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Education/Teaching
Degree Definition & Program Overview
There are so many different facets of education that it is virtually impossible to discuss them all. From working in a nursery school and focusing on the most basic and fundamental educational concepts to making a living as a professor at a top-notch university and dealing with some of the most difficult, esoteric topics in your specific field , education is a profession that affords its practitioners the opportunity to pursue any number of specific areas. And in a very real way, it is one of the single most rewarding fields in today's job market.

Find General Education Degrees Online.

For additional information on earning an education degree online please visit eLearners.com for details.

Niche Areas
There is a seemingly infinite variety of areas of concentration that students in education may choose to pursue. And while it is impossible to list them all here, the following represents a sampling of the options available to students.
  • American Sign Language
  • Applied Psychology
  • Art, Studio
  • Childhood Education/Childhood Special Education
  • Communication Studies
  • Educational Theatre
  • English Education
  • Foreign Language Education
  • General Education
  • Mathematics Education
  • Music Business
  • Music Education
  • Music Performance
  • Music Technology
  • Music Theory and Composition
  • Nutrition and Food Studies
  • Science Education
  • Social Studies Education
  • Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
  • Vocal Performance (Classical Voice & Music Theatre)

Types Of Associate, Undergraduate & Graduate Programs Available
Because of the wide range of specific areas of education that students pursue, there is a vast array of degrees from which to choose. From Associate's degrees in specific areas of education-early childhood education and special education, for example-all the way up to Doctoral degrees, the options are limited only by your willingness to explore the field and decide what you would like to accomplish through your own education.

It is also important to remember that, because most states require teachers to be certified, a degree itself may not be sufficient to make the leap into the classroom. However, the vast majority of education programs include certification components, and advisors will certainly be able to help you as you make your way from being the student to being the teacher.

Also, not all people who pursue degrees in education want to teach. Some find very rewarding work as teachers' aides, or in the administrative aspect of things. The options are wide-ranging and exciting, so if you have an open mind, you are sure to find an aspect of the education profession that suits you perfectly.

Typical Admissions Requirements
Because education is a field that is in constant need of new professionals, and because there are so many programs offering degrees or training in education, it is important to find the one that is right for you. That having been noted, then, getting into the program of your choice is based on both academic background, life experience, and what you want to pursue in the field. And while graduate degrees are generally reserved for those with some sort of Bachelor's degree, they are not solely the provenance of people with previous degrees in education itself. In other words, getting into the field of education may be easier than you think. And with enough effort and research on your part, you are sure to find exactly what it is you're looking for. And chances are, it will ultimately lead to a career that you find both rewarding and fulfilling.

Careers In This Field
There are more careers in education than most people imagine. So while many people think of teaching as the only real option once they earn their degree in education, the fact remains that there are many other things you can do that you otherwise might not have considered. They include, but are certainly not limited to, the following:

  • Early childhood and elementary teacher
  • Special education teacher
  • Science teacher
  • English teacher
  • Math teacher
  • Social studies teacher
  • Language teacher
  • Arts teacher
  • Media and technology teacher
  • Health teacher
  • Guidance counselor
  • Administrator
  • Sports coach
  • Curriculum developer
  • School admissions director

Salary Ranges In This Field
Because of the wide variety of career options for people who have earned their degree in education, the amount of money they can potentially make is rather wide-ranging. It only stands to reason, of course, that fully-certified teachers would make more than classroom aides with fewer credentials. And then there is the issue of whether a teacher works at a public school or a private school. Really, assessing the earning potential of an education professional is difficult. However, it is very important to realize that employment as a teacher in a public school often leads to an excellent pension and retirement package, which is something everyone should keep in mind.

Future Outlook
"Employment of education administrators is projected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. As education and training take on greater importance in everyone's lives, the need for people to administer education programs will grow. Job opportunities for many of these positions should also be excellent because a large proportion of education administrators are expected to retire over the next 10 years.

The abundant supply of qualified college graduates and experienced workers should create keen competition for jobs. Overall employment of human resources, training, and labor relations managers and specialists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. In addition to openings due to growth, many job openings will arise from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.

Employment of instructional coordinators is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014. Over the next decade, instructional coordinators will be instrumental in developing new curricula to meet the demands of a changing society and in training the teacher workforce. Although budget constraints may limit employment growth to some extent, a continuing emphasis on improving the quality of education is expected to result in an increasing demand for these workers. Also, as an increased emphasis on accountability at all levels of government causes more schools to focus on improving educational quality and student performance, growing numbers of coordinators will be needed to incorporate the standards into existing curricula and make sure teachers and administrators are informed of the changes. Opportunities are expected to be best for those who specialize in subject areas that have been targeted for improvement by the No Child Left Behind Act-namely reading, math, and science.

Overall employment of counselors is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. In addition, numerous job openings will occur as many counselors retire or leave the profession. While job prospects will vary with location and specialization, opportunities generally should be very good because the number of job openings that arise should exceed the number of graduates of counseling programs. Rehabilitation counselors and substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors, in particular, should experience excellent prospects" - www.bls.gov

For additional details on online degree programs or help researching on line schools for information on online education programs, please visit eLearners.com for course details.

Resources

  1. www.nea.org (The National Education Association
  2. www.ed.gov (The United States Department of Education
  3. www.aasa.org (The American Association of School Administrators)