Find the Education Graduate Path That Fits You
Check out a comparative review of the College of Education graduate programs to find the best fit for you.
Program Comparison
| Feature | Master of Arts in Teaching | Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Leadership & Learning Innovation | Master of Education (M.Ed.) or Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership | Master of Science in Instructional Design & Innovation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal For | Those who are interested in moving their career focus toward teaching and gaining licensure | Education professionals seeking enhanced leadership opportunities and advancement | Teacher leaders with at least 2-3 years of experience aspiring to become an administrator | Early- and mid-career professionals entering or advancing in instructional design and curriculum development |
| Program Length | 12-18 months (varies based on your chosen pathway) | 12-24 months | 1 year | Just over a year, flexible pace |
| Possible Career Paths | K–12 Teacher, Instructional Coach | Instructional Coach, Mentor, Team Leader, Instructional Designer, Higher Education Professional, Program or Organizational Leader | Head Principal, Assistant Principal, Curriculum Coordinator, Instructional Coordinator, Director of Student Services, Educational Consultant | Instructional Designer, Learning Experience Designer, Multimedia Specialist, Curriculum or Training Specialist, Learning & Development Consultant, Digital Learning Strategist |
| Licensures Available | Early Childhood Education with Integrated Special Education (Pre-K–3), ESL Pre-K–12, Elementary K–5, Secondary 6–12, Special Education, Interventionist (K–8) | Nonlicensing track, SPED and ELL add-on endorsement available | Administrative License | N/A |
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| Accelerated Degree Options | 4+1 Program: Earn your bachelor’s degree in four years, then your master’s degree in one additional year. | Higher Education emphasis courses transfer directly into Belmont's Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership | N/A | N/A |
What the Programs Share
Pair Your Passions. Find Your Pathway.
Concentrations in the M.Ed. in Leadership & Learning Innovation are designed to provide a personalized and supportive experience that meets you where you are and equips you for where you want to go.
Choose two concentrations from five options: Higher Education, Teacher Coach, Teacher of English Language Learners, Special Education and Instructional Design. Explore the program pathways below to discover combinations that might align with your goals and interests. We encourage you to connect with an admissions coordinator who can answer your questions and help you build a path tailored to your career aspirations.
- Higher Education + Instructional Design: Choose this pairing if you are looking to work at a college or university and create courses that are tailored to students’ needs.
- Higher Education + Teacher Coach: This pairing is ideal for professionals with a passion for training and mentoring others, and it can be applied in higher education settings.
- Teacher Coach + Endorsement Area (Special Education/ELL): Caring for those who teach students who have diverse learning needs starts with equipping teachers with tools to succeed in the classroom.
- Instructional Design + Teacher Coach: Pair these two pathways to complete course work that focuses on crafting curriculum and instructional tactics while supporting teacher formation.
- Special Education + ELL: Combining these two tracks equips students to meet the needs of diverse learners and gain the maximum endorsement areas offered in the program. Individualized faculty advising will help you determine if this combination is best for you.
Ph.D. Program at a Glance
Belmont's Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership in Education will equip you with advanced skills in research, leadership and innovation.
- How long will it take to complete the Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership in Education? It is possible for Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership in Education candidates to complete the program within 4 years.
- Is the Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership in Education offered online or in person? The Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership in Education is primarily offered online with in-person residency requirements. Candidates in the program are required to attend select residency days once a semester.
- What program pathways are available? We offer a variety of pathways designed to align with your professional goals, including Educational Leadership, Educational Leadership + Instructional Leader License, Management and Entrepreneurship, Faith and Justice Leadership and Higher Education. Each pathway allows you to focus on areas most relevant to your aspirations while maintaining a strong foundation in leadership development.
- What makes this program multidisciplinary? The Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership in Education equips graduates as both senior leaders in education-oriented organizations and as scholars in the field of educational leadership.
- Can my master’s course work be transferred into the Ph.D.? Five classes in Belmont’s M.Ed. higher education concentration can be transferred into the Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership in Education.
Explore Graduate Education
Learn more about any of our education graduate programs.