Explore the associate degree in elementary education

If you're interested in elementary education, degree programs that involve four years or more of coursework and a semester or more of student teaching may not be feasible right now. Perhaps an associate degree in elementary education is right for you. This would enable you to explore the profession, earn a position as a teacher assistant or instructional aid, and decide which path in education you want to pursue through a bachelor's degree or master's degree program.

Why earn a degree in elementary education?

Education is undergoing tremendous growth and change. Legislation governing Title I (low-income) schools, burgeoning populations of non-English-speaking students and funding shifts within education are among the factors creating the most change. As such, demand for qualified teachers who are committed to meeting these new challenges is expected to grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), elementary education teaching jobs are projected to grow by 16 percent (faster than average) in the 2008-2018 period. Low-income schools and schools with large ESL or special needs populations will experience even greater demand.

An associate degree in elementary education is an excellent way to explore this field as a new or second career. You'll get a basic overview of subjects such as reading, writing, math and science, and you'll also likely take coursework in:

• Classroom management
• Lesson plan development
• Student diversity
• Instructional technology
• Child psychology

If exploring this field is your goal, it makes sense to earn an online associate degree in elementary education. This way, you can continue working your current job, and complete your education coursework at night and on weekends. Additionally, since on-campus associate degree programs are difficult to find in this subject, an online associate degree in elementary education makes this training accessible no matter what.

Putting your degree in elementary education to work

Although all states have requirements governing education and licensure for full-time teachers, which usually call for at least a bachelor's degree and some supervised teaching experience, you have several career options with a two-year elementary education degree:

Work as a teacher assistant, playing a classroom supporting role by helping students complete assignments, leading activities, monitoring student behavior, overseeing administrative duties and more. Teacher assistant jobs are projected to grow by 10 percent during the 2008-2018 period. This option would enable you to decide whether teaching is for you, or if you'd like to explore other careers, such as educational administration, which usually requires a graduate degree. May 2009 statistics from the BLS show an average annual salary for teacher assistants of $24,280, and for education administrators of $95,340.

Continue your education through a bachelor's degree program in teacher education.

Look into alternative licensure programs, which are offered in many districts where teacher shortages abound, and which enable those without bachelor's degrees to begin working in the classroom while earning continuing education.

Work in other educational or childcare settings in which licensure isn't required, such as libraries, community centers, tutoring centers or preschools.

Additionally, financial aid options abound for qualifying education students, including the TEACH Grant, for those planning to work in low-income or high-risk schools, and the Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation Program, which enables teachers working in high-demand areas to cancel their educational debt.

Explore WorldWideLearn's Guide to Education Majors to learn more about education degrees.

• Degrees by Level