When most people think of a degree in education, they think of a career as a grade school or high school teacher. In fact, these are just two options in a field that is made up of several available majors and many different work opportunities.
Instead of teaching multiple subjects to students of all ages, you can choose a grade or subject specialty. You can focus on teaching English to students who are not native speakers of English, or consider teaching in a bilingual or multilingual classroom. Or you can become a special education teacher and work with children or adults with learning, mental, emotional, or physical challenges.
But even if you don’t see yourself as a teacher or teaching assistant, there may be a place for you in education. Concentrate your studies on school administration or counseling, curriculum design, instructional media and technology, or on educational testing and evaluation of learning. Examine and compare national and international programs to find ways to improve courses and teaching methods. Or look at the big picture of education and study how it is impacted by social, cultural, and political factors.
The choices are many, so make the right decision – by first getting educated about education.
Pro Tip
Still unsure if a degree in education and teaching is your calling? Take the career test
With so many categories within education and teaching programs, it can be a bit daunting when trying to decide which best fits your interests or career aspirations. To help you decipher the diversity, we're breaking down 7 popular options below:
International and Comparative Education
Satisfaction:
N/A
International and Comparative EducationAvg Grad Salary:
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development
Satisfaction:
High
Teacher Education and Professional DevelopmentAvg Grad Salary:
$41k