This program prepares teachers and professionals working in education to advance their careers. You’ll choose courses based on two focal areas to meet your personal and professional goals. You have two options when selecting your focal areas:
- You can choose two Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation focal areas which include but aren’t limited to:
- Applied behavior analysis.
- Autism spectrum disorders.
- Early childhood education.
- Educating multilingual learners.
- Education for planetary futures.
- Environmental education.
- Gifted education.
- Global education.
- Learning design and technologies.
- Literacy education.
- Physical activity/physical education.
- Special education endorsement.
- Teaching pedagogy.
*Students who are interested in the special education endorsement should speak to an advisor before selecting this focal area as it has additional requirements.
- Or, you can choose one of the above MLFC focal areas and one of the below focal areas from our partner colleges:
- Data and society (New College of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts).
- Digital audience strategies (Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication).
- Social justice and human rights (New College of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts).
- Technical writing and communication (College of Integrative Sciences and Arts).
The program culminates with an applied project in which you’ll design and develop an inquiry study that addresses one or more problems related to your focal areas. You should anticipate needing access to a learner to complete coursework.
Why earn an online master’s in education?
You’ll gain a broad perspective of current educational practices and challenges. You’ll also have a deeper understanding of your focal areas and develop essential skills for education professionals. These skills include effective communication, collaboration, leadership, advocacy and innovation.
Your newfound skills and expertise will help you meet your professional goals, whether you’re working with children, youth or adults in nonprofit settings, community institutions, civic organizations or businesses. Through this program, you’ll also develop a unique identity as an educator who's capable of meeting the needs of diverse learners.
Will this master’s certify me to teach?
The online master’s in education doesn’t qualify students to become a certified K-12 teacher. The program is designed for certified teachers and professionals who already have some level of professional experience in the field of education. Yet, individuals who want to start a new career in education can benefit from this degree as well. The program will give them professional knowledge to start a new job in a variety of non-certified education positions.

Are you ready to broaden your knowledge and develop a unique identity as an educator? The online Master of Arts in education from Arizona State University enables you to customize your coursework based on your professional goals. You’ll choose two focal areas and gain a broad perspective of current educational practices and challenges in the field.
The program’s curriculum has two required courses, including an introduction to research and evaluation and an applied project. You’ll have the freedom to customize your coursework and choose electives that align with your two focal areas and future goals as an educator.
The Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation faculty draws from a range of academic disciplines including cognitive science, psychology and economics. They seek to answer questions about the process of learning, teaching practices and effects of education policy. Our faculty is also committed to connecting research to schools and other learning environments. They ensure teacher and leadership preparation programs combine scholarly rigor with practical application.
Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation brings people and ideas together to increase the capabilities of educators and the performance of education systems. Our university has been recognized with peer-reviewed honors from U.S. News & World Report.
best online master’s in educational administration programs
best online master’s in curriculum and instruction programs
best online master’s in educational/instructional media programs
best online master’s in special education programs
best online master's in education programs for veterans
best online master's in education programs
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. Applications may be considered for provisional admission with a GPA of 2.99 to 2.50.
All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee.
- Official transcripts.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Personal statement.
- Resume.
- Proof of English proficiency.
The letters of recommendation should be from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s potential for success in a graduate program.
Applicants must provide a personal statement of approximately 500 words that describes their personal interest in the field of education, the goals they wish to achieve while in the program and their short- and long-term career aspirations. The admission committee pays particular attention to the quality of writing, the ideas expressed and the relative match between the applicant and program goals.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency.
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.” That’s because ASU Online students learn from the same faculty and receive the same course content as in-person students receive.