Your job target should decide where you put your tuition and study time. If you want broad preparation for classroom teaching or an initial teaching credential, an elementary education master’s is the closer match. If you’re already licensed and want specialist work in reading, a reading and literacy master’s is more direct. Compare online elementary education vs reading and literacy master’s programs before choosing.
Key Takeaways
- Elementary education covers teaching across core subjects, while literacy programs concentrate on reading assessment, intervention, and instructional leadership. That broader or narrower focus can shape which classroom or specialist roles the degree supports.
- Initial teacher licensure and reading specialist endorsement are different goals; the degree title alone does not prove which one a program supports. Review the actual licensure or endorsement pathway, rather than assuming the program name answers that question.
- Both paths may require work with pupils, even when coursework is online, so compare student teaching, practica, and local placement rules. An online schedule may still include an in-person requirement that affects where and when you can complete the degree.
These degrees overlap, but they are not substitutes. Elementary education is usually the better fit for entering or deepening general classroom teaching. Reading and literacy is the narrower choice for teachers who want to assess reading needs, lead interventions, coach colleagues, or pursue a reading specialist credential. Your current license and intended role should drive the decision, along with the placement requirements you can realistically complete.
Which Degree Matches Your Professional Goal?
The clearest split is breadth versus specialization. An elementary education program prepares you to teach several subjects and manage learning across an elementary classroom. A reading and literacy degree goes deeper into how students learn to read, why some struggle, and how schools can improve literacy instruction. That difference affects the work you are preparing to do: one pathway supports responsibility for a broad classroom program, while the other concentrates your study on literacy instruction and improvement.
Program titles reveal useful differences, but they do not settle the professional outcome. American Public University System offers the Master of Education / Teaching-Elementary Reading, which combines an elementary setting with reading study. Ohio University offers the Master of Education in Reading Education, a title that points more directly toward literacy specialization. Neither title alone confirms licensure eligibility, and neither tells you whether the program matches the credential your intended position requires. The title helps you find the relevant program; the stated outcome determines whether it fits your goal.
George Mason University offers the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, Advanced Studies in Teaching & Learning / Literacy PK-12 Classroom Teachers. According to George Mason University, its related literacy education route requires 30 credits and can be completed in as few as four semesters. That structure may suit a teacher who already has classroom experience and wants focused literacy study. It may be less relevant if your immediate goal is preparation for the full range of responsibilities in an elementary classroom, where literacy is one part of a broader teaching assignment.
| Comparison Point | Elementary Education Master’s | Reading and Literacy Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Prepare for or strengthen general elementary classroom teaching | Develop advanced reading instruction and intervention skills |
| Typical Academic Scope | Teaching methods across core elementary subjects | Reading assessment, literacy development, intervention, and coaching |
| Credential Question | Does the program lead to initial elementary teacher licensure? | Does the program meet reading specialist endorsement requirements? |
| Field Experience | May include classroom field work and student teaching | May include assessment clinics, intervention work, or a literacy field experience |
Reading degrees also vary by intended audience. Some serve classroom teachers who want stronger reading instruction. Others are built around specialist licensure. The credential outcome is the deciding factor: compare what the program says you will be qualified to do with the role you actually want, not just words such as literacy, reading, or curriculum. A program can sound closely related to your goal while leading to a different professional path, so review the published outcome and licensure language before treating the degree title as an answer.
GetEducated's Picks
- Grand Canyon University Master of Arts in Reading Education K-12
- Liberty University Master of Education - Reading Specialist Endorsement
- Arizona State University Master of Arts in Education - Literacy Education (Non-Licensure)
Online Elementary Education vs Reading and Literacy Master’s Curricula
Elementary education coursework is broad because the classroom role is broad. Expect study in lesson planning, assessment, child development, classroom practice, and methods for teaching several elementary subjects. Programs designed for new teachers may add the supervised experience required for initial licensure, which makes the curriculum more demanding than a subject-focused graduate program. Student teaching also changes the practical shape of the degree: you are preparing to demonstrate classroom performance, not only complete academic assignments.
One official online Master of Arts in Teaching program page lists 37 credit hours, field work, and student teaching for initial Virginia PreK–6 teacher licensure. That combination is a strong sign that the program serves career entrants. If you already hold a teaching license, repeating an initial preparation sequence may add time without giving you the specialization you need. A degree for licensed teachers may replace student teaching with advanced projects or classroom-based work, so your current credential is one of the first details to verify.
Reading and literacy curricula narrow the lens. Courses may address reading disabilities, diagnostic assessment, language development, intervention, literacy leadership, and instructional coaching. An official Literacy Leadership program page describes a fully online, 33-credit degree with a two-year length for licensed teachers seeking a Reading Specialist endorsement. The focus is therefore different from broad elementary preparation: you study how to identify reading needs and design or guide targeted instruction, rather than preparing across the full elementary classroom.
The distinction matters if your intended role sits between classroom teaching and literacy specialization. Broad preparation may cover more subjects but leave less room for advanced reading coursework. A literacy degree may give you deeper work in assessment and intervention while assuming that you already understand the responsibilities of a licensed teacher. Check whether the credential statement matches the role you want before comparing course titles alone.
- Pick elementary education if you need broad preparation for teaching an elementary class or an initial credential.
- Pick reading and literacy if you want deeper skill in assessment, intervention, reading instruction, or teacher coaching.
- Inspect electives if your goal falls between the two, such as serving as a classroom teacher with added reading expertise.
Curriculum labels can hide meaningful differences. Use GetEducated’s elementary education master’s comparison to inspect degree titles, then read each curriculum and credential statement carefully. A short literacy concentration inside a general degree is not necessarily equal to a full reading specialist program. Compare the required courses, the amount of supervised practice, and the credential attached to the degree; those details tell you whether the program prepares you for initial classroom entry, advanced work as a licensed teacher, or both.
Licensure and Field Work Can Decide the Better Fit
A master’s degree and a professional license are separate credentials. The university awards the degree, while a state education agency controls teacher licenses and endorsements. A program can give you graduate-level preparation without qualifying you to enter an elementary classroom as a licensed teacher. Before applying, confirm whether it leads to initial licensure, an added endorsement, professional development, or only the academic degree. That distinction affects the courses you take, the field work you complete, and whether the credential matches the job you plan to pursue.
George Mason University states that applicants to its related reading specialist licensure program should have at least one year of PreK–12 teaching experience. That requirement reflects a meaningful difference between the paths: many literacy specialist programs build on prior classroom practice, while an initial-licensure elementary program may be designed for someone entering teaching. If you already hold certification and want to work with struggling readers, the reading and literacy route may build on experience you have. If you are not yet licensed, an elementary program with an initial-licensure outcome may address a requirement the literacy degree does not.
Online delivery does not remove field requirements. Student teaching usually places the learner in a general classroom for sustained supervised practice. A literacy field experience may instead focus on reading assessments, individual instruction, small groups, or intervention planning. Those settings can create different scheduling demands, too. A placement that depends on a school-based supervisor, approved site, or access to students may not fit automatically into your current job or school.
- Ask which license or endorsement the program is approved to support.
- Confirm whether your current teacher certification meets entry requirements.
- Check whether field work can occur in your school or community.
- Find out who secures the placement and approves the supervisor.
- Verify the rules with the state where you plan to work.
The reading and literacy master’s prerequisite guide can help you spot experience, certification, and academic requirements before you pay an application fee. Read the licensure language closely: “reading specialist,” “endorsement,” and “initial licensure” do not describe the same outcome. If you do not yet hold a teaching license, give added weight to elementary programs that state an initial-licensure outcome. If you already hold certification, compare the program’s field experience and endorsement requirements with the work you want to do next.
Career Goals That Favor Each Credential
Elementary education is the more direct degree for leading a general elementary classroom. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that elementary school teachers had a median annual wage of $63,970 in May 2025, with little or no employment change projected from 2025 to 2035 and about 99,400 openings each year. Those openings may result from turnover as well as new jobs. For someone who wants one credential that points toward a broad classroom role, this path keeps the intended job and the course of study closely aligned.
Reading and literacy study can support work as a reading specialist, literacy coach, intervention teacher, or classroom teacher with advanced reading duties. Job titles and credential rules differ by district and state. Adelphi University’s Master of Science in Literacy Education and Concordia University, St. Paul’s Master of Arts in Education / Literacy illustrate the specialist emphasis, but applicants still need to verify the exact role each program supports. That distinction matters because a program can deepen your subject expertise without automatically providing the authorization required for a particular school position.
Some literacy graduates continue teaching at other grade levels. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a May 2025 median annual wage of $64,370 for middle school teachers and projects little or no employment change through 2035, with about 38,800 openings each year. The agency separately reports that librarians and library media specialists had a median annual wage of $68,270 and projected growth of 3% over the same period, with about 12,600 annual openings. These figures describe related occupations, not automatic outcomes for graduates, so the credential’s value depends on whether its requirements match the role you plan to pursue.
A reading degree does not guarantee access to every literacy-related job. School library roles, specialist positions, and instructional posts may carry separate state or district requirements. A program may be academically relevant and still leave you needing a license, endorsement, or other approval for the job you want. Use the reading specialist career guide to examine that role before committing to the narrower credential, and request a formal prerequisite evaluation if the program’s licensure path is not clear.
The practical decision depends on the work you want to do after graduation:
- Choose elementary education for broad classroom teaching, especially if you need initial licensure.
- Choose reading and literacy for specialist work when you already teach and want deeper reading expertise.
- Pause before enrolling if the program does not state how its curriculum aligns with your state’s credential rules. Confirm that alignment with the relevant state or district authority, rather than assuming the degree title settles the question.
Find Your Online Education Degree
Narrow 212 accredited online Education degree programs to find the perfect fit.
Southern New Hampshire University
Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / Dyslexia Studies & Language-Based Learning Disabilities
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction - Reading (Prepares for ESL Certification)
Youngstown State University
Master of Science in Education - Teacher Education - Curriculum & Instruction: Literacy (Requires Teaching Licensure)
Texas A&M International University
Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction - Reading (Non-Licensure)
George Mason University
Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, Advanced Studies in Teaching & Learning / Literacy PK-12 Classroom Teachers
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / Reading & Literacy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get an elementary education degree online?
Yes. Coursework may be online, but initial-licensure programs can still require in-person field work or student teaching. That placement may affect your schedule and commute, even if the academic portion is remote. Confirm how the school arranges placements where you live, and ask whether you are responsible for securing an approved site.
Can you earn a reading and literacy master’s online?
Yes. Many programs deliver academic courses online. Practica may still require direct work with pupils in a school, clinic, or approved community setting. The online format describes how you attend classes; it does not necessarily describe where you complete supervised experience.
Do I need to be a licensed teacher for a reading master’s?
Often, but not always. Programs tied to reading specialist endorsement commonly expect teacher certification and classroom experience. Those requirements can determine whether you qualify before the coursework even begins. Review admissions and state endorsement rules together, since satisfying one does not necessarily satisfy the other.
Will an elementary education master’s lead to teacher licensure?
Only if the program is approved for that purpose and meets the rules of the state where you seek licensure. A master’s labeled elementary education may also serve already licensed teachers, so the degree title alone does not establish its licensure purpose. Check the program’s approval and your state’s credential requirements separately.
How many credits is a master’s degree in education?
Credit totals differ by program, credential goal, and field experience. Compare credits only when schools use the same credit system, and check whether prerequisite or certification courses sit outside the degree. A lower published total may not represent less coursework if additional requirements are listed separately.
Is education considered a professional degree?
Education is a professional field, but an education degree does not automatically grant a teaching license or specialist endorsement. The degree and the state credential must be checked separately. This distinction matters most for programs that serve already licensed teachers, because completing the master’s may not change your licensure status.
Which degree is better for becoming a reading specialist?
A reading and literacy master’s aligned with your state’s specialist requirements is usually the more direct choice. An elementary education master’s is broader and may not include the required literacy courses or field experience. The deciding factor is whether the curriculum and supervised experience match the specialist credential you intend to pursue.
Which degree is better for changing careers into teaching?
An initial-licensure elementary education program is usually the stronger fit. Many reading specialist degrees expect applicants to arrive with a teaching credential and classroom experience. If you are entering teaching rather than adding a specialization, that admissions requirement can make the reading-focused option a poor starting point, even if its subject matter interests you.
Sources
- George Mason University literacy education program details
- Online elementary education program requirements
- Online literacy leadership program details
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: elementary school teachers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: middle school teachers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: librarians and library media specialists