A Brief History of the General Education Major
Teachers in the U.S. didn’t always have to be state certified to teach. In fact, the history of American K-12 education started with a child’s education taking place in the home by parents or tutors or in grammar schools where teachers needed no special preparation to teach. The passage of the "Old Deluder Satan" Act in 1647 set the precedent for all sizeable towns in New England to hire a schoolmaster to teach children how to read and write, according to the University of Notre Dame. But the qualifications of these teachers varied. Around the mid-1800s, "normal schools" began popping up, with the purpose of educating teachers. Over time, normal schools morphed into comprehensive universities, and the general education major began to be offered alongside numerous other majors. Since the 1970s, teachers have been educated for their positions exclusively through colleges and universities. Today, the general education major has expanded to include several specialties, including early childhood education, elementary education, subject-specific teacher education (e.g., math, science or reading), special education and ESL education. Students who choose a general education major draw from many of these specialties, even if they do not necessarily specialize in that particular area of education. In the future, the general education major may merely set the stage for graduate education in the field, as teachers may be required to become increasingly master’s-prepared.
Delving Into the General Education Major
General education majors will take upper-level courses in educational philosophy, classroom management, child psychology, human development and research methods, as well as methods of teaching subject areas such as mathematics, reading and science. Students may also take individual courses in teaching special education or gifted & talented (GT) students either as electives or built into the general education curriculum. Increasingly, teachers-in-training take courses in teaching in a multi-cultural environment. Rounding out the general education major are required basic courses in college algebra, social science, art, literature, communication, computer science and a foreign language—all components of a well-rounded, modern liberal arts education.
In addition to these courses, general education majors must complete at least one semester’s worth of student teaching under the guidance of a mentor, a certified teacher. Student teaching is set up very much like an internship and is a hands-on opportunity for students to learn how to practically apply the principles they’ve learned in the college classroom. A general education major will study from textbooks that explore the theory and practice of teaching. Students will also explore the latest education research as they complete capstone projects that require them to look more closely at effective teaching methods. General education students must also complete projects and essays that challenge them to conduct lesson planning, explain how they would handle one or more disruptive students, and explain how they will work together with parents for the benefit of a child or teen’s education. In most cases, a general education major program prepares students for state licensure.
Degree Levels:
Associate
While all education programs that prepare students for licensure to teach in a K-12 setting are bachelor’s degree programs, there are a few associate programs in education offered online and through junior and community colleges. Associate degree programs in education are designed to introduce the student to the education field and often serve as a bridge for transfer into a bachelor’s program. Associate degrees in education can prepare students for careers at daycares and as paraprofessionals (teacher’s aides) if an individual is not interested in becoming a certified teacher. The emphasis in a general education associate degree program is typically on early childhood development. Students will take courses that build their skills and knowledge base in working with babies, toddlers, and pre-K students. Core courses generally include child development, nutrition & child health, and special needs education. Instructors teach students how to plan out lessons and activities that are both fun and educational.
Bachelor’s
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in general education will receive a thorough liberal arts education alongside their teacher education courses. Bachelor’s degree-seekers will also be given the chance to concentrate their studies in a certain area—such as math education or science education. Students will learn how to command control of a classroom, tactics for getting and keeping their students’ attention and intervention techniques for at-risk youth. Teachers will also learn how to develop lesson plans that are tailored to certain age groups. Child development courses inform teachers-in-training of what’s going on in the mind and body of children in their learning years. Methods for teaching important K-12 subjects like math and science change as research indicates greater success in newer methods. Students in the general education bachelor’s degree program learn to incorporate the most successful and results-driven methods into their own teaching techniques. Last but not least, students learn to engage their future pupils in the learning process.
Master’s
When a student takes their pursuit of general education to the master’s level, their studies grow increasingly more specialized. Students can continue in the teaching vein, going on to do advanced study in areas such as special education, ESL education or teacher leadership, or they can switch gears and go into adult education and training. Students may wish to specialize in the administrative side of K-12 education, such as curriculum & development or education administration, in order to pursue careers as assistant principals, principals and school district administrators. Master’s programs in education emphasize instructional strategies, integrated curriculum and research into effective teaching methods. Leadership in the classroom is also emphasized, with a focus on decision-making, problem-solving and working together with other teachers for the greater good of one’s pupils. Research is an important part of most master’s programs, and students explore both theories of education and their applications.
Doctorate
Students pursuing a doctorate in education may do so to continue as a more effective K-12 classroom teacher if they wish, but most often are interested in preparing themselves for teaching future educators at the college level or in pursuing or advancing their career in district administration. Many become doctorally-prepared to pursue careers as superintendents or high-level directors in a large school district. Some are preparing for a career in research, writing, government, politics or educational nonprofit work. Students pursuing a doctorate in education learn foundations of teacher leadership, educational promotion and applied educational research, and study up on trends, issues and global perspectives within the field of teaching. Doctoral students learn through both online courses and one or more face-to-face residencies, and students are typically required to write a dissertation on the research topic of their choice, under the guidance of a mentor.
Supplementing Your General Education Major
The most common concentrations within an education major include early childhood development, elementary education, special education, GT education, ESL education, math education, science education, and literacy/reading education. Early childhood development is an education concentration for those who want to enter careers in preschools and other educational centers for children under 5 or under. The elementary education concentration focuses on equipping students to teach grades K-5. Students who want to teach middle or high school aged students must often choose a subject area they wish to teach, whether it be mathematics, science or another subject. You can even get more specific, specializing in teaching geosciences, biological sciences, physics or chemistry within the science concentration. A special education concentration equips students with the skills they need to adapt lessons for special needs students—including students with physical and mental disabilities or learning disorders. A concentration in teaching GT students prepares students for working with bright students—instructing teachers how to identify exceptional students and to develop lesson plans that will challenge them beyond the level of their peers. Last but not least, a concentration in ESL prepares students to work with children and teens who do not have a strong command of the English language.
Aside from concentrating in an area of interest, general education majors can also minor in an area that will bolster their career potential. Great minors to pair with a general education major include communication, business or psychology. A communication minor can help students work more effectively with parents and their fellow faculty members. A business minor is useful for students who would like to open their own daycare or tutoring service. And a psychology minor can give you an extra boost of insight into the mind of the children and teens you teach, as well as serve as a stepping stone to a career as a high school counselor.
Learn More About the General Education Major
The General Education Major in the Job Market
The general education major is one of the few majors these days that directly prepares you for a specific career. Upon graduating from such a program and becoming certified, graduates are fully prepared to begin teaching in today’s public, private or parochial schools. Part of the reason individuals are so well-prepared for teaching directly after graduation is because they have to complete student teaching, or an internship, as it were. So not only do general education major graduates have the "book smarts" to teach, but they have the practical experience as well. Employers of teachers desire professionals who are ready to hit the ground running, and that is exactly what the major prepares students for.
Directly applicable job skills that you learn in the general education major include lesson planning, providing individual students with personalized attention, commanding your students’ attention, engaging students in the learning process, integrating new technology in the classroom, and identifying exceptional children or children with learning disorders, so that lessons can be adapted for their needs. Other directly applicable job skills include effective methods for teaching core K-12 subjects such as mathematics, science, reading and language arts. One of the most important skills you learn in the general education major is classroom management. Because today’s classrooms can become downright wild if a teacher cannot maintain control, it’s important to be able to put a stop to disruptive behavior and get on with the lesson at hand.
The most common career path for general education majors who go on to become certified is teaching in public elementary, intermediate, middle and high schools. However a few go on to teach at charter schools, private schools, college preparatory schools, and religious schools. Others go to other English-speaking countries to teach or to non-English speaking nations to teach the English language while experiencing another culture. Alternate careers for general education majors include starting one’s own school, working at a daycare or preschool, or working for a tutoring service or as a private tutor or educator.
To find a job after graduation, it is best to look first to the career listing at the local school districts to search for jobs at your local public schools. However, you should put feelers out and find out the areas of your state where teachers are in the most demand—such as inner cities and rural areas. Another resource for job searching is SchoolSpring.com.
Careers I Can Get with This Degree:
