Earning a degree in education can prepare you for numerous rewarding careers. Although a school teacher is the first profession to come to mind, many other careers are possible depending on your experience, the degree level and field of study. Education degree holders can work in the public and private sectors, teach, manage, and conduct research.

Career Options in Education:

Educators Face a Strong Career Outlook
An educator is one of the more recession resistent careers. Whether the economy is prospering or lagging, the public will always need qualified teachers and educators. The career outlook for teachers is strong. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment of school teachers to grow by 12% between 2006 and 2016, thus producing 479,000 new jobs and expects a strong future for education jobs overall.

Go Further with a Graduate Degree
Holding graduate degrees in education is essential to individuals who desire educational leadership and administration positions. Many schools require their teachers to either have a master's degree or work on earning one within a certain amount of time. Most schools have payscales that reward you for having a master's degree. If you don't have a bachelor degree in education and want to become an educator, a master's degree in the field can fulfill most schools' education requirements.

NCATE Accreditation: Is it a Must?
NCATE accreditation is certainly desirable. However, there are plenty of top ranked schools that don't have NCATE accreditation yet still offer excellent quality education programs. In fact, many schools without the NCATE accreditation offer programs that are specifically approved by their state's department of education. Your long-term plans should dictate the decision to choose a program with or without the NCATE accreditation. Licensure requirements and a possible move out of state are two important factors in this decision. >> Read more

Consider a High Demand Specialization
School systems across the country have expressed great need for teachers who are specialized in mathematics, science, and english language learning (ELL/ESL) instruction. Educators who have extensive training or degrees in these fields will certainly have improved options in employment and better compensation potential. >> click here for Teacher Shortage Areas from the U.S. Dept. of Education

WGU is the only exclusively online university to receive NCATE accreditation for its online teaching degree programs. Chosen as an NEA Academy Partner for it's quality and value. Top quality education that is among the lowest in cost online.

WGU offers Bachelor and Master's Degrees for educators, as well as Teacher Prep programs and Endorsement programs. Some of the 30+ education programs offered by WGU include:

• Early Childhood Education - BA
• Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12) - BA
• Science (5-12) - BA (choose specialization)
• Special Education - BA
• ELL / ESL (PreK-12) - MA
• Mathematics Education (K-6, 5-9, or 5-12) - MA
• Science Education (5-9) - MA (choose specialization)
• Teaching - MA
• Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
• Special Education - MS

University of Cincinnati has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a Top National University and Top Public School. UC's School of Education was also ranked among the national top graduate schools for education.

UC's top ranked school of education offers degrees in the most in-demand programs for teachers and administrators.

• Curriculum & Instruction - MEd
• Gifted, Creative, and Talented - MEd
• Educational Leadership - MEd
• Math Specialist (PK - 6) - MEd
• National Board Certification Teaching Standards - MEd
• Reading Specialist - MEd
• Special Education - MEd
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) - MEd
• Teacher Leader - MEd
• TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) - MEd

U.S. News & World Report recognizes Drexel University's School of Education as one of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.”

Drexel University's prestigious School of Education offers over 20 graduate degrees and certificates online for busy education professionals, including the following:

• Learning Technologies - MS
• Library and Information Science (LIS) - MS
• Mathematics Learning and Teaching - MS
• Special Education - MS (4 concentrations)
• Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum - MS
• Mathematics Learning and Teaching - Graduate Certificate
• Instructional Technology Specialist - Certificate
• Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Certificate

Known for its affordability and exceptional student support, LU Online is consistently ranked among the top 10 online universities by the Online Education Database, for its high retention and graduation rates.

Liberty University is proud to offer NCATE accredited graduate level programs for educators. LU offers high quality education based on Christian foundations, which can truly benefit educators and teachers in their careers. Some of these programs include:

• Elementary Education- MAT
• Secondary Education - MAT
• Special Education - MAT
• Administration & Supervision - MEd
• Program Specialist - MEd (choose specialization)
• Teaching and Learning - MEd (choose specialization)
• Education - EdD
• Educational Leadership - EdD
• Teaching and Learning - EdD

Chosen as an NEA Academy Partner for it's quality and value. Walden University offers the No. 1 Largest Online Graduate Program in Education By Enrollment (U.S. News & World Report). WU's School of Education is currently a candidate for accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Walden University offers over 40 master and doctoral level online degrees in education. Some of these include:

• Master of Science in Education - MSEd (choose specialization)
• Higher Education - MS (choose specialization)
• Instructional Design & Technology - MS
• Early Childhood Education - PhD
• Educational Technology - PhD
• General Program - PhD
• Higher Education - PhD
• Special Education - PhD
• Educational Technology - EdS
• Teacher Leadership - EdS
• Special Education Endorsement Program - Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (K-12)
• Special Education Endorsement Program - Learning Disabilities (K-12)
• Special Education Endorsement Program with M.S. in Special Education - Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (K-12)

The Princeton Review ranked GU as one of the best universities in the Midwest.

Graceland's online Master of Education was recently honored with the prestigious USDLA Award for Best Practices in Distance Learning Programming.

Graceland's NCATE accreditation and recognition by the Princeton Review and USDLA ensure that teachers will receive the best quality training and education to advance their skills and careers. Programs include:

• Collaborative Learning and Teaching - MEd
• Differentiated Instruction - MEd
• Differentiated Instruction - Master's Level Certificate
• Mild / Moderate Special Education - MEd
• Quality Schools - MEd
• Technology Integration - MEd