Education is a rewarding career field with a variety of job opportunities. And with the right qualifications, you can work as a principal, administrator, teacher, or reading specialist, just to name a few. Many areas of the country, as well as abroad, need qualified professionals to work in schools of every level, from preschool to collegiate. Online education programs make it possible for anyone with internet access to complete their degree.

A degree in education can help prepare you for many different careers, such as:

• Academic Administrator
• Academic Adviser
• Content Developer
• Educational Publisher
• Elementary Educator
• School Counselor
• Secondary Educator

If you’re looking to be an elementary, middle school, or high school teacher, there are a few areas of study you will need to look into. In addition to being certified as a teacher, it is advantageous to be fluent in a specific program (English, History, etc.), and have some background in psychology, particularly early childhood development if you plan on teaching at the elementary level.

No matter what level of teaching you are looking to get into, there are certain personality traits a teacher must. First and foremost is patience, since you will be dealing with people of different ages, developing through different stages of life. You will need to know how to communicate effectively with your students and provide creative and resourceful study plans to keep your students engaged and interested.

My Degree – What It’s Good For

As noted above, you don’t have to become a teacher with an education degree. In fact, there are a variety of jobs available for education graduates. Some choose to pursue an administrative position while others elect to work as a reading specialist, school counselor, or special education teacher. Below are just a few of the many areas of specialization in this field:

• Adult and Higher Education
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Early Childhood Education
• Educational Administration
• Educational Technology
• Elementary Education
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• General Education
• Secondary Education
• Special Education

My Earning Potential

Your salary potential is based on a number of factors. Your employer, education level, and experience all factor in to determine what you can earn. Some schools require teachers to have a master’s degree in addition to licensure. If you want to work as a principal or school administrator, you’ll also need proper certification as well as a degree from an accredited school. Earning potential varies greatly depending on the position. The median salary in 2012 for a kindergarten or elementary school teacher was $53,090; for a middle school teacher it was $53,430. A principal at an elementary or middle school made $87,760. To become a principal though, one will need years of experience teaching in addition to a master’s degree.

Education Degrees

Education degrees cover many subjects in academic and research fields and are offered by many schools at their campus or online. Students are able to work towards several types of degree in business including Bachelor of Science, Master of Education, and Doctor of Education. Read more on schools offering degrees in education:

• DeVry University
• Purdue University
• Liberty University
• Walden University

Below, you can find several programs for popular fields in education.

Online Adult/Higher Education Degrees

• Northcentral University — PhD: Leadership in Higher Education
• Walden University — EdD: Adult Education

Online Curriculum and Instruction Degrees

• Northcentral University — MEd: Curriculum and Teaching
• Northcentral University — EdD: Curriculum and Teaching

Online Elementary and Early Childhood Education Degrees

• Grand Canyon University — MEd: Elementary Education (IR and Cert)

Online ESL Education Degrees

• Grand Canyon University — MA: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
• Northcentral University — MEd: English Second Language
• Northcentral University — EdD: English Second Language

Online General Education Degrees

• Northcentral University — MEd: General Education
• Northcentral University — EdD: General Education

Online Special Education Degrees

• Grand Canyon University — MEd: Special Education (IR and Cert)
• Liberty University Online — MAT: Special Education
• Northcentral University — MEd: Special Education
• Northcentral University — EdD: Special Education