Every college and university is going to have different requirements for their education majors. Talk to your academic advisers so that you understand your requirements for graduation. Almost all education programs require courses in pedagogy as well as general education courses in subject areas such as math, science and history. It is important that you complete all courses required by your school, even if they do not seem to have a direct relationship to your degree or teaching career.
Many colleges and universities now offer courses to help future educators learn how to teach students from different cultural backgrounds. There are so many different cultures present in the United States that this is now expected of teachers. By taking a class that focuses on multiculturalism as it relates to teaching, future teachers will learn the skills necessary to effectively teach in a diverse classroom.
Writing courses, especially business writing courses, are not always required in education programs. Education majors should, however, take a business writing course to help them build their communication skills. Written communication skills are extremely important for teachers to possess for many reasons. Many parents want their children to have teachers who are very skilled in writing, because they want their own children to have good writing skills. Teachers also should learn business writing so they can communicate effectively on paper with administrators and students' parents.
Almost every college and university requires education majors to complete a student teaching course before they earn their degree. Student teaching courses are important because they help future teachers understand what teaching is going to be like after they graduate. Students get hands-on experience creating lesson plans, working with students and dealing with unexpected classroom issues. This experience is so valuable that even at colleges without a student teaching requirement, students should consider volunteering in a classroom or working as a substitute teacher while earning their degree.