The independent, trusted guide to online education for over 28 years!

Online STEM, STEAM, Science, Mathematics, and Art Education Master’s Programs

Online STEM, STEAM, Science, Mathematics, and Art Education Master’s Programs

Group of adults engaging in a collaborative STEAM education workshop, showcasing hands-on learning activities

Charity Derrow
October 20, 2026

You can spend substantial money and time on a master’s that points toward the wrong classroom, license, or leadership role. Compare programs by the work you want to do: classroom teaching, arts integration, STEM or science instruction, mathematics leadership, or licensure. The online STEAM education master's programs directory helps show how much these options differ.

Key Takeaways

  • Program titles reveal major differences in subject focus, grade level, leadership, and teacher licensure.
  • Art education, STEM teaching, general science, biology, and mathematics leadership serve different career goals.
  • Verify total cost, state approval, field work, course delivery, and admissions rules before applying.

This list serves educators and career changers who want a focused comparison rather than a general degree overview. Each entry explains what stands out, who may find it relevant, and which claim needs closer review. Course delivery and field work can affect whether the program fits your schedule, while admissions rules may determine whether you can apply at all. Use the degree title as a starting point, not as proof that a program meets your state’s licensure or endorsement rules.

Compare Online STEAM Master’s Programs

Online STEAM Education Master’s Programs to Compare

The programs below cover integrated STEAM teaching, mathematics leadership, art education, STEM curriculum, biology, and general science. That range is useful only when the degree’s subject focus matches the work you want to do afterward. A licensed art teacher, a mathematics coach, and a candidate pursuing secondary biology licensure may all search for STEAM programs, but they are not looking for the same preparation. The STEAM master’s fit guide for working teachers can help you narrow the field before you review individual titles.

Course structure can differ even among degrees in the same field. An official university STEAM curriculum page, for example, divides 30 units into 10 courses—five foundation courses and five specialization courses—across five semesters. That layout tells you more than a broad concentration label: it shows how much of the degree is shared foundation work and how much is directed toward a specific area. Compare the actual course map, delivery format, and any required field experience before assuming two similarly named programs offer comparable preparation.

1. American Public University System — Master of Education / Teaching-STEAM (STEM + the Arts)

American Public University System offers the Master of Education / Teaching-STEAM (STEM + the Arts) as a broad, integrated option. Its title directly combines science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with the arts rather than treating art as a separate subject. That may appeal to educators planning project-based lessons that cross several disciplines, particularly if they want graduate study that keeps the arts visible in the curriculum.

The broad title also creates an important question: how much coursework covers each STEAM area? Review the course list for design, arts integration, assessment, and classroom research. A program can use an integrated title while giving students very different amounts of practice in those areas. Applicants seeking an endorsement or initial teaching credential should also confirm state eligibility because the program title does not itself establish a licensure outcome.

2. George Mason University — Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / Mathematics Specialist Leadership

George Mason University’s Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / Mathematics Specialist Leadership has the clearest mathematics leadership emphasis in this shortlist. It may fit experienced teachers who want to support mathematics instruction, coach colleagues, or guide curriculum work rather than move into a general STEAM degree. That focus is a meaningful distinction if your next role involves improving instruction across a department or school.

Check whether the mathematics specialist track expects a current teaching license, prior classroom experience, or specific mathematics courses. Also ask how the school handles field-based leadership work for online students. Those requirements can affect both admission and how easily you can complete the degree while working. A leadership title can signal advanced responsibilities, but state rules determine whether it leads to a formal specialist credential.

3. Adelphi University — Master of Arts in Art Education

Adelphi University takes the arts-centered route with its Master of Arts in Art Education. Unlike a broad STEM degree with one arts component, this program title places art teaching at the center. It deserves consideration from art educators who want graduate study in their own discipline while remaining within the larger STEAM education field.

Applicants should compare studio requirements, curriculum courses, and any teaching or portfolio expectations. Confirm whether the degree serves licensed teachers, initial-license candidates, or both. If your goal is integrated STEAM instruction, look for clear coursework connecting art with science, technology, engineering, or mathematics rather than assuming that connection from the directory category. The amount of arts-specific work may be a benefit for one student and a limitation for another who needs broader curriculum training.

GetEducated's Picks

Compare 229 Steam Education Picks

4. Auburn University at Montgomery — Master of Education (Teacher Licensure) in Secondary Education / Biology

The Master of Education (Teacher Licensure) in Secondary Education / Biology at Auburn University at Montgomery explicitly identifies teacher licensure and biology. That combination makes it a more targeted option for someone preparing to teach secondary biology than for a licensed teacher seeking broad STEAM curriculum training. The licensure emphasis also means the program should be evaluated as a credential pathway, not only as a subject-area master’s degree.

Licensure programs usually require more than online coursework, so verify student teaching, background checks, testing, and placement support in your state. These requirements can determine whether the program is workable alongside an existing job, especially if placements must be arranged through an approved school. The title identifies the intended credential area, but it does not guarantee that every state will accept the program. Ask for a written state-eligibility review before enrolling.

5. Auburn University at Montgomery — Master of Education (Teacher Licensure) in Secondary Education / General Science

Auburn University at Montgomery also offers the Master of Education (Teacher Licensure) in Secondary Education / General Science. The general science label is broader than biology and may suit candidates who want preparation across multiple secondary science subjects. It is not interchangeable with the biology track, especially where states issue subject-specific credentials.

Compare the science prerequisites and approved teaching fields for both Auburn University at Montgomery options. Ask which school placements are available near your home and whether the general science curriculum covers the subjects required by your state. The distinction matters for both licensure and hiring: a broader program may help if you need several science areas, while a biology-focused route may be the cleaner match for a biology classroom. Flexibility has value only if local certification rules and employer needs recognize it.

6. Carlow University — Master of Education in Art Education (K-12)

Carlow University’s Master of Education in Art Education (K-12) is distinguished by its stated grade span. The K-12 label may matter to educators who want art education preparation that crosses elementary, middle, and secondary settings rather than focusing on one age group.

Confirm whether K-12 describes the curriculum, an endorsement, or a licensure outcome available in your state. Review any studio, portfolio, field experience, or classroom requirements as well. A requirement that looks minor in a program summary can affect where you need to be and what work you must submit. This program may be a closer subject match for art teachers than a general STEAM degree, but applicants seeking cross-disciplinary instruction should inspect how the curriculum connects art with other STEAM subjects.

7. Carlow University — Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / STEM Teaching

The Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / STEM Teaching from Carlow University shifts the emphasis from a single subject to classroom design and instruction. Its curriculum-and-instruction frame may fit licensed educators who want to improve STEM teaching, lesson planning, and program design without pursuing an art-specific graduate degree.

Ask whether the track includes engineering design, educational technology, research, or a capstone. Compare those answers with your intended role, since a program built around lesson design may serve a practicing teacher better than one aimed at a new subject credential. Teachers seeking a new license should verify that outcome separately, while experienced teachers should check whether completed projects can address problems in their own classrooms or schools. The useful comparison is the work the curriculum prepares you to perform, not just the subject in the title.

How These Programs Were Selected

Comparison graphic detailing licensure, subject specialization, and leadership tracks for online STEAM education master's programs

The editorial shortlist starts with fully online master’s-level programs in GetEducated’s reviewed education directory. To qualify, a program had to be accredited, available fully online, and have a verified title or concentration connected to STEAM, STEM, mathematics, science, biology, or art education. Programs were left out when that connection was missing or could not be verified. That requirement keeps the list focused on programs whose published academic subject matches the reader’s intended field, rather than on programs that happen to include a related course.

The final list is curated, not arranged as a metric-ordered ranking. Selection emphasized differences that help you compare actual goals: integrated STEAM teaching, arts education, mathematics leadership, STEM curriculum, and science licensure. Those categories point to different academic and professional uses, so a program may be a strong match for one reader and a poor match for another. GetEducated’s subject ranking reviews 62 STEM education master’s options using total program cost, including mandatory fees. That provides a consistent basis for a separate price comparison, while this shortlist concentrates on program purpose and subject fit.

  • Included: Accredited, fully online master’s programs meeting the subject constraint.
  • Excluded: Programs with an unrelated or unverifiable subject focus.
  • Shortlist priority: Distinct curriculum, grade-level, leadership, and licensure purposes.

The shortlist does not suggest that every program serves the same student or leads to the same next step. A current art teacher may be comparing arts-focused study with broader STEAM preparation, while an aspiring biology teacher may need to examine science licensure requirements. A mathematics coach may care more about leadership and curriculum than classroom subject preparation. These differences affect how useful the degree will be after graduation, even when the programs share an online format.

For that reason, the entries emphasize fit, curriculum distinctions, and warning signs rather than declaring a universal winner. The useful comparison is between the program’s stated purpose and the work you need it to support. Cost still matters, but a lower-priced option is not automatically the better choice if its subject focus does not match your intended teaching or leadership role.

What to Compare Before Enrolling

Begin with the degree’s intended outcome. The two Auburn University at Montgomery programs explicitly place teacher licensure in their titles, while George Mason University emphasizes mathematics specialist leadership. Adelphi University and one Carlow University option center art education. Those labels should guide your questions, but state agencies—not program names—control teacher licensure. A program can be useful for professional development and still fail to meet the licensing requirements for the classroom or state you have in mind. The credential named on the diploma, the courses included, and the state approval behind the program all need to line up.

Time and credit totals also need context. A separate official STEM education program page lists 31 semester credits and a stated completion time of 12–15 months. A shorter calendar can mean a heavier course load, so compare term length, courses taken together, live meetings, and breaks. A schedule that looks efficient on the program page may be difficult to combine with teaching, grading, or family responsibilities if several demanding courses overlap. The guide to completing a STEAM master’s while working explains how those format details affect a working teacher.

  • Licensure: Get written confirmation that the program meets requirements in the state where you plan to teach. If you may move, check whether the coursework is tied to one state’s approval process or can support licensure elsewhere.
  • Field work: Ask who arranges student teaching, practica, observations, or job-based projects. Find out whether you must complete those requirements at a specific site or coordinate them through your current school.
  • Curriculum: Compare required courses with your intended subject, grade band, and role. A mathematics leadership curriculum will not necessarily provide the preparation needed for an art education or classroom-teaching path.
  • Cost: Request the total program cost, including mandatory fees, materials, and field-work expenses. The per-credit price alone may not show what the full degree requires.
  • Admissions: Check license, teaching experience, subject prerequisite, GPA, and recommendation requirements. Missing one prerequisite can delay enrollment or add coursework before the main program begins.

Watch for claims that use broad words such as leadership or certification without naming the resulting credential. If advancement is your goal, compare the program’s coursework with the actual duties of curriculum specialists, instructional coaches, or department leaders. A leadership emphasis may be relevant to your next role, but it does not answer a licensure question by itself. The STEAM education leadership guide offers a focused check on that career decision.

Find Your Online Education Degree

Narrow 215 accredited online Education degree programs to find the perfect fit.

Program Area

Concentration

Degree Level

Clear filters

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get a STEAM education master’s degree fully online?

Yes. Every program in this shortlist is available fully online, which removes the need to attend regular campus classes. However, licensure tracks may still require student teaching, observations, or other supervised work at an approved site. That placement can affect where you live, work, and complete the program, so online delivery does not always mean every requirement can be completed from home.

What is the difference between STEM and STEAM education?

STEM covers science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEAM adds the arts, but that addition can mean anything from a defined arts concentration to occasional creative projects. The amount of arts integration varies, so inspect required courses rather than relying only on the degree label. The curriculum will show whether the arts are central to the program or simply included in its description.

Do online STEAM master’s programs lead to teacher licensure?

Some do, while others serve teachers who already hold a license. A title that states teacher licensure offers a useful signal, but applicants must still verify approval with their state. State requirements can determine whether the degree leads to initial licensure, supports an existing credential, or provides professional development without changing licensure status.

Which program focus fits an art teacher?

Start with degrees that explicitly name art education. Then compare grade coverage, studio or portfolio work, curriculum courses, and whether the program supports licensure, professional development, or both. These details separate a program designed for classroom preparation from one that mainly develops subject knowledge. The distinction matters if you need a credential rather than additional coursework alone.

Which program focus fits a mathematics coach?

A mathematics specialist leadership track is a closer match than a general art or science degree. Confirm experience requirements and whether the program leads to a specialist endorsement in your state. The concentration may fit your subject area, but the endorsement determines how the credential can be used. Review both before treating the degree title as a qualification.

How many credits is a master’s degree in education?

Credit totals vary by school and credit system. Compare semester credits with semester credits, and review the number and length of terms to understand the actual pace. A similar-looking credit total can represent a very different schedule when courses are compressed or spread across longer terms. Pace affects how quickly you finish and how much coursework overlaps with your existing responsibilities.

How do you abbreviate master of education?

Schools commonly use MEd or M.Ed. A Master of Arts may appear as MA or M.A. Use the abbreviation shown on the school’s official degree record. The punctuation is a small detail, but the formal degree name can matter when an employer, licensing office, or application asks you to report the credential exactly.

Can graduate credits transfer between education master’s programs?

Transfer rules differ by school. Request an official evaluation before enrolling, and ask about credit age, minimum grades, residency requirements, and whether transferred work can replace concentration courses. A favorable transfer decision may reduce repeated coursework, while a general acceptance of credits does not necessarily mean those credits will satisfy your preferred specialization.

What are the biggest warning signs in an online STEAM master’s program?

Watch for unclear accreditation, vague state-licensure claims, missing total-cost details, and no written plan for required field work. A program should also publish a curriculum that clearly supports its advertised subject focus. If those pieces are missing, you may not be able to determine whether the degree meets your professional goal until after enrollment. That uncertainty is a cost in itself.

Sources

Share this article