Areas of Study in the Education Field

Jobs in the education field offer a rewarding work life and the ability to influence the development of generations to come.
 
With recent government incentives, state equivalency exams for people who have already completed a bachelor's degree in other fields and numerous other benefits, more and more people are being drawn to the budding education field.

Education Studies: Specializations and Licensing

The field of education studies has undergone much development in recent years, with more streamlined systems for training competent teachers and administrators.
 
Currently, a professional public school teacher requires a license, which can be obtained by one of two means: Either a person needs a bachelor's degree in education, or he needs to take the equivalency exam offered in whichever state he wishes to get a license to practice in.
 
The various areas of study in education allow a person to specialize in fields such as:
  • Curriculum and Instruction: Includes the design and planning of new education structures (i.e. creating a state plan for education goals)

  • Early Childhood Education: Includes early learning development and lesson planning structures. May not require a bachelor's degree, depending on the field and state (i.e. most preschool or kindergarten teachers do not need degrees)

  • Educational Administration: Includes managerial and secretarial positions (i.e. school staff, school board council member), educational system design and planning

  • e-Education and Distance Learning: Includes education through non-traditional means (i.e. teaching students over the Internet or through mail correspondence)

  • Educational Leadership: Includes management and oversight positions (i.e. school principal, member of board of educators) responsible for planning, designing and leading educational systems

  • Educational Technology: Includes overseeing development of new technologies for educational systems (i.e. using new software and hardware in the classroom)

  • General Education: Includes education in general or specific fields of study, development of lesson planning (this degree is suitable for most school teachers)

  • Library and Resource Management: Includes management and oversight of library resources

  • Special Education: Includes learning about specialized education for students with learning disabilities (this specialization is appropriate for teachers of the deaf or mentally handicapped).

Job Prospects

The education field has undergone many changes recently, including development in the economic arena. Due to government incentives and growing respect for the teaching profession, positions in the education field now offer more lucrative opportunities. Jobs in the education field help shape the future of generations to come and now no longer have the stigma of leaving a person a pauper.
 
With only a bachelor's degree and a background in education studies, anyone can become a teacher, administrator or even a principal. With careers in education expected to blossom over the next 10 years, combined with the fact that most teachers' salaries are increased yearly by a guaranteed level (varying in each state), now is an excellent time to take the leap into this satisfying career field.

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