Education
It has been said that we all need someone to inspire us to do better than we know how. Without educators, there would be no other professions. An education degree can focus on a specific area, such as science, or it can focus on education level, such as elementary education. Many may think of educators as teachers who are confined to the classroom and barely make enough money to support themselves. There are several areas in which educators can excel, from teaching in the classroom or conducting an online course to becoming a corporate educator or a researcher. While some salaries are meager, there are tips to finding jobs that pay more, and the benefits, such as insurance, retirement, and time off, is usually an advantage to this career. Another plus is job security since education is the second largest industry in the U.S.
Concentrations
The word “teacher” usually conjures an image of a middle-aged woman teaching multiplication tables to a roomful of third-graders; however, recent years have seen many changes in education. School administrators are thinking outside the box and realizing that traditional classrooms are not necessarily the best learning environment for every student. There has been a growing trend in online education, and many educators are enriching the classrooms with other technologies. The internet has made it much easier to perform research and to communicate, creating new avenues for teaching. Here are some areas of education you may want to consider:
- Adult Education
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Leadership and Administration
- Technology Instruction
- Special Education
Qualities and Skills
Teaching is no longer about conventional academics. Many companies are realizing that teaching skills are synonymous with what was once dubbed “training skills,” and for some positions, they are essential. Educators generally possess some of the following general skills or traits: effective communication, presentation, creativity, organization, assertiveness and persistence. Many of these skills are the same that you would learn in business studies, making it a relatively smooth transition if you have a degree in education and wanted to obtain an advanced degree in business or management.
Occupations
The most common occupations for educators include elementary and secondary teachers; however, there are many other uses for an education degree if you are not sure about teaching in the classroom full time. You could focus on adult education, which is usually a more informal—or even online—classroom setting. Instead of a six- to eight-hour day of teaching, you could teach three to four hours per day and even choose how many days per week you will work. You might also want to consider a non-teaching position, such as librarian, instructional coordinator, speech pathologist, or office administration.
Earnings
Education administrators (principal, school board director, etc.) earn the most money in the education industry, while teacher assistants earn the least. Adult education teachers are generally paid per course and work more of a part time schedule.
Online Colleges Offering Degrees in Education
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University’s distance education program provides students with alternatives to a one-campus, traditional classroom-based education. Distance education is used to offer classes at sites outside the Fort Lauderdale area and can use telecommunication technologies exclusively or in combination with a classroom setting.
Fielding Graduate University
Fielding Graduate University offers an education with adults in mind. The University’s custom approach to education combines flexible study options and schedules to accommodate working adults with responsibilities to their families, work, and communities.
Champlain College
As a division of Continuing Professional Studies, online learning at Champlain College provides a flexible option for those students interested in education but find themselves hindered by logistics, time constraints, or other factors. The Champlain difference is that these online programs are developed to be relevant to professional life.
Bowling Green State University
While Bowling Green State University was originally established as an institution for educators and boasts today that it is the 14th largest producer of teachers in the United States, it offers more than 200 undergraduate majors. In addition to its seven undergraduate colleges, BGSU offers Master’s and doctoral level programs as well.
Benedictine University
Along with 17 other institutions, Benedictine University is part of the Association of Benedictine Colleges and Universities, and its mission and vision reflect Catholic and Benedictine traditions.
Argosy University
As part of the Education Management Corporation, Argosy University is a distinguished private university that consists of four colleges dedicated to academic excellence.
Ashford University
Ashford University is a private prominent liberal arts university located in Clinton, Iowa. Ashford provides accessible, affordable, and first-rate courses and degree programs that meet and exceeds the various needs of its students.
Boston University
Boston University is an independent, coeducational, and non-sectarian internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With more than 30,000 students from all 50 states and 135 countries, it is one of the largest independent universities in the United States.
Capella University
As a first-rate accredited school, Capella University takes online education to an advanced level. Capella University is a private online university based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Capella offers bachelors, masters and doctoral (PhD and PsyD) degrees in psychology, business, technology, human services, and education.
Strayer University
Strayer University is a leading university dedicated to making it convenient and affordable for students while maintaining high quality standards of education. Strayer University helps working adults continue their education in order to advance their careers.
