Types of Education Degrees for Future Educators

Teachers and other educators can make a profound impact on the lives of others, whether they’re working with a classroom of 5-year-olds, providing skills training to team members at a Fortune 500 company, or designing the curricula for a performing arts camp.

The field of education reaches far beyond the classroom, and individuals interested in working in education have numerous degrees and career paths to choose from. Educationrelated professions span everything from corporate trainers to camp directors to high school science teachers.

Additionally, different types of education degrees, such as a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master of Education (MEd), or a Doctorate of Education (EdD) can prepare graduates with in-demand expertise and skills. These include specialized knowledge pertaining to their major and soft skills such as communication skills, critical thinking skills, and time management skills that are transferable to a wide

Minority Recruitment

The Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC), a cooperative of school districts is actively seeking certified minority teachers and administrators for elementary, middle, and secondary positions. KEDC’s Districts are located across Kentucky. Visit www.kedc.org for a list of participating school districts.

variety of careers in the public, private, nonprofit, and government sectors.

What Is the Field of Education?

Education isn’t limited to teaching positions. What the education field is encompasses a broad range of other career paths as well, in academic research, student development, and curriculum and policy design, among other areas. Students and professionals in this field are often drawn to positions that allow them to support the development and growth of others. Whether they want to work in an elementary school classroom or lead team-building retreats for a large company, job opportunities for education professionals are numerous.

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The Phoenix Union High School District is searching for the best-qualified applicants in all fields , but particularly in mathematics , science , special education and ELD (English Language Development)

Come join one of the most progressive portfolio districts in the country. Fill out an application on our website at phoenixunion.org or contact us at (602) 764-1101

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District honors a diverse academic community and fosters equity mindedness across our institutions. As such, the District is seeking applicants who will be committed to promoting a culture of appreciation for diversity, equity, inclusivity, and social justice, and continuously examining our processes and practices through an equity lens. These qualities are imperative to achieving our district’s strategic priorities of closing achievement gaps among different student groups and fostering a work environment that promotes civility, collegiality, and trust. EEO

Individuals interested in obtaining an application should send a letter or postcard to:

For great opportunities and new positions, please visit: www.gcccd.edu/human-resources/employment/

KEDC • 904 ROSE ROAD • ASHLAND, KY 41102-7104 www.kedc.org

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

The Phoenix Union High School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative Minority Recruitment

The Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC) with a membership of 14 public school districts is actively seeking certified minority teachers and administrators for elementary, middle and secondary positions. OVEC is located in north central Kentucky and serves the following school districts:

• Anchorage Independent Schools

• Bullitt County Schools

• Carroll County Schools

• Eminence Independent Schools

• Frankfort Independent Schools

• Gallatin County Schools

• Grant County Schools

Consequently, one of the first steps an individual should take toward a successful career in education is to determine which type of career path they’re most interested in pursuing. This will help ensure that they choose a degree program that matches their professional goals.

Why Get a Degree in Education? Education Degree Benefits

• Jefferson County Schools

• Henry County Schools

• Oldham County Schools

• Owen County Schools

• Shelby County Schools

• Spencer County Schools

• Trimble County Schools

Individuals can search and apply for open positions within each school district by visiting their website. To search and apply for open positions within OVEC’s Early Head Start and Head Start Programs, visit OVEC’s website at: www.ovec.org/employment

The Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), genetic information, disability, or limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions in employment, educational programs, or activities.

Students interested in pursuing a career in education have a variety of undergraduate degree programs to choose from, as there are multiple degrees applicable to the education sector. Whereas individuals interested in teaching history can start their educational journey by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in US or world history, those interested in working as a high school science teacher may choose to major in biology, chemistry, or physics.

Another education degree benefit is that individuals interested in pursuing leadership positions in the field can choose from numerous graduate programs, depending on their interests. Aspiring school psychologists may pursue a master’s in counseling, while those interested in teaching English literature at the college level may find that a master’s degree in English aligns better with their career goals.

Teaching Careers

Teachers are in demand. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of all educators, including preschool teachers, elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers, and postsecondary teachers, is projected to grow by 10 percent between 2020 and 2030, which is about as fast as the job growth the BLS projects for all occupations during that period.

Approximately 920,500 new jobs are expected to be added during that reporting period. The BLS projects that student enrollment will increase in communities throughout the US and additional teachers will be needed to meet that demand.

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work in New Jersey.

Payscale reports that, as of June 2022, the median salary for teachers was approximately $50,200 annually, with earners in the top 10th percentile having a median salary of around $77,000 per year. Actual salaries vary depending on the teacher’s experience level, the geographical region of their position, whether they hold an advanced degree, and the school district they work for.

Most teachers work on-site at a school during the hours that students are present and have an eight- to 10-week break during the summer. They may also have short winter and spring breaks. Additionally, some teachers work evening and weekend hours to grade papers and prepare lesson plans.

Nonteaching Roles In Education

There are many types of education degrees, and teaching isn’t the only thing that graduates can do. One of the reasons why students get degrees in education is that there are many applicable career paths, including the following.

Admissions Counselor

Admissions counselors often work with colleges, universities, and private schools to recruit potential students. In addition to evaluating applications to ensure that applicants meet the institution’s enrollment requirements—such as GPA, residency, and educational background requirements—they also conduct applicant interviews, coordinate recruiting events, and organize classroom visits or campus tours.

Payscale reports that, as of June 2022, the median salary for admissions counselors was around $40,000 per year.

Tutor

Tutors are private teaching instructors who work with students doing the following:

• Help students complete assignments and prepare for tests and exams

• Help students gain a broader understanding of new topics that have been introduced in the classroom

• Administer practice tests

• Provide progress reports to students and their parents

• Distribute additional teaching materials as needed

• Although some tutors work with students one on one, others work with small groups.

High School Principal

High school principals oversee the dayto-day operations and activities of the schools they work for. Their specific tasks include the following:

• Ensure that academic policies, such as advanced placement (AP) class enrollment prerequisites and add/ drop procedures for classes, are being met

• Develop academic benchmarks and benchmark tracking procedures

• Develop and oversee budgets

• Hire and train teachers and other staff

• Develop and implement policies pertaining to on-campus guest visits to ensure that staff, educators, and students remain safe Payscale reports that, as of May 2022, the median salary for high school principals was approximately $91,800 per year.

Corporate Trainer

Corporate trainers aim to boost an organization’s productivity by providing skills training to employees. Training modules can cover a wide variety of topics, such as team communication, presentation strategies, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, project management, leadership training, time management, and negotiation strategies. Some corporate trainers work full time for one organization, while others work with different

Camp Director

Camp directors oversee and manage the day-to-day operations and activities of day camps, sleep-away camps, and recreational camps. Typical job duties include the following:

• Hiring, training, and supervising staff

• Overseeing and managing budgets

• Designing curricula, including activities such as arts and crafts projects, campfire singalongs, and sports and recreation

• Ensuring that campers and staff adhere to safety regulations

• Leading presentations about the camp to current and potential campers and their families

Payscale reports that, as of April 2022, the median salary for camp directors was approximately $42,300 per year.

Education Consultant

• Analyze teacher and student performance results

• Advise on strategies designed to improve teaching methodologies

• Enhance the effectiveness of curricula

• Although some professionals in this role work with educational consulting firms, some work as self-employed freelancers. Payscale reports that, as of May 2022, the median salary for education consultants was around $63,200 per year.

Types Of Education Degrees

Educators interested in pursuing leadership roles who are looking into master’s and doctoral degree programs can choose from several degree options as well, depending on their interests. Similar to the completion timeline for a baccalaureate degree, the time it takes to complete a master’s or doctoral degree can vary based on the credit hour requirement of the program they’re enrolled in and whether they’re enrolled as a part-time or full-time student. Examples of postgraduate education degrees and their admissions requirements include the following: companies for a set period of time as a consultant.

Payscale reports that, as of June 2022, the median base salary for corporate trainers was around $57,800 annually.

Education consultants work at schools and higher education institutions in an advisory capacity. Tasks include the following:

• Evaluate curricula and learning outcomes

Students interested in pursuing education careers have many types of education degrees to choose from. For example, at the undergraduate level, students can choose to major in English, psychology, sociology, education, history, a foreign language, science, math, or engineering. Most bachelor’s degrees require students to complete approximately 120 credit hours of coursework prior to graduation, and most full-time students find they can complete their undergraduate studies in approximately four years.

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

A Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program is an advanced degree program that’s designed to prepare future educators for both licensure and specialized career paths in the teaching profession. Credit hour requirements for MAT programs vary widely from school to school. Some programs require students to complete a minimum of 28 credit hours to be eligible to graduate, while other programs require as many as 42 credit hours.

Additionally, as MAT programs allow students to choose from a variety of specializations, some specializations require more credit hours than others. Specializations for MAT programs include the following: general education track is designed for teachers interested in working with students in grades four to eight.

Early Childhood Education : This concentration prepares educators with advanced expertise in teaching methodologies for prekindergarten through third-grade classrooms.

Elementary Education : This general education program specialization is designed for individuals interested in working with elementary school-aged children in grades one to six.

Language Arts : This concentration teaches best practices for teaching the English language, including reading, writing, and literature studies.

Mathematics : Teachers interested in gaining advanced knowledge and skills for teaching mathematics to students in grades five to 12 may find that a concentration in mathematics aligns best with their career goals.

Science : A concentration in science prepares graduates to teach courses such as biology, earth and space science, chemistry, and physics.

Secondary Education : Individuals who opt for this specialization will receive generalized knowledge in teaching subjects such as biological science, English, social sciences, and mathematics to students in grades nine to 12.

Special Education : This specialization is designed for students interested in working with special needs students, such as those who have learning or physical disabilities.

Pursue Your Dream and Shape Lives as an Educator

Students interested in pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in education must start by narrowing down the career path they’re most interested in pursuing. From there, they can evaluate degree programs to determine which academic institution and which major is best for them. An important step when evaluating potential colleges and universities is to ensure that both the school and the program are accredited.

American University offers an Online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Online Master of Education in Education Policy and Leadership (MEd) , and Online EdD in Education Policy and Leadership for students looking to take the next step in their careers. Each program is rooted in inclusive, anti-racist pedagogy and contemporary methods to create lasting improvement in education. Students can benefit from intentional curricula to prepare them for all types of educational careers.

Are you ready to take the next step forward in your educational journey? Discover how earning a degree in education can prepare you for the professional future you want.