General Information:

  • Develop excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
  • Develop good computer skills.
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm and energy for the field.
  • Need desire to work with and help people.
  • Obtain part-time, summer, internship or volunteer experience with the age group you intend to work with in various settings: pre-schools, daycares, camps, community agencies, adult centers, YMCA’s, etc.
  • Participate in co-curricular activities and related organizations to broaden skills and interests.
  • Decide on level of teaching and specific area of interest.
  • Bachelor’s degree is sufficient for certification/licensure to teach K-12 in most states. Obtain a master’s degree for advancement and increased earning potential. Advanced degree required for specialists, education administration, college teaching and other professional positions.
  • For career options outside of education, identify transferable skills learned in teaching that are applicable to alternative careers: effective communication both verbal and written, teaching and instruction, program planning, organization and record-keeping, working under pressure and meeting deadlines, motivational skills, creativity, working autonomously, decision-making, problem solving and research skills.

Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2005) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA /ADEA Employer.

Explore Possible Careers Pathways in Education:

 

K-12: Areas & Employers

Areas – K-12

  • Teaching: Pre-school , Elementary, Middle, Secondary
  • Administration: Principalship, Superintendency
  • Special Services: Guidance Counseling, School Psychology, School Social Work, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Audiology and Speech Pathology, Library/Information Services, Special Education, Curriculum Supervision, Subject Area Supervision

Employers

  • Elementary, middle and secondary schools: public, private, Montessori, etc.
  • Day care centers and nursery schools
  • Boards of Education

K-12: Strategies

Strategies

Complete a college level teacher preparation program. Obtain teaching certificate/license for desired subject area and/or grade level. Requirements for certification/licensure vary by state. Obtain dual certification for better employability. Private schools may not require certification or licensure. Obtain master’s degree in subject area for increased employability. Get involved in student teacher organizations. Acquire teaching experience. Obtain Ph.D. and certificate in school administration. Graduate study required for “special service” fields. Obtain master’s degree in area to become specialist. Requirements for certification and/or accreditation vary by state.

Higher Education: Areas & Employers

Areas – Higher Education

  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Administration
  • Student Affairs
  • Information/Library Services

Employers

  • Four-year colleges and universities
  • Two-year and community colleges
  • Technical schools
  • Medical and professional schools

Higher Education: Strategies

Strategies

Earn Ph.D. to teach and research at four-year institutions. Master’s or Ph.D. degree is required to teach at two-year schools. Earn a Ph.D. in higher education administration for upper level positions in university administration. Earn master’s in student personnel, student development or counseling for student affairs positions. Obtain master’s in library/information sciences. Gain related experience through student positions such as Resident Assistants, Orientation Leaders, etc. Seek leadership roles in campus organizations.

Adult and Continuing Education: Areas & Employers

Areas – Adult and Continuing Education

  • Inservice Education
  • Staff Development
  • Professional Development
  • Leisure-oriented Education
  • GED Preparation
  • Literacy Development
  • English as a Second Language

Employers

  • K-12 school systems
  • Boards of Education
  • Colleges and universities
  • Two-year and technical schools
  • Community organizations: YMCA, Red Cross, etc.
  • Correctional institutions
  • Hospitals
  • Museums
  • Professional associations
  • Nursing homes/Adult day care
  • Vocational services

Adult and Continuing Education: Strategies

Strategies

Attain a master’s or Ph.D. degree in adult education or a graduate degree in a subject or specialized area. Gain a reputation of expertise and experience in a subject, profession, art, craft or trade. Obtain teaching or instructional experience. May need certification or accreditation.

Business and Industry: Areas & Employers

Areas – Business and Industry

  • Training and Development
  • Human Resources
  • Sales
  • Customer Service
  • Publishing and Technical Writing
  • Consulting

Employers

  • Public and private corporations
  • Consulting firms
  • Marketing companies
  • Bookstores
  • Publishers: Textbook, newspaper, magazine, book
  • Test-preparation companies
  • Software companies
  • Staffing agencies

Business and Industry: Strategies

Strategies

Take some general business and computer courses. Earn a graduate degree in human resource development. Gain experience in organizational development or marketing. Become current with business and industry literature and news.

Learn desktop publishing and other software packages.

Government: Areas & Employers

Areas – Government

  • Administration
  • Planning
  • Evaluation
  • Management
  • Research and Writing
  • Teaching
  • Social Work

Employers

Federal government agencies: Department of Education, Department of Defense, Overseas schools for military dependents, Department of Labor, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), Health and Human Services, Library of Congress, National Archives, National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Peace Corps, Social service agencies, Vista, State and local government.

Government: Strategies

Strategies

Learn federal, state and local job application procedures. Gain experience and an advanced, typically Ph.D, degree for top positions in government.

Non-Profit: Areas & Employers

Areas – Non-Profit

  • Teaching or Training
  • Programming
  • Public Relations
  • Administration
  • Fundraising

Employers

  • Adoption agencies
  • Scouts
  • Camps
  • United Way agencies
  • YMCA/YWCA
  • Group homes
  • Mental health clinics
  • Community recreation centers
  • Other public or private social service organizations

Non-Profit: Strategies

Strategies

Gain experience through volunteer work or internships. Develop writing and public speaking skills. Learn to work with people of different ages and backgrounds. Add additional coursework in area of interest such as human services, counseling or psychology. Consider certification in special education for greater employability.