Budding adults who begin college in order to become teachers almost always major in education. A bachelor’s degree in education is fashioned to prepare individuals for teaching careers. Students must pass state exams in addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in most states. A majority of colleges and universities offer classes that provide the preparation for additional state certification requirements.
Since there is a teacher shortage across the country, a many states have created alternative requirements for individuals who would like to become teachers. Typically, this allows individuals with a bachelor’s degree in something other than education to take courses for the teaching credential. These individuals would not need to start at the beginning of the program in order to become a teacher.
Even though there is an alternate option, a bachelor’s degree in education will provide a solid underpinning that prepares students for the classroom. Bachelor’s degree programs that are designed to lead to certification may focus on early childhood education, elementary education, or special-education. There are minimal credential requirements associated with such programs that students must meet in order to become teachers.
There is a slightly different course of study for those who wish to teach on the secondary, high school, level. The area of focus would not be “secondary education” but simply the subject matter that they desire to teach. The area of focus might be English education, mathematics, science, or social science. Some of these programs are not geared for complete teacher certification, and other credentials are required post-graduation. Depending on the state, a master’s degree may be required to teach at the high school level.
Usually in states where a master’s degree is required for teaching on the secondary level, a bachelor’s degree is needed for teaching on the elementary level. This is why many teachers continue to pursue further education. These individuals start where they can, and attend school while working to move up to the teaching level that they want to be at. Sometimes they will take non-classroom roles like counseling.
A bachelor’s degree in education may include the following classes: introduction to teaching, teaching reading, teaching social studies, teaching science; teaching mathematics, and methods of foreign language instruction. It is more likely now that before that teachers will encounter bilingual and multicultural education.
If you desire to learn how to teach, get a bachelor’s degree in education. You will learn the art of imparting knowledge, not just providing knowledge.