In 2010, the Princeton Review listed an undergraduate major in education at number five in its list of top ten majors. A Bachelor of Arts in Education, a degree that often requires a specialization, such as elementary education or special education, often covers state requirements for teaching certification. Most colleges offering this degree program have a separate College of Education within the university; this college houses all of the degree programs available in the field of education.
A B.A. in secondary education often requires some sort of specialization, such as Math, Spanish, Chemistry or English. Many colleges and universities require that students on this track, which qualifies individuals for teaching at the high school level, list a double major in the subject they wish to teach.
A B.A. in elementary education may not require students to specialize in a specific subject. Many elementary school teachers are responsible for teaching several different subjects such as English, science and math. Different states have different requirements and some elementary education students may also double major in a specific area of study such as chemistry or music.
A B.A. in special education prepares students for the challenging and rewarding work of working in a special education classroom. This degree teaches students how to work with children with physical, mental or emotional disorders, and learning disabilities. Students in this degree program may or may not have to specialize in a grade level such as elementary or secondary school; these requirements vary from state to state.
A master's degree in education may allow teachers to progress on the tenure tenure track or earn higher salaries. These degrees provide advanced training in education. Most M.A. degrees allow educators to specialize in areas like elementary education, special education and literacy. An undergraduate degree in education is not required for graduate study in the field, although it may help.