Teaching

By: Staff Writer

Online teaching degrees from accredited universities and schools.

Teaching

What is a Teaching Degree?

Beyond the obvious task of providing students with instruction in the basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic, a teacher performs many additional important functions. This includes developing and employing curriculums that will provide them with knowledge and information that will help build them mentally, physically and spiritually. It includes the ability to understand and interact with students in ways that will provide encouragement, draw out their talents, reward them for their work, motivate them to achieve and at times provide comfort, a feeling of being loved, or just a listening ear. At the same time, it can involve patience in dealing the unruly, the uncooperative and the belligerent. As with any occupation, it can entail considerable self-sacrifice and long hours.

Teaching Degrees

In general, teachers on the Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary school level are required by states to complete an approved teacher education program, be licensed and have a bachelor’s degree. However, many states offer alternative licensing programs to attract teachers for positions that are hard to fill. Most states require continuing education for renewal of a teacher’s license.

Instructors in higher education are most often required to hold a master’s degree or higher, with significant experience in the subject being taught.

Degrees and courses for continuing education or renewal of licensing are offered on every level in every imaginable subject.

Job Opportunities with a Teaching degree.

Job opportunities for teachers of Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary school are expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations. The Department of Labor also indicates, “Fast-growing States in the West—particularly California, Idaho, Hawaii, Alaska, Utah, and New Mexico—will experience the largest enrollment increases. Enrollments in the South will increase at a more modest rate than in recent years, while those in the Northeast and Midwest are expected to hold relatively steady or decline. Teachers who are geographically mobile and who obtain licensure in more than one subject should have a distinct advantage in finding a job."

Regarding higher education instructors, the Department of Labor says, “Employment of postsecondary teachers is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. A significant proportion of these new jobs will be part-time positions. Job opportunities are generally expected to be very good—”although they will vary somewhat from field to field—”as numerous openings for all types of postsecondary teachers result from retirements of current postsecondary teachers and continued increases in student enrollments.”