Education

Education is the practice of instructing others for the purpose of knowledge obtainment and skill development. In education degree programs, students study about how people learn and ways that human development affects the learning process. They also learn about the fostering of intellectual advancement through instructional methods, classroom management, assessment methods, and student evaluation. Bachelor's degrees in education vary according to concentrations or specialty including early childhood education, adult education, special education, and secondary education, as well as academic subjects such as math, science, English or history. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, educational services is the second largest industry in the country and is expected to experience a 12 percent increase in employment by 2018.

Common Career Paths:

Elementary School Teacher

Elementary school teachers provide instruction for children in their early years of life and therefore play an important role in their developmental growth. While the majority of these types of teachers provide instruction on several subjects to a single class of students, other teachers may teach a single subject to several classes of students. These types of teachers are responsible for creating lesson plans, making classroom presentations, and facilitating educational activities. Typical job duties include providing instruction, assigning homework, grading assignments, evaluating student progress, and administering assessments. A teacher's job requires them to work with a wide range of people such as parents, school administrators, and other teachers. While many work in public and private schools, they can also be employed by other educational organizations.

Elementary school teachers usually required to have at least a bachelor's degree in education with a concentration in elementary education. These types of programs consist of relevant courses like philosophy of education, teaching methods, child development and learning, educational psychology, classroom management and behavior, reading fundamentals, and instructional resources and technology. Most programs also require students to spend a year teaching under the supervision of a certified special education instructor and obtain a license from the State. According to PayScale, the annual salary of elementary school teachers in the United States ranges from $32,546 to $49,777.

Special Education Teacher

Special education teachers provide instruction for children with mental and or physical disabilities. Given the limitations of these disabilities, these types of teachers primarily provide instruction that focuses on basic literacy, life skill development, and remedial level academics. They are responsible for creating Individualized Education Programs tailored for each student's learning needs, implementing alternative learning techniques, and closely monitoring academic progress. Typical job duties include adapting educational curriculum, teaching lessons, supervising course work, assigning homework, arranging classroom accommodations, and filing evaluation reports. A special education teacher's job requires them to work with a wide range of people such as parents, therapist, psychologists, social workers, and school administrators. While many work in public and private schools, they can also be employed by other types of special needs organizations.

Special education teachers are usually required to have at least a bachelor's degree in education with a concentration in special education. These types of programs consist of relevant courses like teaching methods, human development, special needs assessment, educational psychology, cognitive development and disabilities, behavioral management, and intervention strategies. Most programs also require students to spend a year teaching under the supervision of a certified special education instructor and obtain a license from the State. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2008 teachers who worked with preschool through elementary school children earned a median annual salary of $50,020, while those working with middle school children earned $50,810 and those with high school children earned $51,340.

Principal

Principals are education administrators who manage a school's daily operations and oversee its overall performance. This requires them to set curriculum standards, establish performance objectives, and implement strategies to reach defined goals. They are often responsible for hiring and evaluating faculty, examining instructional methods, ensuring students meet academic standards, and preparing budgets and reports. They work closely with staff and teachers and consult with them on issues like academic programs, educational curriculum, and student performance. A principal's job often requires them to also work with parents, students, community organizations, and other administrators. While many work in public and private schools, they can also be employed by other types educational institutions.

Principals are required to have at least a bachelor's degree in education with a concentration in education administration or educational leadership. These types of programs consist of relevant courses like philosophy of education, educational administration, curriculum development, teaching methods, child development and learning, educational psychology, classroom management, instructional resources and technology, and educational evaluation and research. Most programs also require students to spend a year teaching under the supervision of a certified special education instructor and obtain a license from the State. Typically, one begins their career as a teacher before earning a graduate degree in education administration and advancing to a position as a principal. According to PayScale, the annual salary of principals in the United States ranges from $59,385 to $101,921.