Online Master’s Degree in Professional Learning Communities

Students pursuing a master’s degree in the field of education can consider a cutting-edge, highly specialized concentration in professional learning communities. As a new teaching and learning style that emphasizes community involvement, technology and student learning styles, professional learning communities have an important impact on current methods of teaching. An online Master’s Degree in Professional Learning Communities provides students with advanced skills with which to pursue a leadership or mentoring position within an educational institution.

Online Master’s Degrees in Professional Learning Communities Requirements

Online master’s in professional learning communities students should have a background in teaching, be open to new teaching methodology, an understanding for learning styles and access to a K-12 classroom for research and observation. In addition, students should have a passion for education, strong writing skills and solid reading comprehension skills.

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

• Bachelor of Education
• Bachelor of Science, Education
• Bachelor of Arts, Education

A background in education, teaching, curriculum development, test scoring and research is desired for applicants to an online master’s degree program in professional learning communities. Many students come to the program with work experience, including teaching, curriculum development, administrators and department chairs.

Online Professional Learning Communities Master’s Degree Education

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

• Master of Education, Professional Learning Communities
• Master of Arts, Education Professional Learning Communities
• Master of Science, Education Professional Learning Communities

Information on Professional Learning Communities Courses

Studies in professional learning communities involve many areas of education, including curriculum development, learning styles, teacher development, strategies and special education. While online professional learning communities masters students have the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of interest, required courses cover a variety of courses in this specialized field. Required courses for an online master’s in professional learning communities include:

• Foundations of Professional Learning Communities
  This course is designed to assist teachers and administrators in public and
  private schools to create and implement a strategic organizational plan to
  align rigorous curriculum and relevant assessment to promote highest
  student achievement amongst all students within a school setting.
• Creating Professional Learning Communities
  This course explores the most promising strategy for sustained, substantive school improvement.
• Collaboration as Leadership
  This course provides theory and strategies to increasing leadership skill by developing a collaborative team.
• Research Fundamentals
  Students will analyze the scientific merit of quantitative and qualitative research reports with an emphasis on application to and implication for evidence based nursing practice in as it relates to primary, secondary and tertiary preventions.
• Engaging All Learners
  In this course, students analyze different learning styles and develop techniques to meet each learner’s needs.

Specializations and Concentrations

An online master’s degree in professional learning communities offers a highly specialized program in learning techniques, teaching strategies and collaboration. Developing a concentration offers students an opportunity to focus on a particular area of professional learning communities that they find interesting and useful within the field. This is also the area in which they will focus their master’s thesis or project on. For professional learning communities online masters degree programs, specializations include:

• Educator/Staff Collaboration
• Teaching Strategies
• Student Collaboration
• Research

Careers in Professional Learning Communities

The concept of professional learning communities has changed the education landscape, creating new strategies for reaching every learner, giving students ownership of their education and developing all areas of intellect. Educators with expertise in professional learning communities will find employment opportunities in every area of the field, including teaching, curriculum development and department chairs.

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

• Mentor Teacher
  A mentor teacher assists teachers new to the field to create a dynamic learning environment in the classroom. Mentor teachers earn an average of $57,000 per year. Job growth is expected at a faster than average rate.
• Curriculum Developer
  A curriculum developer with an expertise in professional learning communities analyzes and create student curriculum with an emphasis on collaboration among students and faculty. Curriculum developers earn an average of $65,000 per year. Job growth is expected at a faster than average rate.
• Department Chair
  A department chair is a teacher who manages the educational goals of the department in which they work, including the use of professional learning communities. A department chair earns an average of $82,000 per year. Job growth is expected at an average rate.
• Professional Development Instructor
  A professional development instructor with a specialization in professional learning communities works with all levels of educators, creating learning opportunities that will impact education institutions. Professional development instructors earn an average of $75,000 per year. Job growth is expected at a faster than average rate.
• Professional Learning Communities Manager
  A manager for professional learning communities is responsible for the development and coordination of professional learning communities within an institution. Managers earn an average of $72,000 per year. Job growth is expected at a faster than average rate.

Professional learning communities are a highly specialized and new method of teaching to all learners. Graduates of an online master’s degree program in professional learning communities hold unique skills and education in the field of education.