| A number of college students feel so inspired by | | | | earning a master's degree within a specific period |
| one teacher throughout their lives that they want | | | | of time after graduation, technology training and |
| to inspire other students in the same way. | | | | earning a minimum GPA through college. After |
| Pursuing an online degree in education is one of | | | | meeting all requirements, students will be able to |
| the best ways for students to take the first | | | | pursue a job in education. |
| steps to being a leader and an educator in their | | | | Completing a degree and earning a license are the |
| community. Teaching can be tough, but it's also | | | | easy parts of a teaching career. Education |
| one of the most rewarding jobs out there. | | | | requires a person with a certain type of |
| Education as a whole is the second largest | | | | personality. Teachers must be excellent |
| industry in the entire United States, employing | | | | communicators who can inspire confidence to |
| roughly 13.3 million jobs. Within the broad definition | | | | motive students of any age. In addition to those |
| of education fall the four most recognizable jobs: | | | | skills, they must be able to recognize differences |
| teaching in kindergarten, elementary school, middle | | | | in students' needs and employ individual teaching |
| school and high school. These teachers held | | | | methods that will result in higher student |
| approximately 3.5 million jobs as of 2008, and | | | | achievement. |
| employment in these fields is expected to grow | | | | For teachers who have the right stuff to earn |
| about 13 percent between now and 2018. | | | | their degree and license, job opportunities will vary |
| Traditionally, the road to becoming a public school | | | | but generally seem positive. Between 2008 and |
| teacher at any of the levels of education requires | | | | 2018, a large number of teachers are expected |
| completion of a bachelor's degree from a school | | | | to retire, leaving open positions for new |
| with a teacher education program followed by | | | | graduates. The need for qualified teachers in |
| obtaining a license. Education programs are | | | | areas like mathematics and the sciences is great, |
| designed specifically for those who want to teach | | | | as well as is the need for bilingual teachers. As |
| and include classes that teach education | | | | public interest in education grows, states are |
| philosophies, psychology of learning classes and | | | | more and more implementing policies that are |
| teaching methods. Most programs, even online | | | | teacher friendly and encourage graduates to |
| programs, will require students to perform a | | | | pursue a career in education. |
| student-teaching internship in order to get the | | | | As of this decade, the majority of practicing |
| first-hand experience of teaching before moving | | | | teachers belong to unions that bargain with school |
| on to doing so professionally and independently. | | | | systems to fairly create salaries and other |
| Licensing is required in all 50 states and the District | | | | conditions of employment. The salary for |
| of Colombia before a graduate can teach on their | | | | teachers can vary, but according to the Bureau |
| own and is granted by the State Board of | | | | of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage of |
| Education or a licensure advisory committee. In | | | | public school educators ranged from $47,100 to |
| order to earn a license, all states require general | | | | $51,180. Teachers can also supplement their |
| education teachers to have their bachelor's | | | | income by pursuing a master's degree, teaching |
| degree and have completed their internship. Other | | | | summer school, or working with students in |
| details vary by state and sometimes include | | | | extracurricular activities. |