Roanoke College Announces Master of Education Program

• Students can complete the program in one year by taking two classes in the spring, summer, and fall terms.
• Students can begin their program during any term once the program launches in fall 2024.
• The master of education is Roanoke College's second master's program after its master of business administration.

Qualifying graduates of Roanoke College in Virginia are guaranteed enrollment into its new master of education (M.Ed.) program.

The Virginia private liberal arts college announced its second graduate degree Feb. 29. The school already has a master of business administration program. Its new M.Ed. program will launch in fall 2024.

"Building on our strong relationships with regional schools, Roanoke is offering a new master of education to give teachers and others interested in education a high-quality opportunity to transform the education landscape," Lisa Stoneman, M.Ed. program coordinator, said in the school's press release.

The program integrates theory, empirical research, community outreach, and innovative practices for students interested in a broader perspective as teachers and education advocates. Roanoke's M.Ed. program prepares students for careers that include:

• K-12 teaching
• Nonprofit jobs
• Workplace training and microcredentialing
• Law and public policy
• Private schooling

The program will accept students on a rolling basis, allowing them to start at any time — during the fall or spring semesters or the three summer sessions. Prospective students can have a bachelor's degree in any major. Roanoke graduates with at least a 3.0 GPA and an academic reference are guaranteed admission.

The 10-credit program is flexible. According to Roanoke, students can finish the courses in a year by taking two courses during the spring, summer, and fall terms or in two years by taking one class each term. Each course is also worth 90 "recert" points for students pursuing teacher licensure.

"In addition to the outstanding faculty, a unique strength of this program will be the diversity of the students, with teachers and professionals in adjacent fields," Kathy Wolfe, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college, said in the press release.

As of fall 2022, the college enrolled 1,826 students, 17.4% of whom were students of color, 54% were female students, and 55% were in-state students.