What Would I Major in to Become a Teacher?

Pick the age group and subject you wish to teach.

Teaching can be compared to candle: it lights the way for others, and its flame can be passed on without diminishing the candle itself. Being a teacher starts before you even enter a classroom. Public schools across the country require teachers to have bachelor's degrees, and many school districts mandate that teachers have a degree specifically in education. However, your college major depends on which subject you wish to teach, as well as with which age group you wish to work.

Early Childhood Education

If you like working with young children, study early childhood education.

If you want to work with preschoolers, major in early childhood education. Early childhood education focuses on teaching students from preschool to third grade. At these ages, children need to learn basic skills such as reading, writing and math. The early childhood education major also emphasizes proper psychological and physical development. Future teachers in this field will be responsible for molding their pupils at the most formative stages of their lives.

Elementary Education

Elementary school teaches students reading, writing and math.

Elementary school students range between kindergarten and eighth grade. This group represents a wider array of ages than early childhood education. College students who choose this major will study pedagogy, or the science of education. However, they will also select a particular subject in which to specialize. A student's specialty will depend on what he wishes to teach. For example, if a college student wants to teach biology, he should major in that subject as well as elementary education.

Secondary Education

High school students learn subjects such as algebra.

Secondary education refers to sixth through twelfth grade. Similar to elementary education, college students majoring in secondary education learn about how to teach, and they choose a specialty in which they will focus. Instead of learning how to teach younger students, secondary education majors take classes on adolescent psychology and development to better understand how to teach teens. Also, they will learn their specialty subjects in greater depth than their counterparts in elementary education.

Physical Education

Boxing is one activity physical education majors will learn.

Physical education means more than just gym class. PE teachers educate students about the importance of exercise, eating right and how humans develop. Teachers in the field of physical education generally major in health and physical education studies. During their studies, college students in this field learn a variety of physical activities which they can pass along to the students they will be teaching. All students, no matter what their age, need physical education, so college students do not have to pick a specific age group to teach.

Music Education

Music teachers can teach instrumental or vocal music.

Students in the field of music education have a variety of options open to them. Depending on the state in which they will be teaching, college students can choose to teach vocal music, instrumental music or both. Vocal music refers to choirs, whereas instrumental music involves using musical instruments to produce sounds. The grades for which music teachers are certified depends on their degree program.

Art Education

Students learn how to paint in art class.

Art teachers introduce students to watercolors, acrylics and papier mache, among other things. They also help students appreciate art from around the world and from all time periods. Students seeking to become art teachers should major in art education. Certification for this degree program can allow students to teach primary and middle school children. Many college art programs require the submission of a portfolio, so prepare your best work.

References

• Education-Portal.com: What Do You Have to Major in to Become a Teacher?
• PE Central: Becoming a Physical Education Teacher
• The National Association for Music Education: Why Teach, Why Music, Why Me?
• Education-Portal.com: How to Become an Art Teacher: Step-by-Step Guide
• Braintrack: Secondary Education Degrees

Resources

• Career Toolkit: Become a Teacher
• Teachers Count: I Want to Teach FAQ