It’s time to declare your major
Have you considered education?
Author: Samantha Blann
Have you considered education?
Author: Samantha Blann
Whether you’re fresh out of high school, are ‘undeclared’ at your college or university or are hoping to change careers, you can find a path in education studies.
Declaring an education major or minor as part of your undergraduate degree can save you time and money. How? For starters, you can complete your educator preparation program (required to gain certification as a teacher) as part of earning your degree or by combining education courses with a major in the subject you want to teach.
But what if you already have an undergraduate degree in something that’s not education? That’s okay! If you already have an undergraduate degree, you can add an educator certification or go for a graduate degree in education. With a master’s degree, you’ll get the chance to gain even greater knowledge of your content and practice teaching before entering the classroom as a “teacher of record” (aka the primary adult in the classroom).
You’ll have the flexibility to choose (1) a “certification-only” route or a more in-depth master’s degree route, (2) if you want to be a full-time or part-time student, and (3) when you enroll. Teachers with master’s degrees often start teaching with a higher salary, since most districts pay teachers with a master’s more.
People with degrees in education go on to do a plethora of things inside and outside the classroom.
The skills and knowledge you gain in education courses are transferable to many other careers. In fact, having a degree in education might qualify you for a job in a non-profit organization, technology company, publishing house, government and more. Here are just a few things educators can do.
If you’re declaring an education major as part of your undergraduate degree, prepare for at least four years to finish your degree. If you’re going for your master’s, plan for approximately two years.
No joke—college is expensive. On average, undergraduate degrees cost approximately $20,000. Graduate degrees vary widely depending on the university and program, but you can count on spending $20,000+.
But teachers have options when it comes to paying for school:
Before you begin crunching those numbers, just remember: In many states, teachers make $50,000 on average, straight out of the gate.
For those of you applying to a college for the first time, you will likely have the option to declare a major when you first apply. This is not required, but if you already know you want to be an educator, declaring your major now is a good idea.
If you are undeclared, or coming from another major, contact the Education Department at your college for information on how to declare a major in their department. They can quickly assess your situation and get you on the right track, as well as help you with the application process.
You can also schedule an appointment with the Education Department guidance counselor to assess your fit for the program. They can help you determine any requirements you have yet to fulfill and get you set up with a plan for when and how to apply.
That’s alright! There’s plenty of time to decide if a career in education is right for you. As an undergrad, you don’t necessarily have to declare a major until your sophomore or junior year. You can use your first year or two in college to focus on core classes that meet the needs of the majors you’re considering. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, earning a master’s degree in education is something worth considering.
In the meantime: