Careers in Teaching
Choosing the Right Education Degree for a Career in Teaching
© John Byk
Sep 8, 2009
Bachelor's degrees in education are often arranged according to student age. For example, there are early childhood degrees that cover preschool and kindergarten students. Degrees in primary education typically cover grades K through 6 and middle school and secondary education degrees qualify the teacher for grades 7 through 12. For university teaching positions, an Education Doctorate, or Ed.D, is often required.
Education Programs that Specialize in Subject Area
For those wishing to specialize in a particular area within the field of education, there are also several options available. For example, teachers of art and music are normally certified to work in all K-12 grades. Special Education degrees also enable the holder to work with various age groups, depending upon the specified curriculum within each major field of study. These specialized fields do not always require an advanced degree, but baccalaureate programs are much more intensive and require more credit hours to complete than a typical non educational major.
Master's Degrees in Education
There are advanced degrees available for teachers like the master's in Teaching, the master's in Education, or the Education Doctorate. The master's in Teaching is normally for students who do not wish to go immediately to work in the field without an advanced degree. The master's in Education is more suitable for experienced teachers who wish to augment their existing teaching credentials by taking specialized courses that pertain to their field, such as reading or special education. The Education Doctorate has too many options to list here but include some popular areas such as School Administration or Pedagogy.
Teaching Degree Certificates
Students who did not initially pursue a degree in education may later enroll in a college or university to get teaching credentials by taking state mandated courses pertaining to their subject field. General classes regarding educational philosophy are typically required in these programs along with required aptitude tests. In certain subject areas where there are a shortage of teachers, like math or science, some of the required classes or tests may be waived depending on the Department of Education requirements in the state one plans to teach in.
Continuing Education Degrees
Even teachers who have received advanced degrees in their fields can study for additional endorsements that will add prestige to their portfolio and compensation to their pocketbooks. Specialist Certificates in Administration or college and university teaching are available in some states and enable the holder to pursue other job options in their respective fields if they so desire.
The field of education is diverse and challenging with lifelong opportunities available for self motivated professionals. Considering the effort and expense needed to obtain a teaching degree, it is worth examining the many options before enrolling in a program. Candidates should pursue a degree based upon either a particular age group or specialized subject area and plan on adding further coursework once they have gained necessary experience as outlined by state requirements.
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