by our College Data Analytics TeamTeacher Education and Development will give you all the skills you need to be an excellent teacher. Depending on your concentration, you will learn how to teach different age groups of students. You could choose to concentrate anywhere from preschool to adult learning. Those who graduate with this degree can become classroom teachers or they could teach remedial programs or adult learning classes.
Courses that you may be required to take will vary based on the college in which you attend. Some courses will be urban education, language and literacy, special education, issues in contemporary education, and educational psychology. Courses will also vary depending on what path you intend to pursue. Concentrations in this major include everything from Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Secondary, Adult Education and others.
Studying Teacher Education Grade Specific covers Teacher Education And Professional Development, Specific Levels And Methods. Continue reading for the key facts every teacher education grade specific student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering teacher education grade specific programs.
Across the country, teacher education grade specific draws strong interest, with 108,054 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Teacher Education Grade Specific Schools ranking analyzes these 1,772 schools to determine the best overall colleges for teacher education grade specific students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of teacher education grade specific programs later in this article.
Studies in Teacher Education Grade Specific build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations teacher education grade specific graduates commonly enter.
You must possess certain skills in order to authoritatively step into a teaching position in the 21st century. Teachers must be confident and assertive in managing their classroom. One of the hardest parts of teaching is enforcing the rules and order in the classroom. You need to be patient, understanding, king, and caring without getting taken advantage of by your students. This is important no matter the age or skill level of your classroom.
Teachers will also be taught how to use technology seamlessly and creatively in your classroom. Depending on the age level of your students, you will employ different methods to keep the attention of every student.
Connecting with your classroom is important no matter the age level. Kindergarteners will need more patience and emotional support, while high school students will appreciate a sense of humor and intelligence. When students see that you are invested in them as people, they are much more willing to work hard for you. Teachers will need to have flexible hours and an approachable manner so that students can feel comfortable coming to talk to you. It is important to pick the student level that you are comfortable with and that you will excel because students can range from the age of 2 to adult.
Experience working with kids or the age-group of your choice will help you decide if this is the career for you. Try getting a job baby-sitting or tutoring, or volunteer with a kids or adult learning program.
The skill set developed in a teacher education grade specific program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a teacher education grade specific major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several teacher education grade specific degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,711 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 12,367 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 51,673 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 39,340 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 413 |
People currently working in careers related to teacher education grade specific tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 36.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 31.9% |
| Master’s degree | 10.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in teacher education grade specific careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
This major does an excellent job providing students with the skills to become a classroom teacher. Students can continue on to receive a master's degree in their area or another related field.
Studying teacher education grade specific opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to teacher education grade specific.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to teacher education grade specific.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,457,958 | 2.6% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | 1,154,676 | 1.9% |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,058,186 | 6.4% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Self-Enrichment Teachers | 944,792 | 8.8% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | 656,798 | 9.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of teacher education grade specific graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,857 |
| 4 years | $43,846 |
| 5 years | $48,879 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for teacher education grade specific graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers teacher education grade specific grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,352 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | $96,801 |
| Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education | $89,337 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $83,682 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Self-Enrichment Teachers | $77,096 |
With 1,772 different teacher education grade specific programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased teacher education grade specific school rankings to help you.
Students interested in teacher education grade specific, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 42,255 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 39,881 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 33,988 |
| Education, General | 27,481 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 21,331 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 13,714 |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 8,879 |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 5,695 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 5,092 |
| Education, Other | 4,326 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
