You might think that since you spend so much time in school that you already have an understanding of how to teach and how to learn; however, there are a multitude of teaching philosophies and learning strategies, and as you’ll see from the first major below, not every education degree is about teaching in a classroom.
The field of education is broad, but the main purpose is to develop an understanding of the processes and methods of teaching and learning in schools. Many education degrees allow you to choose the grade level, age, and subject you wish to teach. If you don’t want to teach at all, schools also need counselors and administrators.
Typical teacher education degree programs allow students to choose the level of education they wish to teach, either preschool, elementary or high school. These programs prepare students to become licensed educators. After graduation, students must obtain a state license if they intend to teach in a public school. If you want to develop relationships with students and have impact on their lives, one of the degrees below could be what you need in your career plans.
If you love the process of teaching and learning, enjoy designing curriculum, assessing learning, helping individuals or institutions improve through education, but you do not want a classroom teaching position, an Education Sciences degree could be right for you.
Education Sciences majors explore the field of education beyond the classroom. Students in these majors are introduced to the five core concepts guiding Education Sciences. Rather than earning a teaching degree, the focus for this major is on how education intersects with history, public policy, psychology, business, and culture. So, If you can’t visualize yourself standing in front of students teaching them lessons, but like the idea of making an impact on education in a different way, a major in Education Sciences may be something to explore.
People who understand policy, curriculum design, teaching, and learning, can find jobs beyond the confines of a school building. Expertise in these areas are needed in many places and can find work as a corporate trainer, youth counselor, lobbyists, research analyst, and pre-school administrator.
Training for preschool teachers
If you like to be around young children, preschool teacher training may be a career to look into. Teachers at preschools instruct children who are between the ages of three and five. They work with small groups of children and teach basic skills such as motor skills and language skills. Much of the teaching is done through play as well as structured learning. Teachers help introduce children to routines and schedules, and provide a safe place for them to grow and learn.
Many of the lessons you would teach help prepare children for “real school” which is elementary school. You would spend time teaching shapes, colors, and letters, but you also help them with their social skills. Children need to understand how to share and play nice with others. They also need to understand how to follow directions.
Although requirements differ from school to school, most public school preschool teachers are required to have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. A teacher who has earned a bachelor’s degree will often be able to demand a higher salary and have more opportunities for advancement.
Teacher Training Without Subject Specialisation
Elementary school teachers are not required to specialize in a specific subject area because they must teach all subjects. However, they do need to specialize in how to teach. So, a degree in elementary education is a requirement.
To be a teacher you do not have to have a degree in education. Alternative certification has been widely adopted as a way to recruit talented individuals in all subjects. Schools want and need individuals who have a passion for teaching but may not have backgrounds in education.
Alternative certification programs allow students with a bachelor's degree and career experience to earn a teaching license outside of the traditional route. These programs will typically get you teaching in the classroom faster than a traditional education prep program. As the name implies, alternative certification programs are an alternative to traditional, degree-based teacher certification programs. They’re specially designed for people who decide to teach in a K-12 public school setting after completing their bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field.
Teacher Training with Subject Specialisation
Teacher education programs train individuals in their subject specialization and teach them the methodology of teaching. Secondary school (high school) education programs allow students to major in the area they intend to teach such as mathematics, physics, history, English or earth science. This way you can mix your love for a specific subject with your love for working with those younger than yourself.