Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Instructional Design and Adult Learning. Each major below links to what it includes, the skills you build, career paths, suggested minors and how many colleges report awarding it.
| Major | Typical degrees | Career paths | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Education | Bachelor's and master's degrees | Elementary School Teacher, Kindergarten Teacher, Teacher Assistant | 1,101 |
| Secondary Education | Bachelor's and master's degrees | High School Teacher, Middle School Teacher, Career and Technical Education Teacher | 1,256 |
| Early Childhood Education | Certificate, associate and bachelor's degrees | Preschool Teacher, Childcare Worker, Childcare Center Director | 1,349 |
| Special Education | Bachelor's and master's degrees | Special Education Teacher, Preschool Special Education Teacher, Middle School Special Education Teacher | 871 |
| Instructional Design and Adult Learning | Certificate, bachelor's and master's degrees | Corporate Trainer, Instructional Coordinator, Training and Development Manager | 319 |
Colleges: active, degree-granting U.S. schools that reported awarding at least one degree or certificate in the field, IPEDS completions, awards conferred July 2023 to June 2024 (C2024_A).
Elementary Education
Prepares you to teach children in kindergarten through the elementary grades. Elementary education majors learn child development, teaching methods for reading, math, science and social studies, classroom management and assessment, with supervised student teaching.
Skills: Lesson planning, Classroom management, Differentiated instruction, and Communication with families. Pairs well with: Special Education, Spanish, Psychology.
Secondary Education
Prepares you to teach a subject such as math, science, English or history in middle and high school. Secondary education majors pair a teaching subject with education courses in adolescent development, teaching methods and classroom management, plus student teaching.
Skills: Lesson planning, Subject expertise, Classroom management, and Mentoring. Pairs well with: Special Education, Psychology, Mathematics.
Early Childhood Education
Focuses on the learning and care of children from birth to about age eight. Early childhood education programs cover child development, play-based learning, family engagement, health and safety, and early literacy.
Skills: Age-appropriate activities, Observation and assessment, Behavior guidance, and Family communication. Pairs well with: Psychology, Business, Spanish.
Special Education
Prepares you to teach and support students with disabilities. Special education majors learn disability characteristics, individualized education programs (IEPs), assessment, behavior support and adapted instruction.
Skills: Individualized instruction, Behavior management, Collaboration with families and specialists, and Documentation. Pairs well with: Psychology, American Sign Language.
Instructional Design and Adult Learning
Teaches you to design training and courses for adults in workplaces and online. Instructional design and adult education programs cover how adults learn, course design, e-learning development, assessment and training evaluation.
Skills: Course design, E-learning tools, Facilitation, and Writing. Pairs well with: Human Resources, Graphic Design, Communications.
Practical training for education careers
These Career Education Institute courses connect to the careers above. Each is a short, self-paced online course about one job.
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: Connected to your Elementary Education major
A self-paced online course on what instructional coordinators do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: curriculum development, instructional coaching, and data analysis
Why it fits: Connected to your Elementary Education major
A self-paced online course on what kindergarten teachers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: early literacy instruction, math instruction, and classroom management
Why it fits: Connected to your Elementary Education major
A self-paced online course on what substitute teachers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: classroom management, following lesson plans, and subject knowledge
Why it fits: Connected to your Elementary Education major
A self-paced online course on what preschool special education teachers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: early childhood development, IEP writing, and behavior supports
Why it fits: Connected to your Early Childhood Education major
A self-paced online course on what tutors do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: subject expertise, explaining concepts, and assessment
Why it fits: Connected to your Elementary Education major
Why consider career training alongside college?
Your college major gives you an academic foundation. Short career training can add practical knowledge of a specific job: what the work involves day to day, its vocabulary, common tasks, tools and safety rules. You do not have to wait until graduation: many students take a short course to test a career before choosing a major, to prepare for an internship or a part-time job, or to show employers they understand the work.
Education majors: frequently asked questions
What are the best education majors?
The best major depends on the career you want. Common choices include Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Instructional Design and Adult Learning. Compare the careers, coursework and skills for each.
How many education majors are there?
This guide covers 5 majors in education: Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Instructional Design and Adult Learning. Colleges may use different names for similar programs.
What careers can you get with a education major?
Careers connected to these majors include elementary school teacher, kindergarten teacher, high school teacher, middle school teacher, preschool teacher, childcare worker, special education teacher, and preschool special education teacher. Some require a degree and a license, while others start with a certificate or on-the-job training.
Which education majors are offered at the most colleges?
Early Childhood Education (1,349 colleges), Secondary Education (1,256 colleges), Elementary Education (1,101 colleges), and Special Education (871 colleges), based on IPEDS completions data.
Which education programs can you start with a certificate or associate degree?
Early Childhood Education and Instructional Design and Adult Learning are commonly offered as certificates or associate degrees, as well as at higher levels at some schools.
What skills do education majors build?
Common skills include lesson planning, classroom management, subject expertise, age-appropriate activities, observation and assessment, individualized instruction, behavior management, and course design.
Can I study education online?
Many colleges that offer these majors also report offering fully online programs. Use the college search with a major selected and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with each school which programs are online.
Can I start training for a education career before I finish college?
Yes. Short online career training can help you learn what a specific job involves and build practical knowledge while you study. It does not replace a degree or a required license.