Question 1

Do all majors in this family lead to state teaching licensure?

Accepted Answer

Most do, but not all. Programs like Elementary Education and Teaching (31,672 completions), Early Childhood Education and Teaching (19,347 completions), Special Education and Teaching (5,456 completions), and every subject-specific track — English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education — are explicitly designed to satisfy state licensure requirements, which typically include student teaching hours and a qualifying exam. Education, General (8,583 completions, 544 colleges) and Learning Sciences are the main exceptions: they are broader programs that may support roles in curriculum design, corporate training, or instructional technology without requiring classroom certification. If your goal is a public school teaching position, stick to the licensure-mapped tracks.

Question 2

What is the difference between Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education?

Accepted Answer

Elementary Education and Teaching targets grades K–5 or K–6 in most states and is the most widely available major in this family, offered at all 1,148 colleges with 31,672 completions. Early Childhood Education and Teaching focuses on birth through age 8 — covering pre-K, Head Start, and the primary grades — and is available at 953 colleges with 19,347 completions. The licensure credentials they produce differ: Early Childhood certifications often cover younger ages than a standard elementary license. Some states also require separate endorsements for pre-K settings. If your target age group is kindergarten through late elementary, Elementary Education is the more transferable credential; if you want to work with infants, toddlers, or pre-K children, Early Childhood is the right track.

Question 3

What do graduates from Education majors typically earn?

Accepted Answer

The median earnings across the Education family sit at roughly $48,727, but that figure reflects a wide spread driven by role type. Secondary school teachers earn a median of $64,580 and elementary school teachers earn $62,340 — both well above the family median. Those figures reflect mid-career educators, not entry-level salaries, which are typically lower and vary significantly by state and district. It is worth noting that management analysts ($101,190 median) also appear among top careers linked to this family, representing the smaller share of Education graduates who move into consulting, nonprofit management, or district administration rather than classroom teaching.

Question 4

Which majors are the best fit if I want to teach a specific subject?

Accepted Answer

If you know your subject, the subject-specific teacher education programs give you both content depth and pedagogical training in one degree, which is typically what state certification requires for middle and high school positions. Music Teacher Education (539 colleges, 3,229 completions), English/Language Arts Teacher Education (451 colleges, 1,846 completions), Mathematics Teacher Education (439 colleges, 1,090 completions), and Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (496 colleges, 4,787 completions) are the most widely offered subject tracks. Secondary Education and Teaching (432 colleges, 4,057 completions) is a more general option that pairs with a content-area minor or second major rather than building the subject specialty into the degree itself.

Question 5

Is Special Education worth pursuing given the high demand but demanding working conditions?

Accepted Answer

Special Education and Teaching, General is offered at 492 colleges and produced 5,456 completions in the most recent data year, making it the fourth-largest program in this family. Demand for special education teachers has been consistently strong across the country, and many states offer incentive pay, loan forgiveness programs, or signing bonuses specifically for certified special education teachers because the credential is persistently in short supply. The work is genuinely demanding — caseload management, individualized education plan (IEP) documentation, and coordination with families and specialists are all part of the role — but the career stability and public-sector benefits are real. If the interpersonal and organizational dimensions of the work appeal to you, the job market is among the most favorable in the entire Education family.

Question 6

Can I switch into Education later if I started a different major?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and this is more common than the other direction. Many colleges offer post-baccalaureate licensure programs or fifth-year master's tracks that allow graduates with a bachelor's in a content area — history, biology, mathematics — to add a teaching credential without completing a full second undergraduate degree. Teacher Education, Multiple Levels (190 colleges, 3,430 completions) is one example of a program designed to be flexible across grade bands. The tradeoff is time and cost: a standalone licensure program typically runs one to two additional years. If you are currently undecided between Education and another major, choosing the content-area degree first and adding licensure coursework later is a viable path, especially for secondary teaching where subject expertise is weighted heavily.

Sorted by popularity

Elementary Education and Teaching

Early Childhood Education and Teaching

Education, General

Special Education and Teaching, General

Physical Education Teaching and Coaching

Secondary Education and Teaching

Teacher Education, Multiple Levels

Learning Sciences

Music Teacher Education

Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs

Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching

English/Language Arts Teacher Education

Education, Other

Social Studies Teacher Education

Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching

Art Teacher Education

Mathematics Teacher Education

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other

Health Teacher Education

Teacher Assistant/Aide

Agricultural Teacher Education

History Teacher Education

Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education

Education/Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs

Special Education and Teaching, Other

Social Science Teacher Education

Trade and Industrial Teacher Education

Biology Teacher Education

Educational/Instructional Technology

Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education

Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor

Educational Leadership and Administration, General

Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education

Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship

Spanish Language Teacher Education

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other

Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics Teacher Education

Technical Teacher Education

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities

Drama and Dance Teacher Education

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments

Bilingual and Multilingual Education

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness

Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education

Chemistry Teacher Education

Earth Science Teacher Education

Urban Education and Leadership

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments

Early Childhood Program Administration

Foreign Language Teacher Education

Physics Teacher Education

Computer Teacher Education

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed

Education/Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs

College Student Counseling and Personnel Services

Montessori Teacher Education

International and Comparative Education

Reading Teacher Education

Education/Teaching of Individuals in Junior High/Middle School Special Education Programs

French Language Teacher Education

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other

Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision

Curriculum and Instruction

Speech Teacher Education

Higher Education/Higher Education Administration

Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances

Sales and Marketing Operations/Marketing and Distribution Teacher Education

Communication Arts and Literature Teacher Education

Multicultural Education

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness

Environmental Education

German Language Teacher Education

Psychology Teacher Education

Indian/Native American Education