Most states require that potential teachers take undergraduate classes in education. Many teachers choose to major in education. Education classes teach students subjects such as classroom-management techniques, methods of student assessment, educational psychology, adolescent development, creation of effective lesson plans and theories about childhood reading-skill development. Classes are designed to help provide student teachers with a background in education and presents insights into the way children, teens and young adults think.
Many students also to complete classes in a minor of their choosing. English teachers may choose to take classes in British literature, Shakespearean theater production, essay writing and the foundations of early modern academic theory. A would-be chemistry teacher may choose to study organic chemistry and biochemistry. Most colleges require completion of between 18 and 30 credits in a specific field of knowledge. Some states will allow teachers in the classroom if they have a background in a certain subject. They can take education classes while they teach.
Student teachers must take additional classes in the liberal arts and sciences as well as classes in their major. Most universities allow education majors a broad choice of classes to chose from. An undergraduate may take classes in the history of French cinema, printing techniques, sociology, political science and women's studies. A standard college degree will require completion of roughly 60 credits in the liberal arts.
Student teaching is a requirement in many degree programs. Education majors spend a semester in classrooms teaching a class of their own. Student teachers are closely supervised by an experienced teacher during this time. The experienced teacher works with the student teacher to learn how to implement effective classroom-management techniques and convey the material to the students. When the student teacher isn't teaching a class of her own, she may spend time in the classroom with the teacher, watching the teacher teach and assisting him in tasks as he conducts class. After a day spent student teaching most student teachers take additional college classes two or three nights a week. On campus coursework is designed to help student teachers manage learn techniques they can implement to work with students as they teach during the day.
Once students have completed all undergraduate requirements, they may enter a classroom. Teachers who have completed all undergraduate requirements may apply for provisional state certification. Provisional state licenses are typically valid for up to two years in many states. Most states require teachers to attain a passing score on the Praxis Series, a standardized test that measures a teacher's understanding of the principles of educational theory and practice, in order to become fully licensed. More programs are becoming available for alternative certification, in which a person with a degree in another field is able to become a teacher, pending the completion of education requirements.
Many teachers take additional classes while they teach in order to earn a master's degree. Many states either require teachers to earn a master's degree or greatly encourage it. Most states pay teachers who have completed a master's degree more money. Teachers may earn a specific degree in the field of education such as science education teaching or they may choose to earn a degree in their fields of specialization such as English literature or U.S. history.