Lesley University's Master's Degrees in Education

Become a teacher or advance your teaching career with a degree from Lesley.

Transform students' lives

Backed by Lesley's legacy of preparing highly qualified educators, you'll be ready to make a difference in your own classroom right away with a master's degree from Lesley.

You’ll receive one-on-one attention in small class sizes from our faculty practitioners, and our academic advisors will support you throughout your program.

Our range of programs and flexible delivery models make it easy for you to fit graduate school around your schedule. This includes on-campus programs at Lesley in Cambridge, MA, fully online, or a yearlong teacher residency through a partnership with a local school.

Explore the Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs and delivery models

Online Program (Language and Literacy only)

Attend full- or part-time, taking accelerated eight-week courses asynchronously online
Professional Licensure M.Ed. programs for licensed teachers
Enhance your skills in literacy
Start six times a year
Rolling admissions

On-Campus/Hybrid Programs (for all levels of interest and goals)

Meet face-to-face on the Lesley campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts as well as virtual
Attend full- or part-time taking courses in traditional 15-week semesters in the evenings or on weekends
Programs start twice a year in Summer and Fall
Apply by April 1 for Summer, or by August 1 for Fall

Teacher Residencies (for anyone new to teaching and interested in a three-semester immersive program)

Work full-time in a local partner school while concurrently taking graduate courses with Lesley
Complete the program earning an M.Ed. and Initial Teacher License in three semesters
Programs start once a year in Summer (June)
Apply by May 1

Ph.D. Programs

Classes meet in a low residency model, always with a 10-day summer residency in Cambridge
Complete coursework in just under three years and a dissertation in the third year
Programs start once a year in Summer (June)
Apply by April 1

Master of Education (M.Ed.) Programs

Choose from a range of grade levels and subjects

Get your Master of Education (M.Ed.) leading to an Initial teaching license. Already a licensed teacher? Some of our programs can help you lift your Initial teaching license to a Professional one.

Art Education
On-campus/Hybrid
Early Childhood Education
On-campus/Hybrid | Teacher residency
Early Childhood Education with ESL
Teacher residency
Elementary Education
On-campus/Hybrid | Teacher residency

Elementary Education with ESL
Teacher residency
Individually Designed
Teacher residency
Middle School Education
On-campus/Hybrid | Teacher residency
High School Education
On-campus/Hybrid | Teacher residency

Reading Specialist (Second Initial License)
On-campus/Hybrid
Inclusive Special Education
On-campus/Hybrid | Teacher residency
May also lift an Initial License to a Professional License.

Career Outcomes

Alumna Profile

Sydney's Story

Sydney Chaffee's passion for education reform led her to Lesley University, where she earned her master's degree in education in 2007. As a high school humanities teacher, she infuses her lessons with poetry, has pioneered a partnership with a local theater company, and teaches social justice through lessons on Puerto Rico and South Africa. She strives to push herself and her students to learn and grow every day, qualities that made her the 2017 National Teacher of the Year.

The degree employers are looking for.

Lesley graduates go on to rewarding careers in public and private schools, daycare centers, and beyond. That's because our programs are ranked #1 for preparing teachers with the skills Massachusetts employers are seeking, including:

Putting theory into practice with an emphasis on instruction and assessment.
Reflecting on lesson effectiveness and sharing best practices to improve student learning.
Applying innovative, progressive, cutting-edge approaches.
Using varied practices to help each student meet or exceed state and local standards.
Recognizing technology as an integral component of the teaching and learning process.
Source: Radius Global Market Research 2017.

$86,755

Average salary for teachers in Massachusetts (2021-2022), according to the National Education Association.

Superintendents and other hiring managers across Massachusetts prefer to hire Lesley graduates, reporting that they are best prepared to enter the classroom on day one. (Source: Radius Global Market Research)

Top Schools

Massachusetts ranks as the best state to be a teacher, with some of the highest performing schools and best salaries in the country, according to US News.