A look at the associate degree in paraprofessional education

The associate degree in paraprofessional education is intended for those planning to play educational support roles as teacher assistants, instructional aids, or paraprofessionals at the preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level, or in other facilities such as libraries or community centers. Their duties might include providing one-on-one assignment help to students, developing or leading instructional activities, grading assignments, handling administrative work, assisting disabled or non-English-speaking students, monitoring students during lunch or recreational periods, stocking or maintaining supplies, or other functions that aid teachers and are conducive to student learning.

The paraprofessional education degree is designed to help you immediately enter the workforce, so that you can begin to play an important role in education right away. It's a rewarding profession and, due to legislation governing special education and Title I schools, as well as the growing percentage of bilingual students, it's one that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects will experience favorable growth. Teacher assistant jobs are expected to grow by 10 percent in the 2008-2018 period. According to the BLS, in May 2009, teacher assistants earned an average annual salary of $24,280.

Where can a degree in paraprofessional education lead me?

According to the BLS, prospects for employment among teacher assistants will be most favorable for those with postsecondary training--preferably from an associate degree program. This is especially true among Title I schools, which are required by the federal government to hire faculty who possess college degrees. Additionally, schools with high percentages of non-English-speaking students will employ greater numbers of teacher assistants, as will special education programs. Since no standard national licensure exists for teacher assistants, your paraprofessional education degree is a quick way to enter the education workforce, and to help you decide whether you'd like to pursue further education to become a teacher or education administrator.

What to expect from a degree in paraprofessional education program

When you enroll in a paraprofessional education degree program, you can expect your coursework to include some or all of the following topics:

• Communications
• Classroom management
• Legal issues in education
• Lesson plan development
• Educational diversity
• Child psychology
• Child development
• Special needs/exceptional children
• Child behavior
• Languages (including Spanish or sign language)
• Instructional technology
• Health and wellness

There are several benefits to earning an online associate degree in paraprofessional education. First and foremost is that the flexibility of online programs, and the ability to complete coursework on your own schedule, enables you to earn the all-important experience working with children that many schools and districts require of new teacher assistants. You can work in a child care facility during the day and complete classes at night, for instance.

Whether you complete an on-campus or online associate degree in paraprofessional education, you should explore financial aid opportunities; many scholarships, grants and loan forgiveness programs exist for those studying, or who have studied, education. Examples include:

• The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, provided to those who intend to work in low-income elementary or secondary schools
• Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation, for those teaching in particular educational settings, including special needs classrooms, low-income schools, school with high numbers of ESL students, or areas where there are teacher shortages

Explore WorldWideLearn's Guide to Majors in Education to learn more about where the associate degree in paraprofessional education can lead you!

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