UNH Today

The University of New Hampshire’s online master’s in educational studies program is top ranked in New Hampshire and rates among the best in New England, according to the 2023 U.S. News & World Report ranking of Best Online Master’s in Education Programs.

The online UNH M.Ed. program encourages students to embrace wide-ranging content in an immersible experience. Class sizes are carefully calibrated to ensure a high instructor-to-student ratio. Well-credentialed faculty members offer years of experience in the education field and a deep understanding of online teaching. UNH M.Ed. instructors actively seek engagement with their students through online discussions, promoting networking and fostering mentoring opportunities to enhance the academic experience.

“The students we know best are those with whom we have open and frequent lines of communication,” says Kathryn McCurdy, faculty member of the online M.Ed. program. “The greater the communication level, the greater the students’ success."

The online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Studies is designed for teachers and other industry professionals to improve their daily practice, promote a positive impact within public and private school systems, and earn credentials that can enhance their career trajectory. Students build a solid foundation within a variety of workplace environments, including business, education and research centers, and national and state agencies. Developing the tools to research, analyze and gain expertise in education issues, policies and practice, M.Ed. students apply theory to real-life learning contexts.

Andrew Coppens, director of UNH’s online M.Ed. program, says “it is important for instructors to give students opportunities to sharpen their skills and to foster an atmosphere of openness. When my students create something, I encourage them to revise and refine it as a path toward mastery."

Offering courses in eight-week terms with multiple start dates, the online UNH M.Ed. program is designed for working professionals seeking access to higher education, who need the flexibility to balance careers and family life with academic studies. Assigned faculty advisors work with each student to chart a manageable course schedule designed to help them achieve their academic goals.

“Working full-time while carrying a full course load, I parsed out my days in units, accessing the syllabus in advance to calendarize time segments for assignments and readings,” says Jackie Klatt, ’21G. “Scheduling my time kept me on track academically, but with the flexibility to accommodate unexpected changes.”

One of the benefits of the online UNH M.Ed. program is a feature that allows students to take elective courses outside the department, creating a customized academic experience that links their educational studies with a deep dive into their area of strong interest. The versatility of this M.Ed. degree is due to the broad, interdisciplinary approach to learning.

For the 2023 edition, U.S. News nationally ranked online M.Ed. programs using five categories: Engagement between faculty and students, expert opinion amongst academic leaders, faculty credentials and training for online learning, student excellence, and services/technologies that support student learning.