A degree in education isn’t the only way to become a teacher, though many of those interested in the field mistakenly believe it is. Contrary to this common misconception, you can become a teacher with pretty much any degree, so long as it’s supplemented with whatever additional training requirements your state holds. An education degree is perfectly fine, of course, but in many cases it may be better to pursue a degree in the area that you want to teach. This way you have the education and in many cases the experience you need to effective teach your students about that particular subject.
1. Psychology
A degree in psychology will help you understand the hearts and minds of the adolescents you’re trying to teach. They won’t always be perfectly-behaved angels, not when they’re going through a wide range of physical, emotional, and hormonal changes, so you’ll need to be equipped with the knowledge and the tools to navigate their mental states and keep them focused on their future. This is also a great degree to help you level with and understand your students who struggle in different areas academically and even socially. Therefore, in many ways a psychology degree doesn’t just help you become a better teacher in teaching your students, but it can help you help them develop the necessary skill and cope with different situations that life may throw at them later.
2. Business
Business is a very common area for many people to study before becoming a teacher, especially if you are wanting to teach higher level or college courses. If you can handle a board room, you’ll have no problem handling a classroom. Many leadership strategies can be easily transferred from an office setting to a school setting, and as a bonus, a business degree will show potential employers that you’re well-educated and not afraid of hard work. It takes time and talent to obtain an MBA, so you won’t be written off like other candidates without a strong educational background.
3. Library Science
Getting an online library science degree can really help you with the administrative rigors of a teaching position. Not only will it prepare you for the way information systems work, but like a business degree, a library science degree will look great on your resume. It will show employers that you’re a high-value candidate and not just someone coming off the street, and that’s something you desperately need in a competitive educational field.
4. Communications
You’ll be doing a lot of talking as a teacher. From students to parents to principals, you’ll need the skills to effectively communicate your ideas and lesson plans, so being able to articulate your point of view is essential. You can even choose to specialize in something like public relations if you desire the diplomacy to handle any staff or parent issues that come your way.
5. Administrative Science
Last but certainly not least, a degree in administrative science is a great way to ensure that you can handle the behind-the-scenes requirements of teachers. You won’t be spending all of your time in a classroom, after all. There will be documents to file, meetings to organize and performances to measure, and administrative science will prepare you for all of it.
These are just five degrees that can help you prepare for a future as a teacher. There are many other areas of emphasis you can choose from to go into as a field of study to help you become the best teacher you could possibly be. The sky really is the limit. Just make sure that no matter what you choose to study, that it brings you happiness and fulfillment in your teaching career.
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