Education
What can I do with this major?
K - 12
Area
- Teaching
- Pre-school
- Elementary
- Middle
- Secondary
- Administration
- Principalship
- Superintendency
- Special Services
- Reading
- Title 1
- Guidance Counseling
- School Psychology
- School Social Work
- Occupational and Physical Therapy
- Audiology and Speech Pathology
- Library/Information Services
- Special Education
- English as a Second Language
- Curriculum Supervision
- Subject Area Supervision
Employer
- Elementary, middle and secondary schools:
- public, private, Montessori, etc.
- Day care centers and nursery schools
- Boards of education
Information / Strategies
- Complete a college level teacher preparation program.
- Obtain teaching certificate/license for desired subject area and/or grade level. Requirements for certification/licensure vary by state.
- Obtain multiple certifications to increase employability.
- Private schools may not require certification or licensure. Obtain master's degree in subject area for increased employability.
- Get involved in student teacher organizations.
- Acquire teaching experience. Obtain Ph.D. and certificate in school administration.
- Graduate study required for "special service" fields. Obtain master's degree in area to become specialist. Requirements for certification and/or accreditation vary by state.
Higher Education
Area
- Teaching
- Research
- Administration
- Student Affairs
- Information/Library Services
Employer
- Four-year colleges and universities
- Two-year and community colleges
- Technical schools
- Medical and professional schools
Information / Strategies
- Earn Ph.D. to teach and research at four-year institutions. Master's or Ph.D. degree is required to teach at two-year schools.
- Earn a Ph.D. in higher education administration for upper level positions in university administration.
- Earn master's degree in student personnel, student development, or counseling for student affairs positions.
- Obtain master's degree in library/information sciences.
- Gain related experience through student positions such as Resident Assistants, Orientation Leaders, etc.
- Seek leadership roles in campus organizations.
Adult and Continuing Education
Area
- Inservice Education
- Staff Development
- Professional Development
- Leisure-oriented Education
- GED Preparation
- Literacy Development
- English as a Second Language
- Consulting
Employer
- K-12 school systems
- Boards of education
- Colleges and universities
- Two-year and technical schools
- Community organizations: YMCA, Red Cross, etc.
- Correctional institutions
- Museums
- Professional associations
- Nursing homes/Adult daycare
- Vocational services
- Consulting firms
Information / Strategies
- Attain a master's or Ph.D. degree in adult education or a graduate degree in a subject or specialized area.
- Gain a reputation of expertise and experience in a subject, profession, art, craft or trade.
- Obtain teaching or instructional experience.
- Determine certification or accreditation standards for areas of interest.
Business and Industry
Area
- Corporate Training
- Human Resources
- Sales
- Customer Service
- Publishing, Editing, and Technical Writing
- Curriculum Development
- Consulting
Employer
- Public and private corporations
- Consulting firms
- Marketing companies
- Bookstores
- Publishers:
- Textbook, newspaper, magazine, book
- Test-preparation companies
- Software companies
- Staffing agencies
Information / Strategies
- Take some general business and computer courses.
- Earn a graduate degree in human resource development.
- Gain experience in organizational development or marketing.
- Become current with business and industry literature and news.
- Develop strong word processing, editing, and desktop publishing skills.
Government
Area
- Administration
- Planning
- Evaluation
- Management
- Research and Writing
- Teaching
- Social Work
Employer
- Federal government agencies:
- Department of Education
- Department of Defense
- Overseas schools for military dependents
- Department of Labor
- Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)
- Health and Human Services
- Library of Congress
- National Archives and Records Administration
- National Science Foundation
- National Endowment for the Arts
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- Peace Corps
- Americorps
- Social service agencies
- State and local government
Information / Strategies
- Learn federal, state, and local job application procedures.
- Gain experience and an advanced, typically Ph.D, degree for high level positions in government.
Nonprofit
Area
- Teaching or Training
- Programming
- Public Relations
- Administration
- Fundraising
- Case Managing
- Lobbying
Employer
- Adoption agencies
- Scouts
- Camps
- United Way agencies
- YMCA/YWCA
- Group homes
- Mental health clinics
- Hospitals
- Community recreation centers
- Other public or private social service organizations
- State/national professional associations
Information / Strategies
- Gain experience through volunteer work or internships.
- Develop writing and public speaking skills.
- Learn to work well with people of various back grounds.
- Add additional coursework in area of interest such as human services, counseling or psychology.
- Consider certification in special education for greater employability.
- Seek grant writing experience to increase opportunities.
General Information and Strategies
- Develop excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
- Develop good computer skills.
- Demonstrate enthusiasm and energy for the field.
- Need desire to work with and help people.
- Obtain part-time, summer, internship, or volunteer experience with the age group you intend to work with in various settings: pre-schools, daycares, camps, community agencies, adult centers, YMCA's, etc.
- Participate in co-curricular activities and related organizations to broaden skills, interests, and opportunities.
- Bachelor's degree is sufficient for certification/licensure to teach K-12 in most states. Obtain a master's degree for advancement and increased earning potential.
- Advanced degree required for specialists, education administration, college teaching and other professional positions.
- Maintain current knowledge of state and national legislation regarding teacher licensure.
- Identify transferable skills learned in teaching applicable to alternative careers:
- effective communication with people, verbal and written
- teaching and instruction
- program planning
- organization and record-keeping
- working under pressure and meeting deadlines
- motivational skills, creativity
- working autonomously, decision-making, problem solving
- research skills