What can I do with an Education Degree?
You got an associate or a bachelor’s in education and now you do not know what to do next. A degree in education is versatile in obtaining a career in a teaching setting or in a non-teaching setting. The skills you’ve learned throughout your education have prepared you for more than just a classroom.
Teaching Careers
The most obvious career path with an education degree is teaching. Depending on what level you will teach at, you may need a BA in Education with a specific focus like: Early Childhood, Middle Level, a specific subject for High School education, or post-Secondary. While you are completing your education degree, you will be required to complete fieldwork, observations, and student teaching. The University of Akron ensures you are well prepared for a career in education through quality professors, hands-on learning, and a variety of field experiences. When I was completing my education, I was a tutor through the Lebron James Family Foundation, where I worked hands-on in an Akron Public School with students. Teaching careers in schools also include paraprofessionals, school counselor, teachers aid or assistant teacher, substitute teacher, librarian, or a tutor.
There are career opportunities outside of a traditional K-12 setting where you can also teach. Preschools/Pre-K, child care centers, day care centers, private tutor, Program Director in a childcare center or a Before/Aftercare program, and a curriculum trainer at any of the facilities listed above.
Education without Teaching
If you are looking for an education career path without teaching, there are options for you. You can explore options as a corporate trainer, admission recruiter for schools/centers, social services, and education policy and research.
Social services cover a wide range of career avenues where you can make a difference in the lives of the people in your own community. The services can include health including behavioral health, housing, family planning, help in job placement, and more. The Downtown Akron Partnership has a quick view access on their page where they list all the services offered.
Jobs not in direct Education
Studying education can allow you to gain knowledge and skills you can apply to many professions outside of teaching. Through an education degree, you will gain skills in communication, writing, observations and instruction, problem-solving, research, and interpersonal relationships. These skills will help you excel in careers like a columnist for a newspaper, curriculum designer, test developer, library worker, career advisor, museum education officer, event planner, and more.
A career in a museum is not something you hear about. Cleveland’s Children Museum “was first established in 1981 by a coalition of parents, educators and civic leaders to provide educational programs and activities to elementary school classrooms.” (About page) If you are still completing your program, you can sign-up to be a volunteer.
Now What?
It is okay not to know where to use your education and experiences right out of college, but I hope these ideas make your decisions a little easier. A degree in education helped make you well-rounded, and employable by many companies. Comment below what you have done or plan to do with your degree in Education.
