Master of Education in Learning
Transform education through innovative learning design, inclusive instruction, and evidence-based practice with four dynamic concentrations
Take a Quick Look
We’re committed to creating an education as unique as your career path. So, whether your goal is a new career or moving up in your field, our innovative programs will get you going your way.
Overview
The Master of Education in Learning (MEdL) is a comprehensive, practice-based program that develops your leadership capabilities and advanced skills in designing, facilitating, and creating curricula across diverse educational contexts. Whether you're an educator, instructional designer, or learning professional working in higher education, K–12 settings, or workplace learning environments, this program equips you to lead transformative change in today's evolving educational landscape.
Grounded in contemporary education, the program emphasizes learning science, research-based instructional approaches, and the creation of inclusive educational experiences. You'll examine education through a social justice lens while building expertise in learning design, assessment strategies, and evidence-based pedagogical practices. With four in-demand concentrations to choose from, you can personalize your degree to align with your career goals and professional interests—whether that's designing with cutting-edge learning technologies, advancing classroom instruction, supporting multilingual learners, or specializing in special education.
At the heart of the program is Northeastern's signature experience-powered learning model, which has defined the university for more than a century. Every course includes authentic signature assignments that address real-world challenges in your professional context, and these projects become key artifacts in your comprehensive ePortfolio. You'll participate in Experiential Network (XN) opportunities—short-term projects with educational organizations, schools, nonprofits, and companies that allow you to apply classroom learning while building professional connections and showcasing your capabilities. The program culminates in a capstone experience where you'll complete a project that demonstrates your expertise, synthesizes your learning, and addresses a significant challenge or opportunity in your chosen concentration. Depending on your concentration and career goals, you may also engage in supervised practicum experiences in relevant educational settings, which are required for certain licensure pathways.
Delivered in a flexible, 100% online format designed for working professionals, the program enables you to immediately apply new knowledge in your current role while building toward your next career move. This seamless integration of theory and practice ensures you graduate not just with advanced credentials, but with tangible evidence of your ability to design effective learning experiences and drive meaningful educational innovation—all showcased in a professional ePortfolio that demonstrates your expertise and capabilities to employers and educational communities.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Students who graduate from the MEd in Learning Program will be able to:
- Explain the major theories, research methods, and approaches related to teaching and learning within and across all professional environments; articulate their sources and illustrate the practical applications and interconnections that inform the development, implementation, and optimization of learning processes, while also fostering growth and innovation.
- Design and execute an applied, investigative, or creative work that draws on the evidence, perspectives, and/or methods within a learning-related field and reflect on the resulting advantages and challenges of including chosen evidence, perspectives, and/or methods.
- Design and execute a project or performance, within a local or particular context, that applies advanced learning-related knowledge or skills to a practical challenge. Reflect on the experience, considering evidence, approaches, scholarly debates, and recognized norms, standards, and expectations.
- Assess and develop a position on a significant learning-related policy issue that integrates the scholarship and published narratives of relevant interest groups and addresses civic, social, environmental, and/or economic challenges at local, national, and/or global levels.
- Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world contexts, demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability skills, and effectively reflect on and communicate insights and outcomes.
- Explore, evaluate, and integrate digital tools and technologies into learning-related processes and practices to enhance learning experiences, foster collaboration, and address learner needs.
UNIQUE PROGRAM FEATURES
- Versatile Educational Expertise for Diverse Environments: The program develops professionals who can design and implement effective learning experiences across multiple settings—from higher education and K-12 classrooms to workplace training environments—providing career flexibility and broader professional impact.
- Comprehensive Pathway to Massachusetts Teacher Licensure: The MEd in Special Education and the MEd in ESL include a licensure track, which leads to endorsement for an additional Massachusetts teacher license. This track is only open to students who already hold an initial teacher license in another subject. It includes pre-practicum and practicum experiences, which must take place in a public school in Massachusetts.
- Financial Support for Urban Educators: The MacFarland Scholarship offers significant financial support—up to $18,000—for incoming students committed to working in urban educational settings, making this transformative professional preparation more accessible to those dedicated to serving communities with the greatest needs.
- Industry-Expert Faculty: Learn from practicing professionals who bring current expertise from K-12 education, higher ed, corporate training, and educational technology.
Career Prospects
Your field is evolving rapidly. That's why we're constantly innovating our programs to anticipate your industry's needs. So, no matter where your field goes, you can lead the way.
| Job Title | Average Salary (Annual) |
|---|---|
| Instructional Designer | $75,000 - $95,000 |
| Training Manager | $80,000 - $110,000 |
| Special Education Teachers | $70,000 |
| ESL Program Coordinator | $55,000 - $80,000 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $74,720 |
| Instructional Coach | $71,000 |
| Curriculum Development Specialist | $73,000 |
School leadership positions—with employment projections showing over 21,000 annual openings nationwide for instructional coordinators and growing demand for professionals who can bridge technology, data, and instruction in today's rapidly evolving K-12 landscape.
Where Our Alumni Work
Boston Public Schools • MIT • Microsoft • Massachusetts General Hospital • NYC Department of Education • Chicago Public Schools • Tufts University • Thomas Edison State University • Fortune 500 Companies • Educational Nonprofits • Community Organizations
What They Do
Instructional Designer • Learning Experience Designer • Training and Development Manager • Curriculum Coordinator • ESL Specialist • Special Education Teacher • Educational Consultant • Educational Technology Specialist
What Our Alumni Say
"Each course encouraged me to connect content and assignments to the real-life learning challenges I face in my full-time role. This marriage of theory and practice required me to assess my current thinking, integrate new theoretical constructs, and appreciate new methodologies. The learning I gained was immediately applicable to my professional role."
Program Curriculum
For details on required courses, concentrations, and electives, please consult the current academic catalog.
Cost and Tuition
Tuition
Estimated Total Tuition
This is an estimate based on the tuition rates for Academic Year 2025-2026 and does not include any fees or other expenses. Some courses and labs have tuition rates that may increase or decrease total tuition. Tuition and fees are subject to revision by the president and Board of Trustees at any time. Select programs at select campuses offer additional scholarships of up to 25% off the listed price for domestic students studying on campus. For more detailed information, please visit Student Financial Services.
For students interested in pursuing financial assistance or educational loans, additional educational costs, known as Cost of Attendance (COA) components, can be included in the calculation of aid and loan eligibility. Components may include food, housing, books, course materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, personal expenses, and the cost of obtaining a first professional licensure. You can find comprehensive details on the Student Financial Services website. Please keep in mind that COA can vary significantly depending on academic program, enrollment intensity, and individual circumstances.
Application Deadlines
Our admissions process operates on a rolling basis; however, we do recommend the application guidelines below to ensure you can begin during your desired start term:
Domestic Application Guidelines
International Application Guidelines*
*International deadlines are only applicable if the program is F1 compliant.
Choose Your Concentration
Ideal for: Instructional designers, eLearning developers, training specialists, educators transitioning to corporate learning, and technology innovators
This robust, practice-based concentration grounds you in the art and science of designing engaging, technology-enhanced learning environments grounded in contemporary learning design principles and theory. You'll develop expertise in creating on-ground, online, and blended learning experiences that leverage digital technologies to help learners meet academic, personal, professional, and organizational goals across diverse industry sectors.
Hands-on learning experiences prepare you to apply learning design models, theories, and technologies based on systematic analysis of context, content, and learner needs—ensuring you can create solutions that respond to real-world constraints and opportunities.
Throughout the program, you'll develop the capacity to demonstrate constructive collaboration across professional contexts while navigating organizational culture, learner diversity, and project demands. The curriculum emphasizes creating learning designs that promote social justice, inclusion, and the building of intercultural networks, preparing you to respond innovatively to learning design challenges across multiple modalities and settings. You'll graduate positioned as a leader who can effectively collect, analyze, and present ideas and data in multiple mediums to diverse audiences while leveraging emerging technologies and the latest research to transform learning experiences in meaningful and impactful ways.
Ideal for: K-12 teachers, curriculum coordinators, instructional coaches, school leaders, educational data specialists, and community education professionals
Designed for teachers and leaders in K-12 schools and community organizations who seek to improve educational environments while developing the skills needed to become competitive leaders in education. Through Northeastern's hands-on learning model, you’ll master instructional coaching practices, develop data literacy skills for evidence-based decision making, design engaging online and mobile learning environments, develop strategies for motivating students, and practice responding to societal and institutional changes impacting contemporary education.
The coursework and capstone project prepare you to effectively implement assessment practices, analyze and interpret educational data to inform instruction, lead transformative change with technology integration, and facilitate professional learning communities. You'll develop expertise in curriculum design aligned to standards, gain practical experience and build the instructional coaching competencies that improve learning across the educational spectrum. Program objectives focus on helping you anticipate and meet the needs of diverse students, understand the impact of local, national, and global changes on educational policy and practice, and recognize opportunities to transform classrooms, schools, and broader educational communities.
Graduates develop the capacity to serve as agents for social justice and are positioned to drive community-based change while broadening their professional understanding of diverse student populations.
Ideal for: Licensed teachers, aspiring special education teachers, educators interested in deepening their knowledge of educational theory and practice in special education
Adding special education expertise to your professional portfolio opens doors to meaningful work with diverse student populations. This concentration equips you to anticipate and meet the complex needs of students with specialized learning requirements, empowering you to make a lasting difference in their educational journeys.
You'll join a vibrant community of professional and aspiring teachers who share your passion for advancing educational theory and practice. Together, you'll explore the latest evidence-based approaches and innovations in special education, building both expertise and lasting professional connections.
Flexible Pathways to Meet Your Goals
- Non-Licensure Track: The program has the option to be completed entirely online for educators seeking specialized knowledge without pursuing Massachusetts licensure.
- Licensure Track: Coursework is completed online, but there are pre-practicum and practicum requirements, which must take place in a public school in Massachusetts. Coursework emphasizes developing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), advocacy skills, and understanding policy impacts on special education practice.
The curriculum meets Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education standards for endorsement for an additional license as a teacher of students with moderate disabilities (grades PK-8 or 5-12). This track is only open to students who already hold an initial teacher license in another subject.
- Pre-Practicum requirements: 40 hours in an inclusive classroom in a Massachusetts public school.
- Practicum requirements: 150 hours of supervised practice, including 75 hours of direct teaching, in an inclusive classroom in a Massachusetts public school.
Ideal for: ESL/ELL teachers, bilingual educators, language program coordinators, and educators working with multilingual populations
Gain specialized expertise in supporting English language learners across educational contexts. This concentration combines language acquisition theory, culturally responsive teaching practices, and practical strategies for developing academic language skills in multilingual learners.
You'll join a vibrant community of professional and aspiring teachers who share your passion for advancing educational theory and practice. Together, you'll explore the latest evidence-based approaches and innovations in teaching English as a second language, building both expertise and lasting professional connections.
Flexible Pathways to Meet Your Goals
- Non-Licensure Track: The program can be completed entirely online for educators seeking specialized knowledge without pursuing Massachusetts licensure.
- Licensure Track: Coursework is completed online, but there are pre-practicum and practicum requirements, which must take place in a public school in Massachusetts. Coursework emphasizes language and literacy instruction, advocacy skills, and understanding policy.
The curriculum meets Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education standards for endorsement for an additional license as a teacher of English as a Second Language (grades PK-6 or 5-12). This track is only open to students who already hold an initial teacher license in another subject.
- Pre-Practicum requirements: 40 hours in a classroom in a Massachusetts public school with ESL learners.
- Practicum requirements: 150 hours of supervised practice, including 75 hours of direct teaching, in classroom in a Massachusetts public school with ESL learners.
Career Paths: ESL Teacher, ELL Specialist, Bilingual Program Coordinator, Language Assessment Specialist, TESOL Instructor, Multilingual Education Consultant
MacFarland Scholarship Opportunity
New incoming students who are working or intend to work as educators in public schools at the elementary or secondary level within an urban area are eligible to receive a scholarship award of up to $18,700. Learn more.
Admissions
Visit our admissions page for a detailed explanation of application requirements.
Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.
Admissions Details Learn more about the College of Professional Studies admissions process, policies, and required materials.
Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.
How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.
Ready to explore your future?
Our enrollment representatives can walk you through the application process and help you explore your program options.
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