Education Degrees & Certificates

A career in education covers the gamut of teaching and administrative positions in schools ranging from pre-K to university levels.

Most states require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in education to become a certified or licensed teacher. A master’s degree is usually needed to become a school administrator, counselor, or to teach at a community college. Those who wish to teach in four-year colleges and universities typically require a doctorate degree.

Job opportunities in education and related professions are projected to grow at 5% during the 2020s, faster than the average of all occupations.

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Get Schooled on a Career in Education

What You Will Learn

Those pursuing a Bachelor of Education will study various theories on how best to learn, and delve into the social, cultural, environmental, and psychological factors that influence student learning. Master’s degrees and doctorate degrees in education offer more specialized programs.

What You Can Earn

$60,000 – $100,000: According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median salaries are in the low $60,000s for K-12 teachers; $80,790 for postsecondary teachers; and $98,490 for elementary, middle school, and high school principals.

What to Set Your Sights On

Begin as a teacher and move into an administrative position, such as school principal, or consider teaching in a postsecondary setting to achieve higher earnings.

The Origins of Education

Many credit Confucius (561 B.C.) as the first private teacher, though the Greeks are the first to have formalized the idea of teaching in a classroom-like setting.

A Day in the Life of an Educator

Whether you’re a teacher, professor, or administrator, every day is focused on doing what’s best for students to facilitate their growth and learning.

The Noblest Profession

Teaching is often called “the noblest profession,” since those who practice it selflessly share their knowledge to lead students toward a better future.