One of the most overlooked and underappreciated career fields in America is the teaching profession. When economic times get tough, cities and states often look to schools first in search of budget cuts. Those teachers who have long served their regions by educating thousands of students quickly become a financial liability. Becoming a teacher however is a noble career choice and one that can be extremely rewarding. Surely there can be no greater feeling than knowing you had a hand in shaping the minds of future leaders of our country. Those who are interested in becoming teachers but cannot necessarily afford, financially or time wise, to attend a traditional university or college could earn an online education degree instead.
An online education degree can be earned at a number of online institutions, but how can one tell if the online institution they choose is reputable? The first step in determining the legitimacy of the institution is to conduct research to see if the school’s program has received regional or national accreditation. The best way to do this is to search the list of accrediting bodies approved by the United States Department of Education. Other ways to determine the validity of a program include:
- The school’s name, status, and history
- Teacher credentials
- Alumni network
As with many other degree programs, online education degrees are now available at several levels. Each of these levels will lead to different job prospects and determining which program is right is left up to the individual. Online education degrees are available at the following levels:
- Education certificate programs
- Associates in Education
- Bachelor in Education
- Masters in Education
- Doctorate in Education
Each of these online programs will lead graduates down different paths and toward different positions within education. It is hard to pinpoint exactly which positions will arise from which degrees, but a general breakdown of positions by education level looks like this:
- Certificate/Associates/Bachelor: Adult Education Teacher, Kindergarten Teacher, Primary/Secondary School Teacher, Gifted Education Teacher, School Secretary, and Reading Specialist.
- Master’s: School Principal, School Vice-Principal, Curriculum Developer, Private School Director, and Continuing Education Director.
- Doctorate: Superintendant of School Board, Policy Maker, University Professor, and Educational Development Program Director.
The above list is not intended to be an all inclusive list of positions available to those with an online education degree. Rather, it offers a good starting point for those considering an online education degree. Those with a specific career goal in mind for their career in education will have a better idea what degree they will need to meet those goals. Many of the higher level, Master’s and above, positions require an advanced graduate degree and work experience.
Regardless of the online education degree program that an individual chooses, there are a handful of classes that each student should take at some point during their education. These classes will provide them with important lessons about teaching that are critical to success as a teacher. These classes include:
- Classroom Management
- Special/Exceptional Learners
- Educational Psychology
- Child Development
- Measurement and Evaluation
Finally, when searching for an online education degree program it is important to keep in mind the time table for each degree, your career goals, and your financial ability to pay for your education. Certificate programs can be completed the quickest, in as little as six months. However, these programs will lead to the lowest paying jobs and additional training will be required to advance within teach. A Master’s degree may be necessary to reach your desired teaching position, but will take upwards of six years to complete with four years spent on a Bachelor’s and an additional two on the Master’s. That effort is rewarded though with better job security and higher pay.
Those in need of more information about online education degrees should turn to ieducation.com. Here they will find a wealth of information about online courses, online schools, and even grants to help fund their education.