Master's Thesis Topics in Education

Culminating your knowledge of education into a master's thesis can be a tricky task, but in choosing the right topic, it can become less difficult. In a thesis, your goal is to identify a specific issue and address your own hypothesis in relation to that issue through intensive research. In choosing that issue, consider broad topics of interest in education that you will further narrow down into a specific research question.

Curriculum content is an important theme in education and refers to what is being taught in the classroom. Consider writing your thesis concerning what makes one curriculum plan better than another. Perhaps you want to study the impact of schoolwide curriculum plans versus individual classroom curriculum plans. You can explore the debate over state and national curriculum versus local curriculum or look at how they can work together. Think about incorporating the use of textbooks into your discussion of curriculum. You can narrow down these ideas within the curriculum theme by looking at specific subjects or grade levels.

How to assess student learning is an ongoing debate in the field of education and makes for a great research topic for a master’s thesis. Look at different types of assessment methods, how assessments are given or the influence of assessment on student success. Refine this topic by exploring specific issues such as standardized testing, test-taking strategies or teaching for a test. You can also look into alternative assessment methods, such as project-based learning. Research what types of assessment work better than others and make suggestions to those in your field on the best way to proceed with assessments in schools.

Students spend a lot of time in the classroom, so consider exploring what goes on in the classroom for your thesis. Consider the classroom environment by looking at things such as the classroom design and decoration, such as seating arrangements, sound systems and lighting. The classroom environment also encompasses the teaching strategies and discipline methods utilized. Research these specific issues and how they influence student behavior and attitude to make suggestions for how to provide students with the optimal conditions for success.

Student involvement is an important part of school life, so look at the influence particular programs have on students. You can focus on programs or activities that take place in or out of school. Consider researching the influence of specific reading programs that serve to benefit the regular curriculum. Look at the influence of student involvement in sports, and research the positive and negative benefits associated with these types of extracurricular activities. You can also go beyond the influence of extracurricular activities and suggest specific ways to increase student involvement in programs already proven to increase student success in school.