What Can You Do with an Education Degree?

It doesn’t take a genius to work out the type of doors that open with an education degree. Yet if you want to work as a public school teacher, virtually all states require that you possess this degree – or one that is within the subject matter you plan to teach.

If your dream profession is to teach, this guide will reveal more details about what a degree in education entails. It’ll also reveal the different teaching options available, as well as advice on how to pick the right college for your needs.

Should I study for an education major?

If you want to become a teacher, gaining an education major is the easiest pathway to take. Various different subjects are explored within an education program – and these can differ significantly depending on the educational institution.

In general, however, they explore topics like curriculum design, classroom management, and support for exceptional learners. Most programs also feature a supervised classroom experience – aka student teaching – to provide you with practical experience and have you better prepared following graduation.

How courses are taught can also change depending on which college you choose. Certain schools will promote self-paced learning, for example, while other institutions require students to complete the program with a group of classmates. As for concentrations that can be focused on with a bachelor’s in education, below are a few common classes:

• Elementary education
• Secondary education
• Science education
• TESOL international education
• Special education

By specializing in one of these fields, there’s a clearer route to a career within a certain area of education.

What can I do with an education degree?

Now you might be wondering, ‘Are there jobs with an education degree that don’t revolve around traditional education’? Well if you’re willing to pursue advanced degrees and additional certifications, other career opportunities begin to open up. These include being a school/career counselor, administrator, instructional coordinator, and reading coach.

However, below are some of the main educational professions for those with a bachelor’s in education – and a supporting concentration if applicable.

Preschool teacher

A preschool teacher is responsible for caring for children that are currently too young for kindergarten. In terms of education, a preschool teacher will plan activities intended to improve each child’s communication skills, as well as teach basic concepts like colors and shapes.

Research by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates a preschool teacher earns $30,520 annually on average. The job outlook for this position is anticipated to slightly drop by 2% between 2019 and 2029.

Kindergarten and elementary school teacher

A kindergarten and elementary school teacher plays a significant role in a child’s development. Along with teaching multiple subjects like math and science, they will teach the concept of basic life skills. Other tasks include conversing with parents about their child’s progress, creating classroom procedure guidelines, and building lesson plans.

On average, a kindergarten and elementary school teacher receives an annual salary of $59,420. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also predicts a job outlook growth of 4% between 2019 and 2029.

Middle school teacher

In terms of responsibilities, a middle school teacher isn’t too dissimilar to an elementary school teacher. However, a middle school educator will tend to teach fewer subjects in comparison.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an annual salary of $59,660 is the median pay for middle school teachers. The 2019-2029 job outlook is expected to increase by 4%

High school teacher

A high school teacher will usually focus on a specific field when educating students. Yet they could teach more than simply a single course within an academic category. A science teacher, for instance, could cover natural science, biology, and chemistry across one semester.

As expected, the education salary for high school teachers is slightly higher than the previous two roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes a high school educator receives an average yearly salary of $61,660. The job outlook for 2019-2029 is a 4% growth.

How do I pick the right college?

You’ve seen the education careers and salaries available, and you’ve decided this profession is for you. However, you need to earn that education degree first – and that means selecting a college.

One of the most important factors when picking a college is campus life. Not only do you want a comfortable dorm room that’s ideal for studying, but you also want a campus with the right facilities and atmosphere.

Yet trying to research a campus can be difficult – unless you have CampusReel by your side. CampusReel features over 15,000 videos that revolve around campus life all across the country. Most importantly, these videos are done purely by students, aka the people with the best insight into the living experience at these campuses.

To make sure you get your college research right, sign up for a free CampusReel account today.