Education Degrees
Teaching Requirement Overview
A bachelor degree in education is intended for students who have a high school diploma, GED or an associate's degree. A bachelor degree in teaching or education generally covers a broad liberal arts education while stressing pedagogy, the art of teaching. What you learn in your pedagogy classes will help you succeed in the classroom. After receiving your bachelor degree and passing a state or national teaching exam, you will be certified to teach in your state. However, there are some states that require a master's degree in order to teach, so you'll need to research your state's requirements to see if anything else is needed.
Find your state's Department of Education website.
Bachelor in Education Degrees
A bachelor degree in education is an undergraduate program that allows students to take teaching credential classes along with other general education coursework as they specialize in their major. The major or minor course of study will likely be the subject that students will teach when they find their first teaching job. Again, each state has different teaching requirements, so be sure to research the requirements your state.
Post-Bachelor Certificate
The most common route of entry into post-baccalaureate teaching programs, which confer a certificate, range from ten months to two years, and provide students with a bachelor degree in education the opportunity to complete the required coursework for their state's teaching credential. Students must also pass a state or national teaching exam such as the PRAXIS to become fully licensed.
Post-Professional Certificate
Designed for teachers seeking professional development, salary advancement or licensure renewal, post-professional certificate programs range from 8-unit credits to 30-credits. Some teaching programs can be completed in one weekend and others may take one year to complete. Program prerequisites vary widely, some requiring an accredited bachelor degree with a GPA above 3.0, valid teacher licensure and employment as a teacher.
For more information, see our Bachelor Degree in Education article.
Education Degrees: Master's & Related Graduate Programs
In states where a master in education isn't required to start teaching, students with a bachelor degree may be able to teach while getting a master in education at night school or online. Sometimes the difference between a certificate and master's program is only 15 extra credits; other master's programs take an extra year to complete. Students must also pass a state or national teaching exam such as the PRAXIS in order to become fully licensed.
Fifth-Year Master Degrees in Education(MS)
In these programs, college graduates take another year of coursework and intensive student teaching to qualify for a teaching credential and a master in education. Students must also pass a state or national teaching exam such as the PRAXIS in order to become fully licensed.
Master in Education Degrees (MEd)
Some programs are designed for practicing teachers who wish to increase their skill level and earn a higher salary. Other programs are entry-level and confer master in education degrees concurrently with an elementary or secondary school teaching certificate.
Master's in Teaching (MAT/MIT)
Some programs are designed for practicing teachers who wish to increase their skill level and earn a higher salary. Other programs are entry-level and confer the Master in Teaching degree concurrently with an elementary or secondary school teaching certificate.
For more information, see our Master in Education article.
Educational Specialist (EdS)
These programs are designed for people who have completed a master's degree and wish to increase their skills for advanced certification requirements or other professional objectives. The EdS level is the minimum preparation for school psychologists and directors of special education in most states. The EdS has become the intermediate degree for many professionals who supervise master's degree-level personnel.
The most common EdS degrees are: Educational Specialist in School Psychology, Special Education and Educational Administration.
Doctorate in Education Degrees (EdD)
Many doctorate programs in education require a master's degree in education or a related field.
The EdD is likely to be a preferred qualification for many mid-career employees, many of whom will already have master's degrees but wish to pursue studies at the doctoral level, which are based on research in addition to the application of that knowledge in professional practice. The EdD is designed for the professional practitioner.
Graduates are qualified to work as administrators, superintendents, teacher educators, as well as in other educational leadership positions.
Doctor of Philosophy in Education Degrees (PhD)
Many doctorate programs in education require a master's degree in education or a related field.
The emphasis of a PhD program in Education is upon the generation of new knowledge or the reformulation of existing knowledge as a basis for the development of educational theory through research efforts. The PhD is designed for those interested in academic research roles, such as policy maker or educational theorist.
For more information, see our Doctorate in Education article.
For more information on teaching careers generally, see our Education Career article.