Education

The Education major focuses on how people learn and ways of effectively teaching. Courses will include topics on educational psychology, developmental needs of students, school health and safety issues, and learning to plan and implement curriculum.

K-12

Common Career Paths

  • Teaching:
    • Pre-school
    • Elementary
    • Middle
    • Secondary
  • Administration:
    • Principal
    • Superintendent
  • Specializations:
    • Reading
    • Title 1
    • Library/Information services
    • Special education
    • Career/Technical education
  • Specializations continued:
    • Enrichment
    • English language acquisition
    • Curriculum supervision
    • Subject area supervision
  • Tutoring services
  • Test preparation

Employers

  • Elementary, middle and secondary schools:
    • Public
    • Private
    • Montessori
    • Magnet
    • Charter
  • Day care centers
  • Nursery schools
  • Boards of education
  • Tutoring and learning centers
  • Test preparation companies
  • Overseas schools for military dependents
  • Language immersion programs

Strategies

  • Obtain experience working with target age group through volunteer or part-time positions.
  • Demonstrate patience, creativity and the ability to work well with people of various backgrounds.
  • Develop strong communications skills to deal effectively with students, staff and parents.
  • Complete a college level teacher preparation program to obtain certification for desired subject area or grade level.  Requirements vary by state.
  • Private schools may not require certification.
  • Pursue multiple certifications to increase employability.
  • Earn master’s degree for higher pay and for a hiring edge in some districts.
  • Join related organizations such as National Education Association, International Reading Association, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, etc. to learn about current issues in the field.
  • Research school administration graduate programs and certification requirements for principal positions.
  • Graduate study is required for most “specialization” fields.  Obtain master’s degree in area to become a specialist.

Higher Education

Common Career Paths

  • Administration and Student Support Services:
    • Admissions
    • Financial aid
    • Academic advising
    • Disability services
    • Development
    • Alumni affairs
    • Distance education
    • International education and study abroad
  • Student Affairs (e.g., residence life, student activities, orientation, leadership, greek life, diversity, equity, & inclusion, recreational sports, career services)
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Information/Library services

Employers

  • Four-year colleges and universities
  • Two-year and community colleges
  • Technical schools
  • Medical and professional schools

Strategies

  • Earn Ph.D. in content area for teaching and research at four-year institutions. A master’s degree may be sufficient for teaching at two-year schools.
  • Pursue Ph.D. in higher education for upper level positions in university administration.
  • Acquire minimum of a master’s degree in student personnel, student development, counseling or a related field for student affairs positions.
  • Seek experience in higher education through student positions (e.g., resident assistant, orientation leader, peer mentor, etc.).
  • Secure significant experience in related field for technical school positions.
  • Obtain a master’s degree in library or information sciences from a program accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).

Adult and Continuing Education

Common Career Paths

  • In-service education
  • Staff development
  • Professional development
  • Leisure-oriented education
  • Career/Technical education
  • GED preparation
  • Literacy development
  • English language acquisition

Employers

  • Boards of education
  • Colleges and universities
  • Two-year and technical schools
  • Community organizations (e.g., YMCA, Red Cross)
  • Museums
  • Professional associations
  • Residential care facilities
  • Adult day healthcare centers
  • Vocational services
  • K-12 school systems
  • Language schools: overseas and domestic
  • Correctional institutions

Strategies

  • Develop strong communication skills and the desire to help others.
  • Seek volunteer or paid experience in an area of interest (e.g., English language acquisition training, GED preparation, literacy development).
  • Research certification and accreditation standards for instructional areas of interest.
  • Attain master’s or Ph.D. degree in adult education or a graduate degree in a subject or specialized area.
  • Earn a reputation for expertise and experience in a subject, profession, art, craft or trade.
  • Demonstrate a repertoire of strategies for teaching learners with varied life experiences: age, skills and abilities, educational level, culture and socioeconomic status.
  • Research certification options, visa requirements and overseas schools and programs for teaching abroad.

Business and Communication

Common Career Paths

  • Training
  • Curriculum development
  • Publishing, editing, and technical writing
  • Sales
  • Customer service
  • Management

Employers

  • Bookstores
  • Publishers: textbook, online, newspaper, magazine, book, educational websites
  • Test-preparation companies
  • Software companies
  • Education-related businesses: toy retailers, educational supply companies
  • Public and private corporations
  • Self-employed (e.g., tutoring services, consulting, etc.)

Strategies

  • Stay current with business and industry literature and news.
  • Research companies that utilize teaching/education experience or those that are open to hiring students from “any major.”
  • Conduct informational interviews to learn about career paths and to build a network of contacts.
  • Seek experience through part-time jobs and internships in business; experience in sales may be necessary for some positions.
  • Join related student associations and pursue leadership positions.
  • Be prepared to start in entry-level positions such as management trainee programs.
  • Learn web page design and software packages relevant to publishing and media.  Develop a portfolio.
  • Consider earning an advanced degree to specialize in business or communications fields.

Government

Common Career Paths

  • Administration
  • Planning
  • Evaluation
  • Management
  • Research and writing
  • Teaching
  • Community affairs

Employers

  • Federal government agencies:
    • Department of Education
    • Department of Defense
    • Overseas schools for military dependents
    • Department of Labor
    • Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)
    • Health and Human Services
    • Library of Congress
  • Federal government agencies continued:
    • National Archives and Records Administration
    • National Science Foundation
    • National Endowment for the Arts
    • National Endowment for the Humanities
    • Peace Corps
    • Americorps
  • Social service agencies
  • State and local government

Strategies

  • Seek involvement in student government, local political groups, local campaigns, civic organizations, community service projects, etc.
  • Acquire experience through volunteering or completing an internship in a government agency.
  • Develop strong analytical, verbal, research, writing and leadership skills.
  • Build a network of contacts through referrals and informational interviews.
  • Become familiar with the government application process. Utilize applicable websites and seek assistance from your college career center.

Nonprofit

Common Career Paths

  • Direct service
  • Programming
  • Administration
  • Management
  • Public relations
  • Fund raising/Development
  • Policy analysis
  • Research
  • Grant writing
  • Curator/Archivist

Employers

  • Service organizations (e.g., United Way, Red Cross, Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army)
  • Youth organizations and camps (e.g., YMCA, YWCA, Young Life, Scouts)
  • Community recreation centers
  • Immigrant and refugee service providers
  • Shelters
  • Hospitals and hospices
  • Residential treatment facilities
  • Adult day health care centers
  • Nursing homes
  • Adoption agencies
  • Churches, synagogues, and mosques
  • Correctional institutions
  • Museums

Strategies

  • Research organizations’ values to find a good fit with yours.
  • Seek experience as a volunteer, intern or paid employee with social service or non-profit organizations.
  • Become familiar with government and community resources available for those in need.
  • Develop a wide range of skills such as presenting, grant writing and fundraising, as professionals in nonprofit organizations may fill multiple roles.
  • Develop writing, research and public speaking skills and the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
  • Supplement coursework in with areas of interest such as business, human services, counseling or psychology.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and experience in a specialty area (e.g., public health, environment, urban issues).

Getting Started and Advancing in Major

  • Develop excellent communication skills, verbal and written.  Become skilled in various teaching strategies and technologies.
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm and energy for the field, particularly the desire to work with and help others.
  • Obtain part-time, summer, internship or volunteer experience with the intended age group in various settings (e.g., pre-schools, day cares, camps, community agencies, adult centers, YMCA’s).
  • Participate in co-curricular activities and related organizations to broaden skills, interests and networking opportunities.
  • Bachelor’s degree is sufficient for certification to teach K-12 in most states. Obtain a master’s degree for advancement and to increase earning potential.
  • Advanced degrees are required for specialists, education administration, college teaching and some other professional positions.
  • Maintain current knowledge of state and national legislation regarding teacher certification.
  • Identify transferable skills learned in teaching applicable to alternative careers:
    • Verbal and written communication, teaching and instruction, program planning, organization and record-keeping, working under pressure, meeting deadlines, motivating others, creativity, working autonomously, decision-making, problem solving and research.