Education Career Planning Options
Current trends in education include record high enrollments in schools across the nation, a demand for smaller class sizes, and the expectation that nearly one million teachers will be retiring over the next ten years. These conditions, coupled with a renewed appreciation for education, have generated an unprecedented demand for new teachers. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education estimates that 2.2 million teachers will need to be hired over the next ten years.
Above and beyond the strong market place trends that indicate a need for teachers, there's the opportunity available to make a difference in students' lives of all ages. Teachers are in a position to greatly influence the intellectual, social and personal development of their students. Rivier University education majors build skills in curriculum development, teaching, and student performance evaluation, in addition to gaining an appreciation for cultural diversity, compassion for others, and the value of social justice. These students also benefit from a strong liberal arts core curriculum which further emphasizes the acquisition of analytical skills, problem solving skills, and communication skills. As a result, Rivier education majors are prepared to face the challenges that the nation's schools present in the new millennium. Visit Rivier's Education Department for additional information on programs and degrees.
Education Major Skills
| Teaching |
Supervising/Leading |
| Communicating |
Observing |
| Influencing |
Evaluating |
| Team Teaching |
Quick Thinking |
| Administering Tests |
Advising |
| Special Needs Assessment |
Decision Making |
| Performing Administrative Duties |
Creativity |
| Counseling |
Behavior Management Skills |
| Preparing Reports |
Preparing & Developing Instruction Materials |
| Assessing Student Performance & Progress |
|
- Ability to collaborate with families and community members.
- Development of a sense of ethics that will not be compromised by immediate personal gain or prejudice.
- Knowledge of educational theories and practice, human development, and educational psychology.
- Abilities to organize, plan, and implement classroom activities as well as off campus learning experiences.
- Ability to adapting teaching methods and modalities to meet the needs of the various learning styles of all students, including those with special needs.
Career Paths in Education
The field of education offers graduates a variety of career options depending upon one's interests, abilities, work values, academic emphasis, and practical experience in the field. Developing special interests and skills, i.e. technology skills or bilingual skills, can lead to unique career opportunities or serve to enhance one's role as teacher. Teaching opportunities can be found in the areas of special education, preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and secondary education. Rivier has traditionally placed a high priority on meeting or exceeding standards for teacher qualifications in these areas.
Teaching positions can also be found in non school agencies such as adult education programs, recreation departments, drug and alcohol abuse programs, the Peace Corps, and others. Non teaching employment options include a wide variety of positions in school administration and support personnel, professional organizations, private agencies with educational programs, government offices, and educational publishing houses. Advanced education is required for some of these alternatives and can also lead to teaching or administrative opportunities at the college and university level.
Education graduates may work as ...
(Some of these jobs may require education or experience beyond a bachelor's degree)
| Teacher: |
Other Job Titles: |
| Elementary |
Child Development Specialist |
| Middle/Junior High School |
Curriculum Supervisor |
| High School |
Educational Administrator |
| Infant/Toddler |
Educational Materials Sales Representative |
| Instructor (College/University) |
Guidance Counselor |
| Kindergarten |
Librarian |
| Pre-School |
Media Center Specialist |
| Resource |
Principal |
| Special Education |
Reading Specialist |
| Adult Education |
School Psychologist |
| Alternative Environment |
Special Education Administrator |
| |
Student Personnel |
Education graduates may work at ...
| Public & Private Schools |
Business & Industry |
| Colleges & Universities |
Camps |
| Educational Publishers |
Consulting Organizations |
| Preschool/Day Care Centers |
Federal Education Agencies |
| Community Services Agencies |
National Associations & Councils |
| US Affiliated Schools Abroad |
Libraries |
| Department of Education (Government) |
Non-Profit Organizations |
Ways to Increase Employability
The following suggestions will enhance your leadership skills and workplace qualifications, while promoting networking relationships with fellow professionals:
- Pursue elective course work or additional training related to one's professional field of interest.
- Participate in volunteer and service learning opportunities.
- Become an active student member of university, community, or professional organizations
- Obtain quality practical experience prior to graduation through relevant part-time, full-time, and summer job or internship positions.
- Work with age groups you hope to teach through recreational activities at camps or in civic programs, as a classroom paraprofessional, doing Sunday school teaching or substitute teaching, in service groups (see Rivier University Organizations and Service Groups below), etc.
Sources of Information on Majors, Careers and Employment in Education
- Rivier University Faculty Advisors, Academic Advisors, & Education Department Resources
- Professionals Working in the Field
- Professional Organizations
- Rivier University Career Development Center Counseling Staff, Website & Office Resources
Rivier University's Career Development Center Resources
Effective career decision-making evolves through a process of gathering accurate self-knowledge and significant information about the major or career being explored. The Rivier University Career Development Center offers individual career counseling and career resources regarding self-assessment, career exploration, gaining practical experience, and job searching skills. For more information, contact us at 897-8246. The following is a partial list of career resources, available in our office, which may be of interest to Education Majors:
- Real People Working in Education
- Real People Working in Helping Professions
- The Inside Secret of Finding a Teaching Job
- 101 Career Alternatives for Teachers: Exciting Job Opportunities for Teachers Outside the Teaching Profession
- 101 Grade A Resumes for Teachers
- American Association for Employment in Education Job Search Handbook for Educators
- Getting a Teaching Interview
- Job Search Issues for Education Majors (video)
- Guide to Services and Activities for Teacher Employment
- National Directory of Job and Career Fairs for Educators
- Overseas Employment Opportunities for Educators
- Peterson's Graduate Programs in Business, Education, etc.,
- Career Opportunities in Education and Related Services
- Inside Secrets of Finding a Teaching Job
Rivier University Organizations Related to Education
- Rivier University Student Education Association
- Rivier University Service Groups:
Project H.U.G. (The Buddy Program)
Project SO (Service Learning Opportunities) Prepared for Citizenship Program
America Reads Project
Professional Organizations Related to Education
Career Related Websites for Education Majors
- Career Resources on the Web for Teaching in Public Schools and Abroad
- Job Profiles for Education (View career information from employed teachers describing their professional background, getting started in the field, career paths to present positions, stresses and rewards of the job, challenges, basic skills needed, and advice for those entering the field.)
- Teaching Opportunities (Resources and links from Smith College, to assist teachers in their job search)
- Alternative Career Choices for Teachers (Excellent resource for educators exploring opportunities outside of teaching, from Cleveland State University's Career Services Center. Also offers a creative approach to finding work when teaching jobs are more limited.)
- Teaching in Essential Schools (Learn more about teaching opportunities in a growing national network of schools whose educational philosophy focuses on increasing student achievement by supporting the rethinking of priorities and the redesign of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.)
- U.S. State Teacher Certification Offices
- Alternative Teaching Opportunities - Boston College resource for exploring jobs other than full-time teaching in the public, parochial and private schools.
- Sites for New Teachers (Sites that help beginning teachers reference information to aid in teaching.)
- American School Directory (Gateway to America's K-12 public and private schools and their websites
- Teachers Helping Teachers
- National Commission on Teaching and America's Future
- Education Week (Online newspaper for educators. Includes a jobs link to nationwide positions and list of major associations involved in educational policy and reform.)
- U.S. Department of Education
- National Clearinghouse for Careers and Professions in Special Education
- Academic Employment Network (Educational employment opportunities for teachers and other school related positions at all academic levels.)
- K-12 Jobs (Teaching and administrations jobs available at school districts across the country. You can also find out about state to state certification requirements, salaries, and job fairs.)
- Project Connect (Teacher vacancies nationwide sponsored by the American Association for Employment in Education.)
- Private School Teaching (Vacancies in administration and teaching at independent schools across the country and around the world.)
- Education World Employment Center
- Recruiting New Teachers