What Is an Education Degree?

Earning an education degree can lead to a career as a teacher, assistant, counselor, or administrator, working with learners of all ages.

An education degree program prepares students for careers in teaching. Pursuing an online learning experience offers added flexibility and convenience when compared to a traditional program, allowing graduates to enter the teaching profession or advance in the field on their own terms.

Education degree programs vary in length and emphasis, and many include both coursework and practical components that meet state licensure and certification requirements. Students who want to work with young children can focus their studies on elementary and middle school education, while learners looking to teach adolescent and adult students can pursue comparable options.

A college degree in education opens many career paths. Individuals can enter the teaching profession, advance to managerial and administrative roles, or branch off to explore other education-related fields.

Individuals with degrees in education most commonly work inside the classroom—both in person and online. Depending on their preferences and credentials, individuals with degrees in education can work with young learners or adult students.

A career in elementary education involves teaching students in grades 1-8. With an education degree, individuals gain the knowledge and skills needed to create and edit lesson plans, manage classrooms, and enforce school rules and regulations. Elementary school teachers also observe and assess student performance, working alongside administrators and parents to provide effective instruction.

In some instances, elementary-level teachers teach specific topics, like language arts, mathematics, and other general disciplines. They may also specialize in reading, science, or physical education. However, most elementary instructors teach a variety of topics.

State and national requirements for teachers vary by location and grade level, but primary education licensure typically requires at least a bachelor’s-level education as well as subject matter certification.

School counselors work with individual students or groups to help them cope with personal, academic, emotional, and social issues. They assess students, perform tests, and analyze data to determine learners’ strengths and weaknesses and design education plans to help them.

School counselors may implement school guidance programs, offer lessons and instruction within the classroom, and collaborate with teachers and administrators about the needs of learners. In high school and postsecondary settings, school counselors may also provide career guidance.

To become a school counselor, candidates need a master’s degree in school counseling. Master’s programs train students in areas such as communication and interpersonal skills, crisis counseling, and assessment.

School administrators oversee daily operations at learning institutions. They work with teachers, staff, and other education professionals to enforce policies and regulations, implement effective instruction practices, and ensure student safety.

Principals, assistant principals, superintendents, and administrators are experts in educational theory and policy. They often communicate with parents and members of the community and serve as educational leaders.

A school administrator needs at least a master’s degree in education. Many specialized master’s degrees focus specifically on administrative and managerial aspects of education, as do doctoral programs in education.

As a member of their school’s leadership team, an instructional coordinator oversees the academic curriculum and standards that drive learning. These professionals work with teachers to select, implement, and assess curricular and instructional choices.

An instructional coordinator may observe teachers and provide feedback for improving classroom instruction. They may also review student test data and offer their assessments to faculty, school leadership, and district staff.

To become an instructional coordinator, you must have a teaching license, several years of classroom teaching experience, and a master’s degree in education or curriculum and instruction. With experience and education, instructional coordinators may become principals or superintendents.

Special education teachers instruct students with physical, emotional, mental, or learning disabilities. They assess learners, develop appropriate individualized education programs (IEPs), teach and mentor students, and evaluate learning performance against the IEPs.

As a special education teacher, you can work at virtually any academic level from kindergarten through grade 12. Depending on the school, district, and students you teach, you could have your own self-contained classroom, or you could work with students in an integrated class.

To become a special education teacher, you must have a bachelor’s degree that leads to initial licensure in the field. Advancement to a leadership role may require a master’s degree or doctorate.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections, education employment should continue to grow from 2022-2023. Salaries for individuals with education degrees vary by qualifications and field.

Individuals with certificates or associate degrees in education who work as teaching assistants earn less than teachers and other professionals who hold bachelor’s degrees in education. Teachers in elementary, middle, and high schools all earn comparable salaries, while school administrators reported significantly higher wages in 2023.

When choosing a college or university, students need to determine the accreditation status of prospective institutions. Schools can hold institutional accreditation, a distinction that can influence financial aid, transfer options, and overall educational standards. Accreditation is preferred for education degrees.

Individual departments and programs also receive programmatic accreditation. Accrediting bodies for education programs include the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Specialized graduate programs in school counseling may hold accreditation through accrediting bodies like the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

A bachelor’s degree in education or an MA in teaching can prepare you for initial licensure as a teacher. Teachers with STEM or special education qualifications may be in particularly high demand.

If you are already a licensed teacher, then a master’s degree or doctorate in education can qualify you for a salary increase.

You can earn your doctorate or master’s degree in an education-related field. A Ph.D. in education focuses on educational theory and research, while an Ed.D. emphasizes project development and applied research.

To become a teacher, however, you only need a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree leading to initial licensure.

If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-teaching field, then a graduate certificate or master’s degree may be your shortest degree-focused path to teacher certification.

Your state may offer a non-degree track to help college graduates earn a teaching license while serving in the classroom and receiving a teacher’s salary.

Yes, you can become a teacher with an online degree, but you have to complete your student teaching at an approved, in-person site, likely near your home.

However, most online teaching degrees do not lead to initial licensure, so you want to be sure that your degree will help advance your professional goals before you enroll.

Advanced degrees and years of experience can increase your pay, no matter what level you teach. However, according to the BLS, high school teachers earn a higher average salary than elementary or middle school teachers.

School principals and college professors also typically earn higher salaries than public school teachers. However, these professions require a master’s degree or doctorate.