Online Teaching Degrees
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Teaching is often considered one of the most respectable and rewarding careers, as it involves shaping our future generations. Teaching is a demanding profession; most teachers put in long hours for lower salaries than other careers requiring comparable education. More than half of all new teachers move on to a new career after only a couple of years, but for those with a strong commitment to education, teaching can provide a rewarding opportunity with intellectual and creative job satisfaction.
The day-to-day life of a teacher is never the same. Teachers are responsible for planning lessons that satisfy certain state, district, and national criteria; due to the current education policy climate, teachers are also often held accountable for preparing students to be successful on standardized tests. Furthermore, teachers have to deal with many challenges that come up, like cheating and plagiarism. No two teachers' classroom experiences are the same, as teachers develop their own strategies and activities for teaching the required material. Teachers in elementary schools teach every subject and require incredible patience and self control, as they spend all day managing young children. Middle school and junior high teachers work with students aged 11-14, where the emphasis is placed on helping students develop skills to be successful in high school. In high school, teachers focus on college and career preparation.
In most states, teachers are required only to have a bachelor's degree, area endorsement, -- whether in a specific subject area, special education, or elementary education -- and certification. Most teachers earn a master's degree also, quite often in education. It is considered a necessity that teachers be role models for the pursuit of education, so state certification boards usually require that teachers earn continuing education credits for renewal of their licenses. These hours may be earned through graduate school programs or seminar work.
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What are some of the specializations within this degree program?
- Preschool Education: Preschool, though not generally a part of the public school system, is a popular option for parents of young children. Preschool students are aged 3-5, and the preschool atmosphere is a combination of early learning and daycare.
- Elementary Education: Children ages 5-12 attend elementary school, where they stay in one classroom with the same teacher, who covers all subjects. Reading is a popular focus for elementary school teachers.
- Secondary Education: Secondary education is the most popular career specialization for teachers. The term includes middle and high school students.
- Higher Education: Though often considered its own separate entity, higher education encompasses community colleges, four-year universities, and graduate schools. Teachers in higher education must have advanced degrees.
- Teaching of English as a Foreign Language: The demand for teachers who are qualified to teach English as a foreign language is growing quickly because of continuing immigration to the United States. TEFOL certification is helpful to those seeking employment as EFL or ESL teachers.
- Special Education: Students who are struggling severely in school, have disruptive behavioral issues, or have mental disorders, are often placed in special education classes. Teachers in special education departments must have specialized training to deal with the specific issues that arise when working with this population of students.
What degree levels are available?
- Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
- Master's Degree: 2-3 years to complete
- Doctorate Degree: 4-7 years to complete
What are the educational and certification requirements?
The education requirements vary significantly from state to state, and in some cases from grade level to grade level. Usually, teachers can begin teaching after having completed only a bachelor's degree, along with a state-approved teacher preparation program. It is becoming more and more common for prospective teachers to complete their preparation program as part of a master's in education degree program. Individuals can nearly always expect their teacher preparation programs to include some sort of in-classroom component. In some cases, this in-classroom student-teaching experience can last a full school year. Requirements will vary by state. Nearly every public university offers some kind of accredited teacher preparation program.
Some states mandate that high school teachers hold a bachelor's degree in their area of endorsement. For example, a tenth grade English teacher must hold a degree in English language or literature. More and more education policy makers are calling for reforms that would require all teachers to hold master's degrees, but this is usually not yet the case. The U.S. Department of Education's affiliated teacher website can provide interested candidates with state-by-state information about how to become a teacher and what is required, though consulting a state's own Department of Education website will usually offer more details. Due to teacher shortages, desperate districts occasionally offer other certification and education options for people who work in specific areas, such as math.
Certification requirements vary by state, but all public school teaching positions require bachelor's degrees, student teaching hours, and completion of a teacher preparation program. Basic skills competency exams, usually administered by GRE Testing Services, are also mandated by most states, though some states have more testing requirements than others. Some states require a degree audit to determine that a teacher candidate has met the necessary credit requirements in his or her endorsement area.
What kinds of classes will I be expected to take?
Prospective teachers take a wide array of courses that will help prepare them for the difficulties that they will face in the classroom. For example, students of teaching degree programs will take courses that help them learn to develop appropriate curriculum content and create effective, streamlined lesson plans. Curriculum courses will probably also include an overview of state guidelines for curriculums.
An education technology class will also help students who are interested in becoming teachers learn to be effective professionals in the 21st century. They will learn how different types of technologies can be incorporated into the classroom environment. Classes in evaluation, similarly, are essential for students who are studying teaching. Students of teaching need to learn how to use different testing procedures in their curriculums.
Further core classes in a teaching degree program will include those that revolve around behavioral controls. For instance, teachers often face difficulties from students who are suffering from learning disabilities or behavioral disorders, and it is important that they understand how they can identify and react to such challenges. A master's in teaching course will likely include a course in behavioral management, as well. Teachers need to be able to control behavior in a large group of students.
If I pursue this program online, will I be required to complete any on-site training?
If a student is pursuing a maste'rs degree in teaching online, they will nearly always have to find a school that will allow them to participate in actual classroom teaching. A practicum experience is required for teacher licensure in most states, so even if coursework is completed online, students will have to work at a public school teaching site near them.
What are some other degrees that are related to this program?
A degree that often follows a teaching degree (after some teaching experience) is an education administration degree. Education administrators are in charge of groups of teachers, as well as the budgets and management of the schools and school districtst in which they work.
Higher education degrees are also similar to teaching degrees, in that they prepare people to work at community colleges and universities. Graduates of higher education degree programs may go on to work as school counselors or administrators at institutions of higher learning. Finally, there are some schools that are now offering library education degrees. Graduates of such degree programs are able to work in libraries at schools and in the public, offering literacy resources to the public.
