The field of education employs millions of workers both in and out of the classroom. From the kindergarten to high school levels, teachers held more than 3 million jobs in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), while educational administrators in public and post-secondary schools held an additional 325,000 jobs. Students who enroll in education programs typically find work as kindergarten, elementary, middle or high school teachers or as special education teachers. Those teaching at middle and high school levels typically pursue teaching careers that play to their educational strengths, such as math, history, music or art.
The most common path to becoming a teacher is to earn a bachelor’s degree and complete licensure requirements. Each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia require teachers to hold a license. Licensure is administered by State Boards of Education. Education degree programs are the most common path of study for students who desire to teach, but some students complete degree programs in math, history or a similar subject, and then continue their education studies through teacher credentialing programs.
Learning how to succesfully navigate classroom environments takes a great deal of preparation. Coursework in education studies typically includes many of the following classes: Foundations of education, characteristics of diverse learners, principles and strategies of teaching, educational technology, history and philosophy of education, and educational theories of learning. Through these types of classes, students learn various aspects of teaching and education, as well as how to identify and reach different learning styles across a broad spectrum of cultures.