Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
So you've got an education degree and you're all set to go teach the youth of tomorrow and change the world. Look out, pupils—here comes teacher.
Not so fast. You might need to get another degree first. Yes, after you're done with your undergraduate degree, you still have to get a teaching certificate and sometimes even a Master's or a Ph.D., depending on what level you want to teach. You'll also need some classroom experience, usually as a teacher assistant.
We'll be real—you've pretty much only checked off the first item on your to-do list. Hey, be grateful that this process exists—nothing's worse than having your education hindered by improper teaching techniques. Well, other than the inaccessibility of education…
Education programs are excellent for networking and at setting up pathways for young wannabe teachers, as well as providing real-life, hands-on experience in the classroom.
Common Career Fields
Administration. (Requires a Master's degree or Ph.D.) There's a lot more to running a school than hiring teachers here and there. Believe it or not, school districts hire loads of people who have never even set foot inside of a classroom. Curriculum writers, special education directors, and department managers need to understand what happens in the classroom, even if they aren't in them. Many administrators need a secondary degree of some kind (a Master's will usually do it) to prove their education chops.
Advocate. Lots of education majors already have an altruistic sense of purpose, so sometimes they join AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps as advocates. Graduates may volunteer at home or abroad to help build homes and schools for the less fortunate. Teachers are especially needed in poverty-stricken areas, and graduates of education answer the call of duty. This pathway is especially popular right after college, as it gives graduates an opportunity to go out and see the world while doing something meaningful. Whether it's teaching English in Thailand or helping rebuild homes after a hurricane, these advocates are much-appreciated by millions across the world.
Day Care Owner. Unsurprisingly, people like to leave their kids with someone they trust. An education graduate is at the top of the list of worthy people. The training that education majors get in college prepares them for dealing with kids—whether or not they're students. Running a daycare center is a great way to motivate kids without having to worry about the curriculum and state standards. Plus, with your background in education, parents will come flocking to your door.
Health Education. These folks teach students all about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and make sure they're well-informed on STDs and physical fitness. But health educators aren't restricted to high school—they also work in organizations and the government to give the general public the 411 on health. Think about this: Only recently did people discover that cigarettes were bad for them. Now, there are anti-smoking laws and commercials all over the place. If the Surgeon General tells you to quit smoking, you should quit smoking.
Instructional Coordinator. (Requires a Master's degree or Ph.D.) As a kid, you likely knew it was a big deal when the principal sat in on your class. Your teacher probably let you know ahead of time so you could all especially behave yourselves. As a student, principals are like your boss's boss, but instructional coordinators are like your boss's boss's boss. Instructional coordinators checks in on teachers and principals to make sure everything's copasetic. Schools have to make sure they stay up-to-date on state standards, and instructional coordinators help with that. Usually, they start out as teachers, then become principals.
Principal. (Requires a Master's degree or Ph.D.) As a kid, whenever a classmate got sent to the principal's office, it was a big deal. You and your classmates would collectively "oooooh" and "uh-oh" during the walk of shame. Fellow troublemakers would salute the hero, shotguns would blaze, trumpets would sound. Not the principal's office.
If you like being this big of a deal (for whatever reason), consider being a principal. Of course, leadership skills are required to run a school, and you've got to get a Master's or a Ph.D. to prove you really know your stuff, backwards and forwards. Schools usually like to see some teaching experience before they promote you to the big leagues, as well. In fact, most states even require you to get a special administrative license to make sure you're up to snuff.
Teacher/Professor. (Requires a Master's degree or Ph.D.) This is pretty obvious. If you study all things teaching, you're pretty qualified to teach. Being a good educator requires a lot of insight, skill, and responsibility because hey, it's all about your pupils. At the lower levels, it's important to know that a lot of your time will be spent managing the classroom, i.e. babysitting. If you're into pure, unadulterated academic pursuit, try teaching at the college level as a professor.
Teachers are very near and dear to our hearts here at Shmoop. For those about to teach, we salute you.
Current unemployment of the major
4%Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
43%Stats obtained from this source.