Educational Technology: A Newly Lucrative Field
The demand for educational technology professionals is greater than ever. In the past, educational technology experts were thought of as just a part of a school’s IT team, on call in case a teacher needed help with a projector or a laptop. Today, a career in educational technology presents many options, far beyond working in tech support.
Schools are working tirelessly to improve their virtual learning programs, and it’s likely that some students who previously enjoyed an in-classroom traditional school experience will remain in virtual school due to preference or convenience. Educational technology professionals can work with teachers to help them translate their lessons into virtual sessions that are engaging, rigorous, and provide students at home with the same education as a student in a physical classroom. Virtual education programming companies are working with education technology professionals to develop curriculums that teachers can count on. If your career has recently turned virtual, it’s a smart move to talk with your employer about whether they’ll offer tuition assistance. Many companies are happy to pay for the cost of an employee’s graduate degree with an agreement that the employee will continue to work for the company for a predetermined amount of time.
Here, we’ll take a look at programs that can help you take your career in educational technology to the next level, whether you’ve been in the field for years or are just beginning the process of expanding your career.
Best 8 Best Online Master’s in Educational Technology Programs
1. Texas A&M University — College Station, Texas
Texas A&M’s online Master’s in Educational Technology program instructs students in areas including learning theories and educational psychology, as well as other core subjects. Students have the option to create a specialized program through elective options including online course design, educational video, designing for mobile learning, creative thinking, and more. Students also have the opportunity to complete an internship course, providing real-world experience that can help them succeed in the professional world.
- Tuition: $4,167 per semester for in-state students, $8,769 per semester for out-of-state residents
- Admission requirements: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and letters of recommendation are required.
2. University of North Dakota — Grand Forks, North Dakota
At the University of North Dakota, students in the Master’s of Science in Instructional Design and Technology program study many topics, including instructional design, adult education, learning management systems, curriculum development, and more. The program currently boasts a 100% job placement rate for graduates.
- Tuition: $461 per credit for in-state students, $585 per credit for Minnesota students, $691 per credit for residents of other states
- Admission requirements: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a GPA of 2.75 or greater or graduate coursework with a GPA of 3.5 or greater, a statement of goals, and an essay (topics provided) are required for admission.
3. University of Michigan Dearborn — Dearborn, Michigan
The Master of Arts in Education Technology at the University of Michigan Dearborn teaches educators to utilize technology to benefit students both in a traditional classroom and virtual learning settings. Students study topics including adult learning, application of instructional design, leadership and personal development in educational technology, social foundations of education, and more. Students also have the opportunity to participate in an internship for course credit.
- Tuition: $425 per credit for in-state students, $531 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission requirements: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement are required. Students interested in pursuing the Educational Technology endorsement portion of the degree must also have a valid teaching certificate in the state of Michigan.
4. University of Florida — Gainesville, Florida
Students in the University of Florida’s Master of Education in Educational Technology get to create a customized program based on their career goals. All students take core classes including foundations of instructional technology, instructional design, educational technology research, and more. Elective choices include designing technology-rich curricula, managing educational projects, mobile technologies in education, and more. Students are also required to participate in a practicum program.
- Tuition: $449 per credit for both in-state and out-of-state students. Out-of-state students are subject to some additional, non-tuition fees that bring their total cost to approximately $100 per credit hour more than in-state students.
- Admission requirements: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0 for the most recent 60 credit hours of work, three academic letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume are required.
5. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley — Brownsville, Texas
Students enrolled in the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Master of Education in Educational Technology program are instructed in many areas, including multimedia, educational communications, and instructional design. Students may choose from electives including integration of advanced technologies in education and training, technology leadership, web-based multimedia in instruction, and more. All students in the program are required to complete an internship.
- Tuition: The initial credit cost is $677 per credit for in-state students and $949 per credit for out-of-state students, however, per-credit cost decreases drastically as the number of credits taken per semester increases.
- Admission requirements: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0 is preferred, however, students with a lower GPA may be admitted to the program with GRE general test scores of 150 verbal, 141 quantitative, and 4.0 analytical.
6. The Ohio State University — Columbus, Ohio
The Ohio State University’s Master of Learning Technology program prepares students to work in many industries, including public education, private education, non-profit organizations, the military, corporations, and more. The program provides instruction in many areas, including instructional design, assessment, technology skills, learning theory, and more. Students can work through the program on a full- or part-time basis, depending on their schedule. All students are required to complete a practicum experience to fully prepare them for their professional careers.
- Tuition: Total program cost for in-state students who complete the program over four semesters is $21,129, or $21,929 for out-of-state students. Students who complete the program on a part-time basis over eight semesters can expect to pay approximately $1,000 – $2,000 more for the total program cost.
- Admission requirements: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0 and three letters of recommendation are required.
7. Lamar University — Beaumont, Texas
Students in Lamar University’s Master of Education in Educational Technology Leadership program are instructed in areas including leadership accountability, school law, digital citizenship, resources for digital environments, and more. Students are required to complete multiple internships to fully prepare them to succeed as leaders in educational technology. This program offers both a 30-hour and 36-hour option.
- Tuition: $1,554 for three credit hours for in-state students, $2,781 for three credit hours for out-of-state students
- Admission requirements: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with at least a 2.5 GPA, a valid teaching certificate (may not be required for out-of-state students), a personal essay, and a reference from your school’s principal are required to be considered for admission.
8. California State University Long Beach — Long Beach, California
Students in California State University Long Beach’s Master of Arts in Education, Option in Educational Technology and Media Leadership program graduate to take on opportunities in the classroom, as school administrators, as corporate trainers, and more. Students in the program also have the option of pursuing a graduate certificate in applied disability studies or a teacher librarian services credential.
- Tuition: Part-time students pay $2,082 per semester (six credits or less), while full-time students pay $3,588 per semester (seven credits or more). Out-of-state students must add an additional $396 per credit.
- Admission requirements: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a GPA of at least 3.0 (students with a GPA of 2.5 or more may be considered for conditional admission), letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose are required to be considered for program admission.
If you’re working to research educational technology programs, rest assured — any of the options listed above will provide you with an excellent foundation to further your career. You’ll want to consider several factors to ensure that you’re choosing the right program for you, such as program length, specialty options, faculty research experience, and more.
Our Ranking Methodology
When ranking our programs, we take many factors into consideration, including value, school name recognition, accreditation, ability to personalize curriculum, program length, and more. Be sure to check back regularly, as we update our lists from time to time to reflect changes within school programming. It’s important to us to only list programs that provide you with an excellent education.
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