Teachers play a role in shaping our lives from preschool all the way to adulthood. Those who wish to inspire future generations might discover their calling in an education program. Aspiring teachers, school administrators, librarians, and trainers can specialize in instructing students at various ages, such as early childhood, K-8, or high school. Those who enroll within an education degree program can also choose to specialize in certain teaching topics, such as language arts, social studies, chemistry, or mathematics.
Positions within teaching, school administration, and corporate instructional design are open to job seekers with a strong background in either childhood or adult education. Overall, education majors gain deep insights into skill development, learning abilities, and leadership practices; this expertise makes them valuable members of any community.
Sample Courses
Prospective educators will take a wide breadth of courses at the undergraduate level, which will cover the fundamentals of pedagogy, childhood development, and instructional techniques. Some courses may even delve into recent national and state politics that impact teaching regulations, resources, and curricula. The course load for this degree will vary from student to student, depending on one's specialization, which is generally selected when the student applies to an undergraduate program.
Special education courses help prospective educators gain a strong familiarity with autism spectrum disorders, physical disabilities, and assistive technologies within academics. Early childhood education courses focus on the psychological and physical stages of infants and toddlers, their nutritional needs, and classroom safety techniques. Elementary education courses emphasize language and logic developments amongst students in grades K-8. Secondary school courses allow aspiring teachers to focus on developing curricula for any number of high school subjects they will go on to teach, often to the exclusion of other core areas of education.
Possible Specializations
Before students are admitted into an undergraduate education program, they are generally required to apply for one of the following specializations: special education, elementary education, secondary education, or early childhood development. A special education degree prepares teachers to work with students of diverse ability and disability backgrounds. Educators who wish to focus on the academic development of toddlers or K-12 students can choose a degree path that corresponds with students in a particular age group within the age group.
Degree Types
In addition to the various degree specializations, students can also apply to education degree types ranging from the associate to doctoral level. The following degree types can determine the amount of time a student remains in college and possible career choices.
Associate
Since most states require a bachelor's degree for teacher certification, most colleges only provide associate degrees to students who intend to use the credits toward a bachelor's degree in the future. This two-year degree can help students grasp the general fundamentals of teaching techniques, but an associate degree alone will not lead to licensure.
Bachelor's
This degree type usually takes students four to five years to complete. Students are generally encouraged to choose a specialty right when they apply, since it will dramatically influence the curricula and on-site classroom training experiences. A bachelor's degree in education can prepare students to take their state board exams to receive a teaching certification.
Master's
This graduate degree is usually pursued by educators who wish to refine their expertise in certain academic subjects and teaching techniques, such as teaching advanced biology to high school students or teaching English studies to elementary learners. Others might pursue a master's degree to gain school administrative experience or school counseling experience.
Ed. D. or Ph.D.
There are two doctorate level degree options available for prospective graduate students – a Ed.D or a Ph.D. The Ed.D. focuses on developing skills and practical techniques to apply as educators or administrators at a school. The Ph.D. route tends to emphasize research and experiments of a more theoretical nature.
Ideal Candidates for Education
An education degree is a great fit for natural leaders and lifelong learners. Teachers, school administrators, and counselors will be expected to lead large groups of students, while remaining open to new teaching ideas and academic approaches. Candidates who effectively collaborate with others will find success in the field of education. Educators are frequently called upon to work together with parents, communities, and other teachers.
Career Pathways
Students who graduate with a degree in education can pursue several career paths within classrooms, libraries, publishing houses, and even businesses. Teaching at the classroom level is a very popular option, but students holding an education degree can also work as administrators, overseeing the operations of an entire school or school district. Education graduates are often valued by companies that need employee training curricula and instructional materials. Publications that specialize in textbooks and training manuals often hire education graduates, since they are acquainted with a wide-range of learning styles, instructional needs, and current academic standards.
Teachers at the kindergarten and elementary levels can expect to earn an average of $53,090 a year, with an average job outlook growth rate of 12% before the year 2022. Graduates who work as teachers at the high school level make a slightly higher wage, $55,050 annually on average. However, the job outlook for high school teachers is significantly lower than other grade levels, with an unfavorable growth rate of 6% before 2022. Librarians have the most favorable pay rate, reaching an average of $55,370 a year, however their job outlook has the less-than-favorable growth rate 7% before 2022.
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Journals
American Educational Research Journal
Split into two sections, the AERJ studies the impact of systemic policies, and explores the latest strategies in practical teaching theory.
Published quarterly by the American Federation of Teachers, this journal explores the broad topics affecting education and educators in today's world.
This is an international forum designed exclusively for the publication of articles by postgraduate students in the field of childhood studies.
Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education
CITE is an online, peer reviewed journal sponsored by five professional associations and, as such, is the only journal of its kind dedicated to teacher education in the use of technology.
CIE publishes articles on a broad range of education topics (pre-K, K-12, and higher education) both nationally and internationally.
This journal presents scholarly thought and promotes dialogue about research and policy in an effort to bring educational theory into more practical and widespread classroom use.
This journal focuses on articles about policies, structures, and teaching and learning practices associated with pre k-12 education.
Early Childhood Research & Practice
Published by the Clearinghouse on Early Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this web-only journal features articles related to the education of children under eight.
Early Childhood Research and Practice
This journal focses on strategies, training, needs and more as they pertain to the development and education of early childhood.
Bold change is needed in American K–12 education, but Education Next partakes of no program, campaign, or ideology. It goes where the evidence points.
HER is an independent, refereed journal published by graduate students of the Higher Education Program at the Pennsylvania State University.
International Journal of Special Education
This is an international journal for special education teachers focused on many of the aspects that relate to special education learning and teaching.
International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
This journal is a resource for teachers, educators, and students to work together to ensure quality higher education learning.
This peer reviewed journal focuses on discussions of teaching excellence at the college level with regular issues containing articles on effective teaching and the scholarship of teaching.
Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
This journal is aimed at those interested in all aspects of how learning is facilitated, and how it is experienced and achieved by students in higher education.
Journal of Science Teacher Education
Published by the Association for Science Teacher Education, JSTE is the primary forum for new research on improving the quality of in-service education of science teachers at all levels.
The MJE is a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, open access, bilingual scholarly journal published three times a year which embraces a broad conception of education.
Research in Middle Level Education
This journal is dedicated to improving the educational experiences of middle school students by providing vision, knowledge, and resources to educators.
Trade Magazines
The BEE is a free web site created by the Johns Hopkins University School of Education's Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education (CDDRE.)
Resources, articles, ideas and more for early childhood learning and teaching.
Online magazine with resources, tips, advice, blogs, news and more for secondary learning.
This digital publication delivers news, analysis and reviews on a wide range of topics that are of interest to teachers at all grade levels.
Language Magazine is published 12 times a year and is aimed at supervisors, department heads, admins and government officials involved in education.
The magazine is the most widely read education publication in Canada, covering topics and issues of interest to teachers and administrators in grades K-12.
Published in the UK, it is available in three versions: Teach Nursery, Teach Primary and Teach Secondary. The site also provides news and product reviews.
The National Education Association produces Tomorrow's Teachers once a year for NEA student members and individuals who are new to the teaching profession.
Available in both print and online, Yes Magazine combines and explains high-level theory and practical application in engaging, easy-to-replicate ways.
Grants
International Reading Association Constance McCullough Award
Deadline: June 30th
Award Amount: $4,000
This award is available to members of the International Reading Association for investigation of reading-related problems and to encourage professional development outside of North America.
McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation Teacher Development Grants
Deadline: January 15th – April 15th
Award Amount: $10,000 per year for up to 3 years
The grant supports teachers in the creation and implementation of new and original K-12 classroom instruction and is renewable for up to three years, provided eligibility requirements are met.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Study & Active Professionalism
Deadline: May 2nd
Award Amount: $24,000
This grant is for teachers of mathematics at all grade levels who wish to improve their understanding and appreciation of mathematics by completing additional coursework to pursue an advanced degree.
Deadline: Same as FAFSA
Award Amount: $4,000
Available to students willing to teach in a high-need field at a school that serves low income families and students.
Scholarships
A. Harry Passow Classroom Teacher Scholarship
Deadline: May 2nd
Award Amount: $2,000
Available to grad students currently teaching K-12 gifted education and have been a member of the National Association for Gifted Children for one year.
AFT Robert G. Porter Scholars Program
Deadline: March 31st
Award Amount: $8,000
Applicants for this program must be the dependents of AFT members. They also award ten grants to AFT members for continuing education.
Alexis Kate Special Education Teacher Scholarship
Deadline: April
Award Amount: $500
Education students with a declared major in special education may be eligible for this scholarship, provided by Eden Autism.
American Educational Research Association Minority Dissertation Fellowship
Deadline: November 1
Award Amount: $12,000
This scholarship is available to members of racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in higher education who are in dissertation.
American Montessori Teacher Education Scholarships
Deadline: May 1
Award Amount: $1,000
Every year, the American Montessori Society awards teacher education scholarships to aspiring Montessori teachers.
Barbara Lotze Scholarships for Future Teachers
Deadline: December 1
Award Amount: $2,000
Undergraduate students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in physics teacher preparation curricula and high school seniors entering such programs are eligible.
Deadline: April 30th
Award Amount: $10,000
Awarded for: community service related to tobacco prevention, the use of visual arts, media or creative writing to impart a culturally relevant message.
Educational Advancement Foundation
Deadline: April 15th
Award Amount: Varied
Applicants must be a full-time sophomore or higher at an accredited school with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (B) and have a record of community service.
Deadline: April 15
Award Amount: $1,000
This scholarship is awarded to high school graduates accepted to a higher institution for an education program and is awarded annually.
Deadline: varies
Award Amount: varies
Awarding 1000 scholarships each year, this foundation offers a broad range of scholarships including healthcare administration and management.
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
Deadline: February
Award Amount: varies
Sociology majors interested in pursuing careers in public service can apply to become a Truman Scholar.
James Madison Memorial Foundation Fellowships
Deadline: March 1
Award Amount: Up to $24,000
Two types of fellowships are available, both requiring fellows to teach American government or social studies at the secondary level for one year.
Deadline: May 2nd
Award Amount: $3,000
This is available to undergraduates preparing for a career as a middle school mathematics teacher and are in the process of completing their junior year.
Deadline: April 14th
Award Amount: $500
This program offers four of these scholarships each year, and unlike other scholarship programs, they are awarded every three months.
Patch Early Childhood Education Scholarships
Deadline: May 31s
Award Amount: $750
Patch for the Community Scholarships are available through most Patch sites and may only be used to cover the cost of tuition at in-state schools.
Deadline: April 1st
Award Amount: $1,000
Available to high school seniors planning to become educators, with connections to PDK or who are members of the Future Educators Association.
Phi Delta Kappa Prospective Educator Scholarships
Award Amount: $1,000
More than 30 scholarships are awarded each year to prospective educators who have a connection to PDK .
Prospective 7-12 Secondary Teacher Course Work Scholarships
Deadline: May
Award Amount: Up to $10,000
Sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics for college students preparing to teach secondary school mathematics.
Public Schools Administration Scholarships
Deadline: April 1
Award Amount: $7,500
Doctoral students at an accredited postsecondary institution in the US and majoring in Public School Administration are eligible for this scholarship.
Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
Deadline: varies
Award Amount: Up to $10,000
This scholarship is awarded to STEM majors who intend to teach in the future.
Deadline: April 1st
Award Amount: $5,000
The AFCEA foundation awards at least fifty scholarships annually to students who are pursuing a degree to teach science, technology, engineering or math.
Deadline: February 25th
This highly competitive internship offers participants the opportunity to spend a summer teaching in traditionally underserved and under-privileged communities.
Deadline: March 31st
Students and young professionals wishing to gain valuable fieldwork experience in designing, facilitating and teaching programs that address the needs of adults, school children and families.
Deadline: July 15th
The U.S. Department of Education offers several internship opportunities for students interested in education administration and policy. Programs include policy, research and public affairs.
Education Pioneers Summer Interns
Deadline: varies
Various positions in various cities for students actively pursuing education degrees.
Deadline: Multiple deadlines between January 10th – March 31st
The world renowned Fermilab offers a number of internships for high school, undergrad, grad students, and secondary school educators with interests in particle physics experiments.
Deadline: Multiple deadlines, depending on position
This international internship program has both paid and unpaid opportunities worldwide in locations ranging from Myanmar to Nicaragua that afford participants live teaching experience.
Global Career-Building Internships
Deadline: N/A
These are international internships are ideal for individuals interested in a career in secondary education as teachers, elementary school principals or librarians.
Deadline: N/A
JPL's STAR interns choose from a network of national, independent and university laboratories and spend a summer developing their research skills.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Internships
Deadline: varies
Offered for college and graduate students, the MMA offers students a number of paid and unpaid internships.
NASA Education Associates Program
Deadline: year-round
Offers students, post-docs and faculty the opportunity to work with scientists on NASA projects in science, technology, engineering and math fields.
Deadline: varies
The Smithsonian Institute offers an incredible number of different internship opportunities in various departments.
Deadline: varies
Teach for America prepares interns for professions in education.
U.S. Department of Education Internships
Deadline: March 15, July 15, November 15
For students interested in gaining work experience in government and federal education policy and administration.
Deadline: March
Opportunity to work with at-risk kids helping to build their self-motivation, decision-making skills, and social skills.
Deadline: varies
YAI internship programs in the field of developmental and learning disabilities are available to undergraduate or graduate students looking to gain experience in health and human services.
Yes! Magazine Education Intern
Deadline: June 30
The education intern will have an opportunity to assist in all aspects of the growing YES! Education Outreach Program.
Student Organizations
National Education Association Student Program
The National Education Association offers various benefits to members of its student program.
National Science Teachers Association Student Chapters
The NSTA has over 100 student chapters dedicated to encouraging professional development and networking of preservice teachers of science.
PDK is a professional association for educators that brings together the top leaders, thinkers, and doers to collaborate and inspire one another.
Membership in Pi Lambda Theta is limited to students and professionals who satisfy academic eligibility requirements.
Student Chapter National Art Education Association
Student chapter fo NAEA for students who are interested in pursuing careers in arts education.
Teach for America recruits recent college graduates to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools in the name of educational equality.
Professional Organizations
Association of American Educators
This is a non-union organization of teachers in the U.S. It is dedicated to promoting non-partisan growth and excellence among U.S. educators.
Education Students Association
The association provides resources and information for education students in all disciplines and grade levels to supplement their formal training.
As a member of the PDK family of associations they are dedicated to providing support to students interested in pursuing a career in education and have done so since their founding in 1937.
National Art Education Association
The National Art Education Association is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators.
National Association of Biology Teachers
Dedicated to promoting excellence in teaching biology, they provide opportunities for anyone interested in the latest trends in life science education.
National Association of Special Education Teachers
The NASET is dedicated to meeting the needs of special education teachers and those preparing for the field of special education teaching.
National Council of Teachers of English
The purpose of the NCTE is to promote literacy and ultimately empower students to achieve full participation in society as effective and passionate readers, speakers, and writers.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The public voice of mathematics education, supporting teachers to ensure equitable mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students.
National Education Association
The NEA, the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education.
National Rural Education Association
The NREA is the voice of all rural schools and rural communities across the United States.
National Science Teachers Association
The NSTA is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.
The NEA's student program assists individuals interested in leadership opportunities, networking and research in the field of education.
The Association of Teacher Educators
This is an individual membership organization exclusively focused on improving teacher education for both school-based and post-secondary educators, with members from 700 universities.