Benefits of Getting an Online Education Degree

Lovers of education have long pursued teaching as a way to spread their passion for knowledge. No matter the size of the class or the ages of the students, teaching can be highly rewarding, and teachers play a vital role in shaping tomorrow’s leaders. Grade school teachers have the crucial task of providing students with the basic education every child should receive. Higher education professors then must expand upon this foundation, preparing students for gainful employment and encouraging them to reach their potential. There is a huge demand for teachers, as the number of those pursuing teaching degrees has stayed the same—at about 106,000 education degrees awarded per year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics—even as the world’s population has grown enormously. For prospective teachers, online learning can be an excellent opportunity to earn a degree and still keep up with other responsibilities, giving all who are interested in education a chance to join the profession.

AA in Early Childhood Development	BS in Elementary Education	BA in Education

What Will I Learn in an Education Program?

Education programs cover the fundamentals of successful curricula planning and teaching techniques. Students learn the models and theories of instruction, classroom management skills, and the legal issues and ethics involved in teaching. Other courses cover subjects that directly relate to the student’s area of concentration. These typically correlate with the level at which the prospective instructor plans to teach, whether it is elementary or higher, and what subject will be taught. For example, a student who plans to teach elementary education will typically take courses on child development and children’s literature.

Popular Majors in the Education Field

Elementary education, middle level, secondary and higher education are all popular majors. Generally, teachers must have at least a bachelor’s degree in education to teach elementary school, a master’s to teach middle and high school, and a doctorate to teach university-level classes. 

Popular Jobs for Education Majors

Teaching positions are the most popular jobs for graduates holding an education degree. Graduates can begin as teaching aides or tutors, and gradually move up into a professional teaching position at a school. From there, teachers can move into administrative positions, such as superintendent, vice principal or principal. Special needs teaching is another popular field that focuses on teaching methods for students with learning disabilities.

Job Prospects for Education Majors

The need for more teachers is evident as the number of instructors has not grown in proportion with the number of incoming students. School teaching positions are expected to grow by 12 percent by 2016, and math, science and bilingual teachers will experience the greatest prospects, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology	M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction