For those with a passion to make an impact on children’s lives, education remains an ideal career choice, as it offers personal fulfillment and the potential for job security. If this is the journey you want to take, a Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies* can provide the foundation upon which you’ll build your career. Read on to discover what education studies is and how this program can set you up for a successful future.
What Is Education Studies?
Education studies is a broad-based degree program that examines how people learn and how you can be an effective educator in a traditional setting or in other areas such as corporate training. With your bachelor’s in education studies, you will develop the instructional skills that will position you to compete in this growing field, which includes communication, group behavior, research-proven instructional practice, and human development.
What Do You Learn in An Education Studies Degree Program?
In the Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies program at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC), for example, you will cover the most relevant topics and techniques used by today’s professionals. More specifically, among other things, you will study principles of reading instruction, serving English language learners, curriculum creation and assessment, serving exceptional populations, child development, and pedagogical and andragogical processes. These courses will prepare you to become a well-rounded educator able to meet the needs of learners in multiple settings.
Coursework in the education studies program such as the one at UAGC will teach you how to:
- Design effective curriculum, instruction, and assessments to meet the needs of diverse learners
- Demonstrate knowledge of child and adolescent development in the cognitive, social, physical, and emotional domains
- Identify the unique needs of special learners and adapt curriculum and instruction to meet those needs
- Apply alignment practices of standards, instruction, and assessment to identified academic, district, and state standards, goals, and priorities as part of the planning and material selection process
- Apply foundational research skills to a topic of interest in an area of education
Those outcomes are possible because you will have amassed a toolbox of valuable, transferable skills. In its findings, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that education professionals, specifically teacher assistants, must be well-prepared with the following skills:
Communication skills
As you will be working with young people and their parents, it’s important you are able to communicate clearly and concisely. Further, your education studies coursework will help you develop the proper tone and approach when communicating with students.
Interpersonal skills
Among the soft skills employers covet, being able to develop positive relationships with a diverse assortment of people is in demand. As a teacher’s assistant, you will need to use your interpersonal skills to work with students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
Patience
As any parent can attest, patience is critical when dealing with children. Through your coursework, you will learn coping skills and other methods to increase your patience and understanding around students.
Resourcefulness
A childcare environment can be challenging, but you will learn how to become resourceful and find ways to overcome obstacles through your coursework. In the end, you’ll need that resourcefulness, as no two children learn the same way.
What Courses Will I Take in An Education Studies Program?
A bachelor’s degree in education studies combines the core curriculum with general education and elective courses. Some colleges, such as UAGC, allow you to customize your degree with emphasis courses in areas such as business economics, cognitive studies, entrepreneurship, and health and wellness, among others. When researching schools, you should look for an education studies program with a core curriculum that includes:
Educational Psychology
Explore theories of how people learn. Selected learning theories are analyzed from the perspective of teaching and learning. Developmental theory and environmental and social factors are explored as they interface with the learning process. Educational psychology’s research is applied to the measurement, assessment, and evaluation of learning and the effectiveness and efficiency of teaching-learning interactions.
Child & Adolescent Development
This course provides a basic introduction to the nature of human growth and development from conception through adolescence. Students are provided the opportunity to explore the physical, psychosocial, and cognitive factors of growth and development from both a theoretical and a practical perspective. The context and impact of the family and society, as well as individual, cultural, moral, and linguistic differences of development, will be covered.
Curriculum & Instructional Design
Students will examine the pedagogy involved in designing, selecting, and assessing curriculum to meet the needs of diverse learners. The basics — such as how to write learning outcomes based on academic standards and selecting the research-based materials and activities to support student learning — will be covered. Evaluation of student learning will be included in the course.
Exceptional Learning & Inclusion
This course provides an examination of historical approaches for inclusion and their influence on current trends for learning environments for children with exceptionalities. Students will apply evidence-based instructional methods and strategies to support children with diverse needs. In addition, students will analyze the collaborative models in inclusive settings that support and serve children and their families. Finally, students will create a professional and ethical-based philosophy of inclusion for children with exceptionalities.
Foundations of Educational Technology
Strategies and ideas for the use of technology to enhance learning will be explored in this course. The latest in Web applications will be explored and evaluated for their instructional application.
If you are pursuing your Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies at UAGC, you will take courses that engage you in a variety of modalities including cooperative, inquiry, and project-based learning.
How Long Does It Take to Earn an Education Studies Degree?
A bachelor’s degree in education studies at UAGC is designed to be completed in 208 weeks, approximately 4 calendar years, and includes your core courses, general education courses, and electives. Course curriculum varies by college, but at UAGC your degree is made up of:
- 43 Gen Ed Credits
- 36 Major Credits
- 41 Elective Credits
Elective credits at UAGC can be chosen from one of several emphasis categories, which increase your depth of knowledge and understanding in an area you may choose to pursue after you graduate. These emphasis categories include:
- Business economics
- Cognitive studies
- Entrepreneurship
- Health and wellness
- Real estate studies
- Supply chain management
This adds up to a total of 120 credits, but at UAGC, you may be able to shorten your path to graduation by transferring approved credits from previous college courses, job training, military service, or other relevant life experience.
Can I Earn My Education Studies Degree Online?
It is possible to earn a degree in education studies online. This option can offer you greater flexibility if you are trying to balance your education with work and family responsibilities. At UAGC, for example, you will take one five-week course at a time throughout your program, and be considered a full-time student.
“Talking with the advisors has been great,” explains UAGC graduate Shayna Nicole Todd. “They really helped me decide the best path for me – not just as a student, but as a mom and wife. UAGC has really turned the tables on my education. I should have quite a few doors open after I get my degree.”
What Can I Do with An Education Studies Degree?
With a fundamental understanding of curriculum and instructional design and assessment, as well as the cognitive processes involved in learning, you will graduate with the ability to compete for a number of careers in education-related fields.
The versatility of your curriculum offers you a wide path post-graduation, with Education Studies careers that include:
Teacher Aide
A teacher aide, according to O*Net, supports teachers in preschool, elementary, middle, or high school classrooms by assisting with day-to-day instructional tasks. They work under the guidance of a teacher who takes the lead in designing and delivering educational programs and services. This occupation, the agency reports, falls within a category of job titles that also includes classroom aide, educational assistant, and teaching assistant.
What Does a Teacher Aide Do?
Daily responsibilities of a teacher aide include:
- Classroom support and supervision: Teacher aides supervise students in classrooms, common areas, and on field trips while enforcing school policies and promoting positive behavior.
- Instructional assistance: Teacher aides help teachers present lessons, lead discussions, and provide one-on-one or small group tutoring to reinforce learning.
- Preparation and organization: Teacher aides prepare and organize classroom materials, displays, and supplies to create an engaging and efficient learning environment.
- Student observation and assessment: Teacher aides monitor student performance, record progress data, and support grading and attendance tracking.
- Recreational and developmental activities: Teacher aides organize and supervise games, creative projects, and hands-on activities that promote students’ physical, mental, and social growth.
Childcare Worker
Childcare workers, according to O*Net, care for children in various settings, including schools, businesses, private homes, and childcare facilities, by assisting with activities such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and supervising playtime. This job title is similar to daycare worker, caregiver, and childcare provider.
What Does a Childcare Worker Do?
Day-to-day responsibilities of a childcare worker include:
- Maintain a safe play environment: Childcare workers ensure the safety of children by supervising play and preventing accidents in the classroom, playground, and other areas.
- Observe and communicate with parents and guardians: Childcare workers monitor children’s activities and report daily updates on behaviors, activities, and any concerns to parents or guardians.
- Support emotional and social development: Childcare workers encourage positive self-concepts and teach children to understand and interact with others in a supportive environment.
- Perform caregiving and housekeeping duties: Childcare workers may assist with children’s personal needs, including dressing, diaper changing, and cleaning, as well as general housekeeping tasks like laundry and dishwashing.
- Organize and facilitate learning and recreational activities: Childcare workers help create lesson plans, read to children, lead crafts or songs, and organize games, outings, and other recreational activities.
Types of Childcare Workers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that childcare workers are needed in a year-round capacity – during the school year and summer breaks – and can benefit learning in children of all ages. Some types of childcare workers include:
- Childcare center workers: These workers are employed in childcare facilities, such as Head Start and Early Head Start programs, collaborating with teachers and assistants to implement a structured curriculum and monitor children’s progress.
- Family childcare providers: Family childcare providers often work in a childcare business that operates from their own home, ensuring regulatory compliance, setting policies, and preparing contracts, while marketing their services to prospective families.
- Nannies: Nannies care for children in the families' homes, often working full-time for one family, with responsibilities that can include transportation to school and activities, and sometimes living with the family.
Tutor
According to O*Net, tutors provide one-on-one or small-group instruction in academic subjects to reinforce classroom learning and help students prepare for standardized or admission tests.
What Does a Tutor Do?
Daily responsibilities of a tutor include:
- Provide feedback and motivation: Tutors use positive reinforcement techniques to encourage, motivate, and build students' confidence.
- Review and assess academic progress: Tutors discuss class material, work through problems, and review assignments to assess student progress during tutoring sessions.
- Teach study and test-taking strategies: Tutors help students develop good study habits, as well as other skills such as note-taking and test-taking techniques, for better academic performance.
- Collaborate with stakeholders: Tutors work with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to develop tutoring plans and assess student needs and progress.
- Organize tutoring sessions and materials: Tutors schedule appointments, prepare lesson plans, and create an effective tutoring environment to maximize productivity.
Types of Tutors
While the job title may apply across multiple fields, not every tutoring role is the same. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights four different types in its reporting:
- Language and ESL tutors: This type assists students in learning a foreign language or English as a second language (ESL), focusing on fluency, grammar, pronunciation, and literacy in reading and writing.
- Special education tutors: Special Education tutors work with students with physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral challenges, developing individualized lesson plans to support academic subjects, life skills, and social skills.
- Subject tutors: As subject matter experts, these tutors help students with homework, coursework, and understanding concepts in a specific subject, typically based on their expertise or background in that field, such as math, science, or language arts.
- Test preparation tutors: Often relied on to help guide students in preparing for standardized exams, test preparation tutors focus on test-taking strategies, time management, and question analysis to help improve performance.
Where Can I Take My Academic Career with My Education Studies Degree?
Not all graduates go right into the workforce, and your education studies degree can serve as a springboard to greater academic success. If you are considering an advanced degree in the field of education, some of your options include:
By earning your master’s degree, you are joining an elite company, as just 14% of U.S. adults hold a master’s, professional, or doctoral degree, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Review: What Is Education Studies?
A Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies helps you develop a foundation for shaping the future of education. This broad-based program prepares you for careers in the classroom and beyond by developing essential skills in communication, group behavior, research-based instructional practices, and human development. Through courses such as child development, curriculum design, and serving exceptional learners, you will learn how to create inclusive and effective learning environments for students of various ages. As a graduate, you can pursue a variety of career paths including teacher aide, childcare worker, and tutor. Additionally, the program serves as a stepping stone to a master’s degree and greater opportunities to making a lasting impact in education.
I’m Ready to Get Started
If you wish to invest your time and passion into educating others, you must first invest in yourself. To start your journey, reach out to an advisor to discuss your Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies today.
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Certain degree programs may not be available in all states.
*This program is not designed to meet the state educational requirements for teacher licensure or certification in any state. Students seeking teacher licensure shall carefully research their state's requirements prior to enrollment and regularly review the requirements as they are subject to change. Requirements vary by state. Graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a state-by-state basis that will include one or more of the following: student teaching or practicum experience, additional coursework, additional testing, or, if the state requires a specific type of degree, earning an additional degree. None of the University of Arizona Global Campus online education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), which is a requirement for certification in some states. Other factors, such as a student’s criminal history, may prevent an applicant from obtaining licensure, certification, or employment in their field of study.