For those that work in a school setting, you already know that it’s among the most fulfilling occupations. Meanwhile, you may have reached a stage in your present position; where your only option for advancement is to undertake a graduate education. Or perhaps you have found your calling in a particular field of expertise and want to advance in the field of education. By enrolling in one of the Best Master’s in Education Programs in West Virginia, candidates will develop an enthusiasm for educating the future generation.
In the next section, we will examine some of the best Hybrid and Online Master’s in Education Programs in West Virginia. Let’s commence!
Online Master’s in Education Programs in West Virginia
Alderson Broaddus University
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Master of Education
Duration: 1-2years
Alderson Broaddus University offers a Master of Education program targeted at teachers who have no desire to become principals but are enthusiastic about becoming better educators who will be change agents and leaders within their respective schools. Enrollment in this program would equip students to demonstrate problem-solving, communication, innovation, and management skills. Likewise, enrollees would be able to facilitate instructions, curriculum, and influential learning culture in their schools, classrooms, and school system.
Also, the program instills students with proficiency in current technology and research methodology to analyze and evaluate research findings that will be useful in curriculum building and student development. The Master of Education program is based on three conceptual pillars, which are curriculum and instruction, leadership, and research.
The focus areas in this program include the following:
- Ethics, Law, and policy for teachers
- Technology for teachers
- Strategies for classroom management
- Societal problems in education
- Instruction by design
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American Public University System
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Master of Education in Teaching, Master of Education in Educational Leadership
American Public University offers an M.Ed. in teaching to educators who are willing to enhance their teaching knowledge, with a focus on curriculum, instruction, and professional development. During this program, educators would understand how to evaluate subjects rigorously and monitor, manage and evaluate students; while integrating problem-solving into lesson plans.
Furthermore, this course also aims to train teachers/instructors who will be committed to their students and their education. Candidates are to choose one area of emphasis from any of the following areas of concentration;
- Elementary reading
- Instructional leadership
- Special education
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Online learning, STEM +the Arts
- Instruction and curriculum for teachers
The curriculum areas in this program include:
- Perspectives on culture and diversity
- Professional educator
- 21st-century classroom management
- Politics, law, ethics, and education
- Meaningful co-teaching and inclusive instruction
APU also offers an M.Ed. in Educational leadership to educators seeking to develop supervisory or administrative skills for private or k-12 public schools. Students who enroll in this program will have an extensive background in educational management and practices relating to staff recruitment, selection, retention, and evaluation. During this program, educators will acquire strategies for monitoring and coaching teachers, as well as other areas of effective communication and conflict resolution.
The course also provides educators with the required skills to manage the daily operations of a school and how to display effective leadership in professional development, school reform, and legal issues. Students enrolled in this program must select from three concentrations:
- K-12 Athletic Administration
- K-12 Professional administration
- K12 Virtual School Administration
Note: Completing this program does not result in state licensure or certification.
Bethany College
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Master of Arts in Teaching
Duration: 2years
A Master of Arts in teaching from Bethany College offers graduates an opportunity to study education from both practical and theoretical perspectives. Educators who enroll in this program will gain a broad perspective on the best teaching practices and educational processes, as well as firsthand experience working with students. Also, this program allows students to become certified in elementary education(K-6), Physical education(K-12), Special education, or Secondary education.
Concord University
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Degree Offered: Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education
Concord University MA in Teaching; provides educational courses and direct experience necessary to prepare educators to teach in specific areas in grades PreK-adult, 9- Adult, or 5-Adult. Students enrolled in this program will partake in clinical experiences conducted in grade/content/age-appropriate classrooms in line with the West Virginia Professional Teaching Standards.
The coursework areas in this program include:
- Curriculum and instruction models
- Assessment and evaluation
- Advanced learning and teaching
- Classroom management
- Directed/supervised learning
- Elementary education integrated methods
Additionally, the institution offers a Master of Education program which seeks to enhance further and develop the knowledge base of practicing educators. The program is for licensed and eligible teachers who wish to refine and improve their curriculum, analysis of practice, and judgment-making capabilities. The primary criterion for program completion is the candidate’s employment in a K-12 public school to fulfill the required hours of field placement. Coursework areas in this course are:
- Curriculum & Instruction Models
- Educational research
- Integrating technology in the learning and teaching space
- Assessment & evaluation
- Educational trends & issues
- Public law
- Community and school relations
However, this program offers two additional certificate programs to candidates with a master’s degree in an educational-related field. These are;
- Educational supervision and leadership program
- Reading specialist certificate program
Fairmont State University
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education
Fairmont State University offers an MA in teaching that aims to equip candidates with the relevant skills, knowledge, and expertise to meet the teaching licensure requirements of west Virginia, which is necessary to obtain certifications in secondary and comprehensive content areas. The program also provides students with an interdisciplinary curriculum and field experience/clinical practice to assure the candidate’s employability.
The curriculum is designed to ensure that; learners acquire the relevant expertise and competencies to be skilled educators. Likewise, this program provides professional courses and clinical experiences to prepare candidates to teach in grades PreK-Adult, 5-Adult, or 9-Adult.
Coursework areas covered in this course are:
- Core courses
- Advanced educational technology
- Classroom organization & instructional design I and II
- Disability and Diversity
- Foundation of education in America
- Teaching content area literacy
- Elective courses
- Introduction to autism
- Behavior disorders & learning exceptionalities
- School-wide positive behavior support.
Fairmont State University provides a Master of Education that uses six specialized areas to aid college graduates in enhancing their career development via advanced study. The program comprises various selections of courses from which students can choose to specialize. A few of them are:
- M.Ed. in Multicategorical special education with autism; for educators who develop the skills, knowledge, and disposition to assist individuals with varying degrees of exceptionalities.
- M.Ed. in reading specialization; for candidates who wish to serve as Pre-K reading specialists with skills in planning assessments, evaluating students reading abilities, and providing writing support for struggling readers.
- M.Ed. in Digital Media, learning & new literacies; for educators inclined to develop the dispositions, skills, and knowledge to design technology-based media learning environments and become change leaders in formal and informal settings.
- M.Ed. in educational leadership for instructors who wish to develop skills, gain firsthand experience and learn how to implement the best research practices. Courses offered include principal as a leader, school law and ethics, community relationships, and current school issues
- M.Ed. in professional studies: meant for students who wish to gain practical knowledge and capabilities to satisfy the needs of diverse work environments. Students can choose courses from the following areas: Literacy, Special education, and learning & digital media.
Also See: Online and Hybrid graduate education degrees in Alabama
Marshall University
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education
Marshall University offers an MA in teaching that trains candidates to develop unique teaching skill sets. Upon completion of the program, candidates receive a teaching certificate recommendation to the West Virginia Department of Education in one of the following areas: wellness, music, art, English, mathematics, art, biology, and social studies.
Also, candidates enrolled in the program can obtain any of the teaching certifications below:
- Grades PreK-Adult (Art, wellness, or music)
- Grades5-Adult (general science, English, mathematics, or social studies)
- Grades 9 -Adult (biology, chemistry, or physics)
As a prerequisite, all students must complete three clinical experiences in a public school classroom. The clinical practicum occurs in the first semester, clinical II is offered close to the program end, and clinical III is student teaching, which is undertaken in the final semester.
The University also offers an early childhood education program to improve candidates’ professions by empowering them with advanced skills, knowledge, and disposition to instruct early childhood learners. The course provides a solid foundation in research, instructional methods, evaluation, technology, and human development.
Salem University
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education, Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Salem University offers an M.Ed. in Curriculum and instruction that provides educators with a strong understanding of educational theories and techniques with various teaching experiences and specializations. The program aims to build leadership skills aimed at professional development. Specialization areas in this course include;
- Higher education Administration: courses in this specialization include curriculum development, student learning assessment, education finance, and education law.
- Instructional technology: comprises focus areas like research methods, issues, trends, foundations in education, technology applications in curriculum, citizenship, and digital ethics.
- Talent development and organizational training: coursework areas in this emphasis include; trends, foundation, issues in education, conflict management, soft skills, research methods, and foundations of project management.
- Special education leadership: focuses on areas like student behavior management, analysis of education stakeholders, and school law.
- Teaching and learning: coursework areas in this emphasis include; tools for technology integration, curriculum development, and technology applications for curriculum
- Teacher leadership comprises coursework areas like group dynamics, assessment of learning, community, district, and school leadership, and research methods.
The institution also offers an M.Ed. in Educational leadership, which is designed to develop the leadership skills of candidates to prepare them to step into the roles of a principal, superintendent, and district supervisor, at all educational levels, from PreK to Adult grade. The program emphasizes developing practical skills while focusing on issues and topics that provide effective district and school leadership. Coursework areas covered in this program are:
- Public school finance
- School law
- Instructional leadership
- Educational leaders’ technology competencies
- Evaluation and analysis of instruction
Shepherd University
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Master of Arts in Teaching
Shepherd University’s MA in teaching prepares candidates with bachelor’s degrees for the initial teacher certification at both elementary and secondary levels. The program entails thirty-three credit hours of graduate coursework and six credit hours of student teaching. Candidates enrolled in this program can obtain certification in the following areas:
- PreK-Adult (Art, Physical education, music)
- 9-Adult (Biology, Chemistry)
- 5-Adult (English, Family & Consumer Sciences, General Science, Health only with Physical Education, Mathematics, Social Studies, World Languages (Foreign Languages)
- K-6(Elementary Education)
West Liberty University (WLU)
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Master of Arts in Education –Reading Specialist, Master of Arts in Education -Innovative Instruction
West Liberty University offers an MA in Education -Reading specialist; that prepares educators who will effectively lead and provide reading instruction with flexibility and confidence; to students with listening, speaking, reading, and writing difficulties. This program emphasizes the use of multi-sensory-based teaching practices that incorporate field experience and coursework that encompasses vocabulary acquisition, fluency, semantics, syntax, developmental writing, and spelling. The coursework areas in this program include:
- Data literacy and assessment
- Professional writing
- Foundations of structured literacy
- Multi-sensory teaching methods
Also, WLU offers an MA in Education -Innovative instruction designed for educators seeking to learn research-based and innovative methods to create classrooms that prepare K-12 students. This program incorporates practical teaching experiences and assignments using coursework that includes data-driven decision-making, digital literacy, and learner-centered plans to meet the diverse needs of students. The coursework areas in this program include:
- Data literacy and assessment
- Applications of technology in education
- Innovative thinkers and creative leaders
- Research methods
West Virginia State University
Accreditation: National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Degree Offered: Master of Education in Instructional Leadership
An M.Ed. in Instructional leadership from West Virginia University provides opportunities for students to expand their skills and step into administrative positions. The institution offers opportunities for school and district-level administrators to identify and apply new concepts and techniques in instructional leadership. Students enrolled in this program will develop, design, and conduct research while integrating legal, historical, and sociological analysis to meet the needs of diverse communities, students, and staff.
Educators will learn to explore and identify a diverse student body, their unique needs, and methods to enhance their personal development. The coursework of this program is divided into two areas:
- Licensure stream
- Degree stream
Coursework areas covered in this program are:
- Law and educational policy
- Educational leadership Principles
- Technology for educational leadership
- Data-driven decision making
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West Virginia University
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Master of Arts in Elementary Education, MS. Physical Education Teacher Education
Western Virginia University offers an MA in Elementary Education that prepares students to become certified educators in K-6 public schools; while impacting young learners with basic social, academic, and formative skills. Educators enrolled in this course will develop the required skills to instruct students in groups. They will adopt various teaching methods and materials to prepare a remedial program for students with additional needs.
Via this curriculum, graduates will also learn how to conduct and plan activities for a grounded instruction program, counsel & guide students, and resolve academic and behavioral problems of students.
Wheeling University
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Master of Arts in Education –Educational Leadership
Wheeling University offers an MA in education with a concentration in educational leadership. The degree provides a flexible path for educators seeking to enhance their leadership skills to obtain a superintendent, supervisor, and principal licensure. Licensure earned from this program is transferable to most states, and students have the option of designing their coursework according to their individual needs. Graduates enrolled in this program must select from two program paths:
- School and school system leadership: involves coursework areas like global learning & teaching, negotiation, and communication, ethics, and education law, school resource management, and data-driven decision-making.
- Instructional leadership: comprise coursework areas like the psychology of student engagement, meeting unique learning needs, and differentiating instruction.
Hybrid Master’s in Education Programs in West Virginia
Catholic Distance University
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Master of Arts in Theology and Educational Ministry
Catholic Distance University offers an MA in Theology and educational ministry that aims to develop 21st-century evangelist leaders through excellent learning experiences using technology. Students who enroll in this course will be able to apply principles of social teaching and catholic morals, understand spiritual traditions and disciplines in the church and use theological reflection for reform.
The program would demonstrate how the New Testament is a fulfillment of the Old Testament and teach students to defend God’s existence. Learners will also develop competence in ministering and teaching the Catholic faith in diverse environments. Coursework areas covered in this program are:
- Theology of Church
- Christology
- Catholic education principles
- Liturgy and sacraments
- Fundamental moral theology
- Applied catholic spirituality
In Summary!
Whatever your motivations for pursuing the Best Master’s in Education Programs in West Virginia, you’ll benefit not only from your job but also from the lives of the young people you instruct and the ability to assist them in realizing their aspirations.
Before you Go: check the top online graduate education degrees in North Carolina