Online Master’s Degree in Professional Development

An online Master’s Degree in Professional Development develops skills and knowledge in the areas of personal development and professional knowledge. As a field of study, professional development involves various types of learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees informal learning opportunities. An online professional development master’s degree involves curriculum strategies for all learning types, assessment and evaluation.

Online Master’s Degrees in Professional Development Requirements

Online masters degrees in professional development require students to have strong writing and comprehension skills, and a passion for both formal and alternative education strategies. Those pursuing an online professional development master degree should have experience with designing curriculum, learning styles, and education technology.

Online masters in professional development usually require a bachelor’s degree before application. Common bachelor’s degrees held prior to pursuing an online master in professional development include:

• Bachelor of Education
• Bachelor of Education, Professional Development
• Bachelor of Arts, Professional Development
• Bachelor of Arts, Curriculum Development

A background in education, teaching, curriculum development and management are desired when starting a master’s degree program in professional development. Many students have prior experience in these areas, and concurrently work and participate in a degree program. Common careers for students in professional development online masters degree programs include teachers, professional development coordinators, education managers, human resources managers and curriculum developers.

Online Professional Development Master’s Degree Education

Good online master’s degree programs in professional development typically take between 2 to 3 years to complete. The types of professional development degrees offered by the best master’s programs online include:

• Master of Arts, Professional Development
• Master of Science, Professional Development
• Master of Education, Professional Development

Information on Professional Development Courses

Courses to earn an online master’s degree in professional development involve writing skills, communication and understanding learning styles. Students pursuing an online master’s degree in professional development should enjoy teaching, managing a staff, tailoring a curriculum to match a classroom culture, and assess key elements of a professional development course. While students will likely specialize in a particular area of interest during their online professional development master’s degree program, basic courses are essential to developing needed skills. Required courses for an online master in professional development may include:

• Assessments and Tools for Professional Developers
  This course offers a review of fundamental principles in developing relevant, practical measurement criteria, with an emphasis on measuring observable behavior.
• Course Development
  This course gives fundamental knowledge in course and curriculum development, including resources, ideas to meet the needs of all learners and communication skills.
• Setting Goals for Professional Development
• In this course, professional development students will learn how to set goals for learning, using the model of an institution or business.
• Professional Development Administration
  Human resources professionals need to understand how to manage professional development programming within their organization; this course gives students the basics in managing a professional development curriculum.
• Building Web Based Classes
  The internet gives professional development courses a powerful market, but conducting a class on the internet is very different traditional teaching. This course provides students with an understanding of how to develop a course specifically for delivery over the internet.

Specializations and Concentrations

While basic courses in a top online professional development master’s program are required, students will also have an opportunity to specialize their studies. This allows students to focus their studies in an area of interest, and provides a base on which to build a master’s thesis. Professional development can be broken down into several categories:

• Professional Development Administration
• Professional Development Curriculum
• Professional Development, Internet Based Education
• Professional Development, Teaching Strategies

Careers in Professional Development

The field of professional development is becoming an increasingly important area of any company and institution. Many professions, including nurses, lawyers and accountants, must have professional development classes, earning units to complete their licenses. As the economy has increased competition for positions significantly, demands for quality professional development has become a crucial component to finding and retaining employment.

Graduates of top online master’s programs in professional development may pursue the following career opportunities:

• Professional Development Program Manager
  Professional development program managers create and administer programs within a company, institution or agency. Professional development program managers earn an average of $67,500 per year. Job growth in professional development program management is growing at a faster than average rate.
• Curriculum Developer
  Curriculum developers create and adjust curriculum for a particular professional development need. Curriculum developers earn an average of $69,000 per year. Job growth is expected at a faster than average rate.
• Human Resources Professional Development Manager
  Human resources professional development managers administer and track professional development needs and accomplishments for an institution. Professional development managers for human resources earn an average of $62,000 per year. Job growth is expected at an average rate.
• Professional Development Teacher
  Professional development teachers present and evaluate material for a professional development program. Professional development teachers earn an average of $58,000 per year. Job growth is expected at a faster than average rate.
• Internet-Based Professional Developer
  The internet provides a new and interesting education delivery system. Internet-based professional developers create innovative programs that are delivered online, earning an average of $73,000 per year. Job growth is expected at a faster than average rate.

A master’s degree in professional development can open many doors to a wide variety of career opportunities. A professional development masters degree program is designed to give a comprehensive set of skills and tools for graduates to confidently enter the workforce.