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A photo of a teaching the classroom with students: Learn more about Regent's Career Switcher Program.

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.

Online
30
August 25, 2025
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Licensure-Eligible

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
Table listing featured courses with course code, name, and credit hours.
EFND 531Exploring the Curriculum3
Understand the presuppositions of worldviews and then examine content for evidence of different worldviews. Integrate character principles into the school environment and curriculum. Examine curriculum content and its relationship to cognitive development as a tool for designing instruction to promote higher-level thinking.
EFND 532Classroom Management for Transitioning Teachers3
Develop an understanding and application of classroom and behavior management techniques. Effective intervention strategies will be presented and practiced. Diverse approaches to classroom management will be presented based on upon behavioral, cognitive, affective, social and ecological theory and practice. Teacher/student relationships are examined together with classroom community building.
EFND 533Teaching Students Effectively3
Focus on classification and sequencing learning outcomes, and the differentiation of instruction. Review the principles of learning, the application of skills in discipline-specific methodology, communication processes, reading in the content areas, selection and use of resources, including media and technology. Examine the relationships among assessment, instruction, and measuring and documenting individual student progress.
EFND 534Assessment & Evaluation Techniques3
Using the principles of educational measurement, construct and interpret valid assessments using a variety of formats in order to measure student attainment of essential skills in a standards-based environment. Develop the ability to analyze assessment data to make decisions about how to improve instruction and evaluate and improve student performance. Emphasis will be placed on the design of “alternative” and traditional assessment instruments.
EFND 535Child & Adolescent Growth & Development for Transitioning Teachers3
A study of the physical, cognitive, cultural, social/emotional, spiritual, and psychological development of children and adolescents with an emphasis on knowing and understanding theories of human development and incorporating children’s individual differences to guide learning experiences.

Students should refer to their catalog or audited degree plan (ADP) for required courses to complete their degree.

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.

SessionSemester Check-InSession Start Date
Session AFriday, August 9Monday, August 19
Session MFriday, September 6Monday, September 16
Session BFriday, October 11Monday, October 21
Session CWednesday, January 8Monday, January 13
Session TFriday, January 31Monday, February 10
Session DFriday, March 7Monday, March 17
Session EFriday, May 2Monday, May 12
Session FFriday, June 13Monday, 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:

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 NACESAACRAO 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.

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

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5856$3,510
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8206$4,920
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8203$2,460
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8203$2,460

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5859$5,265
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8209$7,380
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8206$4,920
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8206$4,920

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$900 (Fall & Spring)
$750 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$750

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

PART-TIME STUDENTS

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5656$3,390
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8003$2,400
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8003$2,400

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5659$5,085
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8009$7,200
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8006$4,800

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$850 (Fall & Spring)
$700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

“From the professors to advisors to support staff, my experience at Regent has been extremely satisfying, and I highly recommend the program to others.”
Lorri Wilke, M.Ed., 2012 NILD Educational Therapy
“When I felt called to teaching after a career in the military, Regent University bridged the gap and laid a solid, Christian-based path for me to follow.”
John Pienkowski, M.Ed., 2017 Level II Career Switcher
“After a month of online learning at Regent, I thought, 'Man, this is the best thing!' Not only did I get to learn my discipline, I got to learn how my values and my beliefs can be intertwined into my discipline.”
Shaketta D. Thomas, Ed.S. - Educational Psychology, 2017; M.Ed. - Curriculum & Instruction, 2013 Testing Director & Program Specialist, Virginia Department of Corrections
“I found Regent's School of Education to be a place where I could obtain some of those practical skills I needed to help others. The TESOL curriculum included a good balance of instruction in reading, writing, and conversation skills that I can apply with adults or children.”
Jason Clark, M.Ed., 2010 TESOL
“I just can't say enough about the program—it's everything I wanted.”
Gary Maestas, Ed.D., 2010 K-12 School Leadership