Lydia Peters, Author at mini传媒 Walk a different path. Fri, 24 Jul 2026 19:57:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 Is a Master鈥檚 in Education Worth It? What to Know in 2025 /is-a-masters-in-education-worth-it-what-to-know-in-2025/ Wed, 07 May 2025 15:15:08 +0000 /?p=95437

If you鈥檙e an educator鈥攐r working your way to becoming one鈥攜ou may be asking yourself a big question: Is earning a master鈥檚 in education worth it these days?

Given the current trends, (some of which you may be noticing, others you may not feel the impact of) we think the answer is more compelling than ever. Let鈥檚 break down what makes a master鈥檚 in education worth it.

1. Career Advancement Opportunities

One of the biggest reasons educators pursue an MSEd, as you probably would guess, is to grow their careers. If you earn a master鈥檚 degree, you automatically:

  • Qualify for leadership roles (e.g. principal, curriculum coordinator, instructional coach)
  • Access higher salary tiers in public and private schools
  • Stand out in a competitive job market

Of course, it wouldn’t be a current analysis without some current trends and data. General data indicates that higher educational attainment correlates with increased earnings. For example, in 2023, the median weekly earnings for individuals with a master’s degree were $1,737, compared to $1,493 for those with a bachelor’s degree鈥攁 difference of $244 per week. This amounts to an annual difference of approximately $12,688 That’s a big number!

2. Develop Specialized Skills That Make a Difference

Is a master鈥檚 in education worth it if you don鈥檛 obtain new skills and knowledge that help you stand apart? Of course not! Quality graduate-level education programs are the ones that give you the chance to focus on areas that matter most in today鈥檚 classrooms. This can be accomplished through the kind of education master’s you pursue and through certificate or other add-ons that are becoming more and more available and more tailored to the kind of educational skills you want to enhance.

At mini传媒, certificates include:

  • Graduate Certificate in Autism
  • Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology

These specializations allow you to support diverse learners and lead with confidence. Especially now that more and more additional certificates, certifications, and endorsements are available, you can tailor the exact right path for your career!

Learn About mini传媒's Ed Certificates

3. Flexibility for Working Educators

Not only does a master鈥檚 in education help you in the long-term, many MSEd programs are tailored just for you if you are considering that step of education now! We know that many of our students are already balancing a full teaching schedule, family responsibilities, and community involvement.

That鈥檚 why mini传媒 offers fully online graduate education programs and online certificates that fit your lifestyle. We know that in this day and age accessible education is important to those pursuing a graduate degree. We hear you! You can complete your coursework while still teaching full time鈥攚ithout sacrificing quality or connection.

4. Faith Integration That Addresses Today's Issues in Education

What sets mini传媒鈥檚 MSEd program apart is our commitment to biblical integration. We believe that how you teach is deeply connected to what you believe. In whatever type of school you end up teaching in鈥攑ublic, private, and everything in between鈥攜our ultimate calling is to live, teach, and lead as a Christian.聽

A MS Ed from mini传媒 equips you to navigate today’s arising complexities. You will learn to teach with compassion, stand firm on your beliefs, and train up the next generation with integrity.

5. Real Impact in Real Classrooms

Earning your MSEd isn鈥檛 just about theory鈥攊t鈥檚 about transforming practice. Our students report increased confidence, deeper student engagement, and stronger leadership capacity after just a few courses.

Take it from a recently graduated student whose insight lends itself to the meaningful and transformative nature of a quality education degree:

鈥淔rom real-world classroom experiences鈥攕tarting your first semester of freshman year鈥攖o the professors who pour so much of themselves into you spiritually, socially, and academically, mini传媒鈥檚 School of Education offers so much to future educators.鈥
Picture of a mini传媒 Student.
Amanda Barry
class of 2024

Is a Master鈥檚 in Education Worth It?

Only If You鈥檙e Ready to Grow

If you’re passionate about education, leadership, and lasting change, a MSEd is more than a credential鈥攊t鈥檚 an investment in your calling. And with flexible, faith-integrated programs like those at mini传媒, it鈥檚 more accessible than ever.

Whether you’re looking to advance your teaching skills, open new career doors, or step into leadership, a master鈥檚 of education can be a powerful next step. But like any graduate degree, it鈥檚 important to consider your goals, the return on investment, and the type of program that fits your life.

At mini传媒, we鈥檝e helped hundreds of educators grow professionally and personally through our master鈥檚 in education and specialized certificate programs鈥攇rounded in academic excellence and a biblical worldview.

Earn Your Online Master's in Education (MSEd) Today!

Learn More!
]]> mini传媒’s Masland Library Presents Boyd Archaeology Exhibit /cairn-universitys-masland-library-presents-boyd-archaeology-exhibit/ Tue, 29 Apr 2025 19:01:18 +0000 /?p=95568

mini传媒鈥檚 Masland Library hosted an archaeological exhibit on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 2鈥4 pm and Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 1鈥3 pm. Students signed up to walk through the exhibit, observing the ancient artifacts.

Named after Robert T. Boyd, a pastor, evangelist, archaeologist, author, and lecturer in biblical archaeology, the exhibit featured ancient artifacts. Many pieces predate Christ and some date back as far as the earliest times of the Israelites. These items included pottery, coins, jewelry, Roman tear bottles, and bricks from Jericho and Egypt. Students saw the Bible come to life in front of their eyes as they observed the artifacts from the collection.

This exhibit has been cared for by student workers passionate about these artifacts since the discovery of the items in the library鈥檚 archives. Assisted by the librarians and knowledgeable professors, student workers put skills they鈥檝e learned in their classes to immediate practical use. Opportunities to work with these artifacts allow students to grow professionally and further the mission of mini传媒.

Student library worker, Kendra Izon organized the exhibit. She said, 鈥渁s a history major, I saw it as an opportunity to bring history to life and get students excited about Biblical history.鈥 She also enjoyed the chance to show fellow students the kinds of pieces she gets to work with in archives.

This exhibit was a great opportunity for students to see artifacts from Bible times they normally can only imagine through their reading of Scripture!

]]> mini传媒 Hosts the 2025 Empowering Educators Seminar /cairn-university-hosts-the-2025-empowering-educators-seminar/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:19:07 +0000 /?p=95400 mini传媒 hosted its annual Empowering Educators Seminar on Thursday, March 27, 2025. 135 educators attended the seminar, eager to hear about this year鈥檚 topic and to reunite and fellowship with those who share the same calling. 

The theme for this year was 鈥淚ncluding All Learners in Christian Schools.鈥 Keynote speaker spoke about inclusive education techniques. Her background as the CEO of All Belong, a center for inclusive education allowed her to address and provide solutions for the issues many attendees could identify.

Christian schools often struggle to have the necessary resources to support learners of all styles. Tubergen addressed these struggles and encouraged educators to start where they are with the students they have. She spoke about tapping into the strengths of struggling students instead of exclusively focusing on their areas of struggle. Tubergen also encouraged educators to think about how they could practically apply her points to their schools through a three step process focused on seeing, thinking, and doing. In both sessions, Tubergen emphasized the necessity to care for students and families through inclusion as a partnership. Her final encouragement to educators was to 鈥渢oil in the gap.鈥

In addition to the main sessions, seminar attendees had the opportunity to choose from a variety of breakout sessions. Topics for these sessions included, 鈥淓ngaging English Learners in the K鈥12 Classroom,鈥 鈥淯niversal Design for Learning,鈥 鈥淯nderstanding Autism Spectrum Disorders: Characteristics, Strategies, and Support,鈥 and more. Each breakout session offered educators a chance to engage more deeply with a specific topic under the theme.聽聽

mini传媒 was pleased to encourage and support educators this year and looks forward to next year’s Empowering Educators Seminar.

]]> 2025 Matching Gift Week Raises Over $215,000 /2025-matching-gift-week-raises-over-215000/ Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:29:38 +0000 /?p=95343 mini传媒 was blessed by generous donations for Matching Gift Week from March 17 through March 21. This annual campaign supports The mini传媒 Fund, which provides scholarships for mini传媒 students, aiding them in their desire to be surrounded by Christian community as they pursue their degrees. The 137 total gifts and pledges from supporters raised $116,316.63 and was matched for a total of $216,316.63鈥攅xceeding the $200,000 goal!聽

mini传媒 is grateful for each and every donor, including 39 first-time donors. Beyond the fund, donors were investing were investing in the broader mission of the University and this year’s Matching Gift Week theme: 鈥淎uthentic Christian Community.鈥 Community is a vital part of any college experience and mini传媒 gives students the opportunity to be surrounded by people who support, challenge, and grow one another not just academically but also spiritually.

Thank you again to all those who generously gave during Matching Gift Week. Your giving has had and will continue to make a difference in the lives of our students.聽

To learn more about The mini传媒 Fund and to hear from students who have benefited from it, visit cairn.edu/give. 


]]> Can Homeschoolers Go to College? Yes, and Here’s How: /can-homeschoolers-go-to-college-yes-and-heres-how/ Mon, 17 Mar 2025 14:03:01 +0000 /?p=94647

鈥淐an homeschoolers go to college?鈥

The short answer to this question is: yes. Homeschoolers can and do attend college every year.聽 While homeschoolers can attend any kind of college, private Christian colleges like mini传媒 are usually a great fit for Christian homeschooled students who want their institution of higher education to boast the same values they learned to prioritize growing up.聽

That being said, sometimes there are questions, concerns, or fears as a homeschooler as you think about going to college. While it’s easy to say there’s nothing to fear, we want also want to show you that that is the case.

Academic Performance

Homeschoolers are set up for success.

Academically, students educated at home perform just as well as, if not better than, their peers. The reports that in almost 80% of peer-reviewed studies conducted on the performance of homeschooled students contrasted with the performance of their school peers, the homeschooled students scored higher 鈥渋n terms of academic achievement, social and emotional development, and success into adulthood (including at college/university).鈥 As long as home-educated students are well-prepared and meeting state standards, there should be no reason to worry about homeschoolers鈥 academic performance in college.

Homeschooled students are also uniquely prepared for the college workload in a different way than those who attended a public or private school. They are accustomed to taking responsibility for their own education and self-motivation, which is paramount to succeeding in college. College is an adjustment for all students, even those who were educated in a traditional classroom setting. Homeschooled students can feel confident knowing that the independence, self-discipline, and adaptability they鈥檝e developed will serve them well in college and beyond.

Social Performance

Homeschoolers fit right into college.

鈥淗ow do you socialize?鈥 is one of the most asked questions of homeschooled students of all ages. People often wonder how students who spend most of their time at home are able to build relationships with peers and get similar social experiences. Many homeschooled students, however, are already聽 given opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities like sports, music, theater, church programs, and volunteer opportunities. Despite the stereotypes, the flexibility of homeschooling opens up a world of options for homeschooled students to engage with all kinds of people, ultimately allowing them to engage and socialize with the world around them in a variety of ways. In fact, homeschoolers are often offered a diversity of experience that their traditionally-educated peers may not have.聽聽

For homeschooled students residing in Pennsylvania, the state鈥檚 requires public school districts to allow homeschooled students to participate in the programs offered by the district. These programs include sports, theater, and attending a local career and technical school during high school. The same rules for district extracurriculars apply to all students, whether educated at home or in the school building.聽

How do you find colleges as a homeschooled student?

As a homeschooler, you probably don鈥檛 have colleges visiting you at home. You may have mailings come to your door, but not a representative to answer your questions like at a public or private school. This can make finding colleges a different experience, but there are still plenty of options that homeschoolers rely on:

Ways to Find Colleges:

    • People: Talk to people you know who are in college, also looking at colleges, or recent graduates. Ask people at your church, extracurriculars, etc. about their past or current experiences in looking for and attending college.

    • Homeschool Groups or Conferences: Homeschool groups or conferences likely have connections to universities you may or may not have heard of; giving you contact with said schools, and opening up opportunities for deeper connection and more information.

    • The Internet: A simple online search can be a great help in finding colleges. You can narrow your search to exactly what you are looking for in a college. Interested in a specific major? Location? Ministry focus? A search engine can help you find school options that fit your specific interests and preferences.聽

Is it harder for homeschoolers to get into college?

It鈥檚 just as simple for homeschoolers to get into college as it is for those who attend school institutions. Homeschoolers need consistent records of their education to ensure they are meeting state standards for home education. Some universities may have specific requirements for homeschooled students applying, so be sure to check out the apply section of the school鈥檚 website.聽

Once you鈥檝e found a college you might like to attend, start looking for more information! The college鈥檚 website is a great place to start.聽

One opportunity colleges offer is a visit. A visit is a great way to get a feel for the campus and see if you could imagine yourself in that environment. Visits are also helpful opportunities to meet people who can tell you more information about the school and answer questions you may have. If you visit during the school year (as homeschooled flexibility may allow) you can even have the chance to meet current students and attend classes to really see if this school would be a good fit.聽聽

If you are interested in learning more about mini传媒 through a visit, check out cairn.edu/visit to schedule an in-person visit or go on a virtual tour.

Choosing a Major

One of the primary things to consider when looking at colleges is what you might be interested in studying. It is absolutely okay to not have a particular major selected when you enter college. Students can enter college as undecided or undeclared. Many students end up switching their majors during their college careers. High school students with a clear idea of what they might like to do after college still have the potential to change their major.聽

Although you may not know exactly what you want to do after you graduate from college, it’s helpful to have a general idea while recognizing that direction can change. College provides an opportunity to try a variety of things and discover or deepen interests.聽

Things to Consider:

    • How has God gifted me? Ask people who know you well about what they see as your particular giftings and strengths. You want to select a major that will both match what you are gifted in and offer training in areas that require growth.

    • What are my goals? Consider what you want your life to look like years from now. These goals could be professional or personal. Choose a school that is dedicated to equipping you to accomplish your goals.聽

    • What do I already enjoy doing? You may like writing, teaching, entrepreneurship, missions, or something else. Look for majors that focus on or incorporate things that interest you.聽

    • Do I know someone working in this field? Talk to that person and, if possible, shadow them to get an idea of what is involved in day-to-day life if you choose that career path.聽

Interested in mini传媒's programs?

Browse Our Majors!

Can Homeschoolers go to College if They Aren鈥檛 Sure Which Major to Choose?

Homeschoolers can go to college, even if they aren鈥檛 sure which major to choose. Selecting a major can be a difficult decision if you don鈥檛 know what you want to do for a career. It can be helpful to start college by taking general education courses to see what interests you.聽

You don’t have to get a job that directly relates to your major after you graduate. Although it is a good goal to major in something that leads to a career path you would like, you are not locked into a particular path based on the major you choose. Choosing a major seems like a very big decision, but it does not have to be something that determines the course of the rest of your life.

Unsure about what major to choose?

Read This!

Dual Enrollment

An Optimal Resource for Homeschoolers

Dual enrollment can also be helpful for high school students unsure about which major to select. This opportunity allows high school students to take college classes while still in school. These courses can be taken either on campus or online, depending on your home location and the school you choose.聽

If you apply and are accepted to mini传媒, dual enrollment becomes even easier. You can take classes directly through mini传媒 and start getting used to professors and the college workload. If you participate in the dual enrollment program through our on-campus option, you will also get a taste of campus life!

Dual enrollment gives you the opportunity to get general education courses out of the way before you begin attending as a full time student, which gives you a taste of the academic level of college and helps you to hone your interests. Depending on how many courses you take, it may shorten the time necessary to complete your degree, allowing you to graduate early, which will save you money in the long-run. Even if you don鈥檛 take enough credits to graduate a semester early, dual enrollment may give you a lighter semester or two or offer the flexibility to take electives.聽

At mini传媒, you can take as many as 18 credits while still in high school, shortening the time it takes to complete your degree by six months (aka, a whole semester!) and saving you thousands of dollars.聽

Want to know more about mini传媒's Dual Enrollment program?

Click here!

So, can homeschooled students go to college?

Yes, of course they can! And mini传媒 might be a great fit for those looking for a place where they can excel academically, thrive socially, and be prepared for life after college both personally and professionally.

Plus, as a homeschooled student at mini传媒, you won鈥檛 be alone! 15% of mini传媒 students come from a homeschooled background. So, apply today and see how you fit in here.

Homeschool > mini传媒

Learn More!
]]> Is Test-Optional Right for Me? /is-test-optional-right-for-me/ Sat, 01 Feb 2025 13:50:12 +0000 /?p=49724

Does State Testing Matter in High School?

You may be wondering, does state testing matter in high school?聽The short answer: it might.

This number skyrocketed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but many colleges have determined that test-optional admission is here to stay (including mini传媒!).

Taking a state administered test in high school could be important, depending on where you live. Very few U.S. states still require the SAT or ACT for high school graduation. However, you should consult with your high school guidance counselor to confirm that you do not need to take a standardized test to graduate.

Knowing What Works for You

The answer to this question is different for every student. There are many factors to consider, which can make the decision overwhelming. The good news is that we鈥檙e here to help!聽

Below we listed some primary considerations for mini传媒 applicants:

Reasons to Go Test-Optional:

  • If you don鈥檛 feel comfortable: We get it. You may have been in a virtual classroom for a couple of years and had a difficult time keeping up with or retaining information. Don鈥檛 sweat it. Even if you have taken state tests, you don鈥檛 need to feel obligated to send them to us.
  • If you want to save your time: Preparing for any standardized test involves hours of extra studying. Between school, work, sports, and/or other activities, your schedule is already full. If you don鈥檛 have to take the test and it鈥檚 not something you want to invest in, you can skip it.聽
  • If you have a well-rounded application otherwise: If you have a solid GPA, are involved in co-curriculars or extracurriculars, and鈥攎ost importantly鈥攈ave a strong relationship with Jesus Christ and desire to serve him in your life and career, you are still a strong applicant at mini传媒.

Reasons to Submit Your Scores:

  • If you鈥檙e a good test taker: mini传媒 accepts SAT, ACT and Classic Learning Test (CLT) test scores. If you are a high-performing student who does well on exams, taking a state test in high school will only be a benefit to you.聽
  • If you want to be eligible for some scholarships: Many outside scholarships also still require test scores as part of the application process.

Does State Testing Matter in High School鈥擲till Not Sure?

Still not sure what makes the most sense for you and your mini传媒 application? Feel free to contact your admissions counselor to discuss your application options or any other questions you may have about studying at mini传媒.

If you鈥檙e ready to take the next step in your college journey to mini传媒 today.

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