Careers: elementary school teacher, high school teacher, preschool teacher, teacher assistant, and special education teacher. Majors: Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Instructional Design and Adult Learning.
College majors for education and teaching
Elementary Education
Prepares you to teach children in kindergarten through the elementary grades.
Secondary Education
Prepares you to teach a subject such as math, science, English or history in middle and high school.
Early Childhood Education
Focuses on the learning and care of children from birth to about age eight.
Special Education
Prepares you to teach and support students with disabilities.
Instructional Design and Adult Learning
Teaches you to design training and courses for adults in workplaces and online.
English and Professional Writing
Studies literature and language and builds strong writing and analysis skills.
History
Studies the past to understand how people, societies and ideas changed over time.
Careers in education and teaching
Elementary School Teacher
Teach children in grades 1 through 5 the foundations of every subject.
- Typical training: 4 years plus licensing
High School Teacher
Teach teenagers a subject and prepare them for college, careers and life.
- Typical training: 4 years plus licensing
Preschool Teacher
Teach young children through play, routines and early learning.
- Typical training: 6 months (CDA) to 2 years (associate)
Teacher Assistant
Support teachers and help students learn in classrooms.
- Typical training: Weeks to 2 years depending on the district
Special Education Teacher
Teach and support students with disabilities so they can learn and thrive.
- Typical training: 4 years plus licensing
Tutor
Help students master subjects and prepare for tests one-on-one.
- Typical training: Weeks to months
Corporate Trainer
Design and deliver training that helps employees learn their jobs.
- Typical training: 4 years or subject expertise plus training courses
Childcare Worker
Care for children’s safety, learning and daily needs.
- Typical training: 1–4 weeks of required training
Substitute Teacher
Step in for absent teachers and keep classrooms learning.
- Typical training: Days to weeks for a substitute permit
Skills these careers use
- Classroom management
- Subject expertise
- Lesson planning
- Assessment
- Assessment and grading
- Health and safety practices
Minors that fit this interest
- American Sign Language: Builds communication skills with Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
- Education: Adds knowledge of how people learn and how to teach.
- Special Education: Adds strategies for teaching and supporting students with disabilities.
Start building skills now
A self-paced online course on what elementary school teachers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: lesson planning, reading and math instruction, and classroom management
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Education and Teaching
A self-paced online course on what high school teachers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: subject expertise, lesson and unit planning, and assessment and grading
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Education and Teaching
A self-paced online course on what preschool teachers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: early childhood curriculum, classroom management, and child development observation
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Education and Teaching
A self-paced online course on what teacher assistants do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: small-group instruction, behavior support, and special education basics
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Education and Teaching
Education and Teaching: frequently asked questions
What careers are there in education and teaching?
Careers connected to education and teaching include elementary school teacher, high school teacher, preschool teacher, teacher assistant, special education teacher, tutor, corporate trainer, and childcare worker.
What should I major in if I am interested in education and teaching?
Majors connected to education and teaching include Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Instructional Design and Adult Learning, and English and Professional Writing. Compare what each includes, the skills it builds and where it leads.
What education and teaching careers do not require a four-year degree?
Examples include preschool teacher, teacher assistant, tutor, childcare worker, self-enrichment teacher, and library assistant. They typically start with a high school diploma, a certificate, an associate degree, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Which education and teaching careers usually require a bachelor’s degree or more?
Examples include elementary school teacher, high school teacher, special education teacher, corporate trainer, substitute teacher, and middle school teacher. Some also need a license or certification.
What skills do you need for a career in education and teaching?
Skills that come up often in these careers include classroom management, subject expertise, lesson planning, assessment, assessment and grading, and health and safety practices, along with communication and problem solving.
What minors fit an interest in education and teaching?
Minors connected to education and teaching include American Sign Language, Education, and Special Education.
How do I start a career in education and teaching?
Learn about the careers in the field, choose one or two that fit you, check the education or training each requires, and build practical knowledge early through classes, part-time work, volunteering or short career training.
Can I explore education and teaching careers before choosing a college major?
Yes. Career profiles, job shadowing and short online career training let you learn what jobs in education and teaching involve before you commit to a major or program.
Does Career Education Institute offer training related to education and teaching?
Yes. Related online trainings include Elementary School Teacher Training, High School Teacher Training, Preschool Teacher Training, and Teacher Assistant Training. They are general, non-credit courses that teach what a job involves; they do not grant a degree or license.
Which colleges offer programs related to education and teaching?
Use the college search to find U.S. colleges that report awarding degrees in related majors, filtered by state, city, ZIP code, online programs and type of school.