Endorsement), Reading Specialist (Endorsement), Leadership in Mathematics Education, and Educational Leadership.
Learn from the Best & Take the Next Step
Presented from a Christian worldview, Regent’s Master of Education degrees are supported by award-winning faculty in Virginia Beach. Learn from renowned international scholars and practitioners who are invested in your success.
Join an Accredited Career Switcher Program
The School of Education’s educational leadership and teacher preparation programs and the College of Arts and Science’s bachelor’s in education programs are awarded full national accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for a period of seven years, to 12/31/2030.
The School of Education’s Career Switcher program is awarded recertification by the Virginia Department of Education for a period of seven years, to 2/2/2028.
Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.
Looking for the Career Switcher program’s courses and their costs, or looking for our Career Switcher Certificate? You can earn a provisional teaching license while completing our Certificate of Graduate Studies in Career Switcher in just a few semesters. Visit the Certificate of Graduate Studies in Career Switcher page for more information.
On completing the M.Ed. program for Career Switchers, you can:
- Assess and evaluate students under the mentorship of a seasoned instructor.
- Smoothly transition from your former career to teaching.
- Manage a classroom and develop curriculum.
- Qualify for higher-level positions within education.
- Gain essential skills in leadership, organization and administration that can boost your career and earning potential.
Career Opportunities
- Elementary School Teacher (Pre-K-3; Pre-K-6)
- Middle School Teacher
- High School Teacher
- Principal/Administrator
- Educational Director/Consultant
- Curriculum Developer/Instruction Specialist
- Child Care Director
- Corporate Trainer
Students taking Level I only must choose 4 of the following electives (12 credits); students taking Level I and II must choose 2 electives (6 credits).
2024-25 Semester Check-In Deadlines
All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.
| Session | Semester Check-In | Session Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| Session A | Friday, August 9 | Monday, August 19 |
| Session M | Friday, September 6 | Monday, September 16 |
| Session B | Friday, October 11 | Monday, October 21 |
| Session C | Wednesday, January 8 | Monday, January 13 |
| Session T | Friday, January 31 | Monday, February 10 |
| Session D | Friday, March 7 | Monday, March 17 |
| Session E | Friday, May 2 | Monday, May 12 |
| Session F | Friday, June 13 | Monday, June 23 |
Prerequisites
A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and three years of full time professional work experience are required for both elementary and secondary tracks.
Additional Requirements:
- CS (Elementary): If you are planning to teach either pre-K-3 or pre-K-6 in an elementary school, click here for an outline of admission requirements.
- CS (Secondary): If you are planning to teach in either a middle or high school, you will need to pass the Praxis II in the subject area you plan to teach.
Admissions Requirements
Step 1: Apply to Regent University
Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.
Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.
Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts
Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.
Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.
Step 3: Submit Your VDOE Application and Report on Experience
Submit your official VDOE Career Switcher Application and Report on Experience forms with a wet ink signature to the address below. To ensure your documents are correct prior to mailing the official copy, please submit an unofficial copy to regent.edu/items. Prospects are responsible for filing out the documents accurately; and incorrect forms can result in a prolonged review period for admissions.
Mailing Address:
Regent University
Enrollment Support Services
1000 Regent University Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
Note: Prospects should not call the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) concerning this program; any questions will be answered by Regent University.
Step 4: Provide Praxis II Scores
We are able to accept an unofficial copy of your Praxis II exam in order to review your file for an admission decision. Please submit your unofficial scores to regent.edu/items.
- For more information or to register for the Praxis, visit www.ets.org.
- Preparation for Praxis II
Step 6: Submit Your Government-Issued ID
To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.
Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.
Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.
Additional Requirements
Background Check: Because the program includes direct contact with students in field experiences, applicants to the Career Switcher Program must submit a background check. Regent University School of Education has entered into an agreement with CastleBranch, a private vendor that conducts background checks for many universities and educational institutions. After you are admitted into the program, you will be provided instructions to set up an online profile with CastleBranch and request your background check. Learn more.
First Aid, CPR, AED Training: Documentation that verifies completion of certification or training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED). The certification or training program shall be based on the current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator, such as a program developed by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. Note: VDOE no longer accepts training certificates obtained from an online source – training must be conducted in person.
PART-TIME STUDENTS
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $565 | 6 | $3,390 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $800 | 3 | $2,400 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $800 | 3 | $2,400 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $565 | 9 | $5,085 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $800 | 9 | $7,200 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer) |
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
Part-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $565 | 6 | $3,390 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $800 | 3 | $2,400 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $800 | 3 | $2,400 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $565 | 9 | $5,085 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $800 | 9 | $7,200 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer) |
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
*Rates are subject to change at any time.