As a teacher with a bachelor's degree and a teaching license, you may find that you'd like to enhance your skills in certain subject areas, specialize your teaching practice, or simply give your salary a boost. In order to do this, you'll need a master's of education degree.

A master's of education may provide in-depth training in any number of subject areas, such as technology in the classroom, teaching English as a second language, literacy and learning, educational leadership, curriculum development, administration, or specific issues related to grade-level teaching (for instance, elementary or adult education). Your coursework might include studies in literacy, educational psychology, computer instruction, technology tools, analysis of data, management, and certain aspects related to diversity and social sciences.

With your master's in education firmly in hand, you'll have a number of career options opened to you, including positions as a teaching specialist or administrator. You'll also find that positions in postsecondary education - teaching future teachers - will become available to you, as many colleges and universities accept candidates with master's degrees to teach certain courses. Postsecondary education positions are expected to grow by 23 percent - much faster than average for all occupations - through 2016, and salaries among postsecondary teachers are much higher than those in K-12 positions.

Plus, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that one way for teachers to improve their salaries is by earning a master's of education - even those wishing to remain in their current positions. After all, such advanced training greatly enhances your work as an educator.