What Do You Study in a Master of Arts in Education Program?
Key Insights
- An MA in Education strengthens your ability to lead through creativity. It equips you with the vision, skills, and confidence to design learning experiences that inspire growth across diverse communities.
- Arts-based research turns theory into practice. You’ll explore creative methods that connect reflection, innovation, and inquiry, helping you solve real challenges in education and beyond.
- Flexibility empowers you to advance without stepping away from your work. The online format and supportive faculty make it possible to pursue your goals while maintaining balance in your professional and personal life.
A Master of Arts in Education is a graduate degree that deepens your understanding of how people learn, how creative practices enhance education, and how educators can lead through art and innovation. At Maine College of Art & Design, the online MA in Education empowers educators and community leaders to integrate creativity into every aspect of teaching and learning.
This flexible 30-credit program combines theory, research, and real-world application to help you inspire meaningful change — in the classroom, in your organization, and in your community.
What Is an MA in Education?
An MA in Education explores the principles and practices that shape how education works in contemporary contexts. While some education graduate degrees focus on certification or specific subject areas, an MAEd emphasizes creative leadership, critical thinking, and arts-based learning as pathways to innovation.
Students learn to design inclusive curricula, foster emotional intelligence, and lead with creativity across diverse educational environments, from schools and museums to nonprofits and community programs.
This program is ideal for working professionals who want to:
- Expand their impact in education or community engagement
- Build leadership and research skills
- Develop creative, student-centered learning environments
- Advance their professional goals while maintaining balance in their daily lives
Why Educators Pursue an MA in Education
Earning an MA in Education expands both your professional opportunities and your ability to lead positive change. In today’s dynamic learning environments, educators face the challenge of addressing complex social, emotional, and creative needs. This program provides the framework to meet those challenges through the arts.
Graduates gain:
- Deeper expertise in curriculum design and arts-based research
- Enhanced leadership skills for managing classrooms, programs, or organizations
- Expanded creative capacity to engage learners and communities through art
- Broadened career options across education, the arts, and the human services sectors
Please note: this program does not lead to teacher certification. Instead, it enriches professional practice through the arts, preparing graduates to guide, teach, and collaborate in transformative ways.
What You’ll Study in an Online MA in Education
The online MA in Education program at Maine College of Art & Design is structured around a balance of required courses, electives, and a capstone experience. Students complete 30 credit hours over 10–18 months, depending on their schedule. Each course is designed to connect creative inquiry with practical application, helping students develop the tools to design, lead, and evaluate impactful educational experiences.
Core courses
The foundation of the MA in Education program begins with four core courses that explore critical and creative perspectives on learning, teaching, and leadership:
- Strategic Planning and Curriculum Design in the Arts (3 credits)
Discover how to design and implement curriculum frameworks that incorporate the arts into educational, cultural, or community settings.
- Contemporary Artist Survey (3 credits)
Engage with the work of artists shaping today’s creative and educational landscapes, exploring how artistic practice intersects with teaching and social change.
- Perspectives on Art: Critique, Interpretation, and Engagement (3 credits)
Develop tools for critical reflection and art interpretation while examining how dialogue and critique enhance the learning process.
- Creative Inquiry: Introduction to Arts-Based Research (3 credits)
Investigate research methodologies grounded in creativity and artmaking, preparing you to conduct original inquiry in your field.
Elective options and focus areas
Students personalize their degree through four elective courses. These electives can follow one of three distinct paths or combine multiple areas for a customized program of study.
Expressive arts therapy focus
This concentration emphasizes the intersection of art, psychology, and emotional well-being. Courses explore expressive arts therapies and adaptive art practices that support growth, empathy, and self-discovery. It’s especially valuable for educators, human services professionals, and artists interested in fostering holistic learning environments.
Possible courses include:
- Emotional Intelligence & Artistic Learning
- Resilient Learning Environments
- Theoretical Foundations and Methods of Expressive Arts Therapies
- Adaptive Art: Fostering Inclusive Creative Practices
Arts leadership and administration focus
Designed for those interested in leading or managing arts-based organizations, this focus develops core competencies in strategy, advocacy, and management. Students explore arts leadership, fundraising, marketing, and financial management to prepare for roles in nonprofit, educational, and cultural institutions.
Possible courses include:
- Introduction to Creative Leadership
- Arts Marketing and Communications
- Financial Management and Grant Writing for Arts Organizations
- Arts Management and Strategy: Navigating Creativity, Impact, and Engagement
Self-designed focus
For those whose interests span multiple disciplines, the self-designed option allows you to create a custom sequence of electives. You’ll work with advisors to build a curriculum that reflects your goals, whether that’s combining art education with social practice, museum education, or community-based initiatives.
Capstone experience
Every student completes one of three capstone options, each designed to integrate research, reflection, and practice:
- Reflective Action Research (6 credits): Conduct a study that examines how creative practices transform learning environments.
- Artist as Educator (6 credits): Develop a body of creative work and reflective documentation that demonstrates the role of artmaking in educational inquiry.
- Community Action Project (6 credits): Design and implement a project that engages your community through art and education, showcasing leadership and creative problem-solving.
These capstone experiences help students synthesize learning into professional impact, bringing art, research, and practice together in meaningful ways.
Learning Experience and Format
The online MA in Education at Maine College of Art & Design is intentionally flexible. Courses are offered asynchronously, allowing students to complete readings, discussions, and assignments at their own pace. Small class sizes foster meaningful connections with faculty and peers. Instructors are practicing artists and experienced educators who guide you through personalized feedback and mentorship.
You’ll join a diverse cohort of educators, artists, and professionals working in classrooms, museums, nonprofits, and community organizations, all united by a shared belief in the transformative power of art and education.
Outcomes and Career Applications
Graduates of the MA in Education program are prepared for dynamic roles in arts and education settings, including:
- Advanced educators
- Community program directors
- Arts administrators
- Museum and gallery educators
- Nonprofit leaders
- Expressive arts facilitators
- Education consultants
No matter where your path leads, you’ll graduate equipped to use creativity as a catalyst for learning, engagement, and social impact.
Online MA in Education FAQs
What makes an MA in Education different from an MEd?
An MA in Education focuses on creativity, theory, and research, while an MEd typically emphasizes classroom instruction and certification. Maine College of Art & Design’s MAEd centers on arts-based learning, leadership, and community impact.
How long does it take to complete the online MA in Education program?
Most students complete the 30-credit program in 10 to 18 months, depending on their professional and personal schedules.
Can I work full-time while earning this degree?
Yes. The online format is designed for working professionals. Courses are asynchronous, allowing you to engage with content and peers on a flexible schedule.
Does this program lead to teacher certification?
No. The MA in Education at Maine College of Art & Design is a professional development degree that enhances creative and leadership skills but does not provide teacher certification.
What kind of students typically enroll in this program?
Students come from a variety of fields, including education, art, human services, museum studies, and community development. They share a commitment to creative inquiry and lifelong learning.
Discover What’s Possible
The Master of Arts in Education at Maine College of Art & Design is your opportunity to redefine what education can be. If you’re ready to elevate your practice, lead through creativity, and make a lasting difference in your community, this program was built for you.
Learn more about program details, admission requirements, and upcoming start dates. Request info today and take your next step toward a more inspired, creative career.
