Hi,
I am a college freshman starting my second semester on Monday. I came out of highschool with quite a few credits, and as a result I have the opportunity to graduate a year early (I might have to take a summer class or two, but I am considered a sophomore as a freshman). However, I am extremely indecisive and cannot really figure out my major. I think in the back of my mind I have always had an idea that I wanted to teach since I have taught swim lessons, however, I am apprehensive to pursue an education major. I am aware education majors in colleges are known as being very easy, and ‘slackers’ or students who don’t necessarily seek to be challenged tend to pursue an education major. Of course, these are stereotypes, however I think some of the things said about it may ring true. I am someone who appreciates being challenged, and I am worried that if I major in education I might feel unfulfilled in my school life. I have thought about other majors like economics, accounting, finance, journalism, history, and statistics, but I cannot really picture myself doing any of those jobs, though I enjoy the subjects.
I know I could major in history, or english or math and then go into teaching, but I am not sure that I want to teach a high school level. I have a lot of experience with younger kids and I feel that may be where I am the happiest, but I’m not entirely sure. I don’t know if anyone else has struggled with this, but I’m finding myself torn between picking a major that I love but also find challenging and fulfilling. I think part of me is worrying about being viewed as a lazy person, which is silly, but I know there must be some validity to the many claims of education being the easiest major across college campuses.
@gk1733 My story is similar and after my first semester freshman year I changed from business to early childhood education/special ed, because what I want to be is an elementary school teacher. I am considered a junior as a sophomore due to AP credits. I am in the honors program at my school. Due to limited honors classes available in my major to meet requirements I am taking graduate level elective classes. I am very involved with volunteering in a school in the impoverished community around my school. I love everything I’m doing and I don’t care what anyone thinks about it.
Do you really think it is wise to choose a career to have a major that impresses your classmates? If you want to teach then go ahead – work hard and become an absolutely amazing teacher. It is a noble and rewarding profession.
I have a degree in Business Administration, a Credential in Education, and teach high school engineering and computer science. I can tell you without hesitation that the Bus Ad courses were FAR more difficult than any of my 4000 series Education courses. My 60+ Ed units were simply not that hard.
However, becoming an effective teacher is NOT easy. In my opinion, the “how to be a teacher” classes really didn’t help me that much in the classroom, but merely taught me the rules and regulations. Student teaching, on the other hand, is quite useful especially when a professor observes you and teaches you the ropes.
I’ve been a salesperson, accounting clerk, teacher and corporate CEO during my career. Teaching is NOT the easiest job but the education behind it is was easy for me.
There are always ways to challenge yourself in college. If the course sequence isn’t difficult enough for you, then supplement with a minor or even a double-major. Besides, you can always choose to take harder classes. For example, if you only need Calc 1 for your major, consider going above and beyond by taking Calc 2 or Business Calc as well. Take a computer science class and learn to code. Minor in Spanish or French. There’s always a harder road to take.
You can major in education because you love it, go the extra mile and ace every class because it’s relatively "easier"and use that extra energy not needed to study to work/volunteer with kids and do all kinds of teaching types of things that might end up giving you a leg up getting that first job.
Also, know going in that just because education may be a relatively less challenging major for you, it isn’t for everyone, and teaching is NOT an easy job, it’s one of those professions that you had better love, because while it can be extremely rewarding, it is also extremely challenging.
I would major in the subject you like the most…if it happens to be a teaching related subject (Math, science, history, etc) you could get a masters in secondary education.
Some ideas on picking majors:
Go to your college’s career center or HS Guidance Office and talk to them. They may have tests/tools that help you figure out what career (and therefore major) is best for you)
What classes do you prefer? Science/Math? English/History?
Talk to the professor/teacher in your favorite class and see what they think
Pre-med/sociology/public health/psychology are majors where you want to help people directly.
Business/engineering/comp sci are majors where you want to solve technical/organizational problems.
Which is more appealing to you?
I agree with the above posts when they say, if you really want to be a teacher, go ahead and major in education, and use the extra energy from the “easier” classes (they aren’t necessarily easier by the way) to do extra well and spend time volunteering. If this was the path I chose, I would probably look at volunteering at local Big Brothers/Big Sisters programs, and spend time with all age groups of kids when you can. I’ve had high school teachers that would have been much better in elementary, and vice versa, because their style was more suited to a certain age group.
If you are still really excited about math, sciences, history, English, etc, you can totally minor in one (or two!) of those and become that teacher who kids remember as “the one who taught me to write”.
Just don’t choose an ed major because you’ve taught swim lessons. Apples and oranges.
You can always pick a different major and separately go for the teaching certificate. Some colleges offer it as a minor (or parallel.) Others may not. You can do a post grad program.
And explore those darned stereotypes. My kid took a few ed classes as a psych major and was interested enough to keep going (short of the cert; she was never interested in teaching.) In cleaning out her old college papers, I was impressed how interesting, comprehensive, and even rigorous her ed classes were, at her college. You need to do some exploring, before deciding. Make this an informed decision- about both your interest in the profession and the courses.
Educator with 25 years in the field of public K-12 education here, who has hired lots of elementary school teachers.
Look into what it takes to get teacher certification and take the coursework that will enable you to get it. Teaching is a wonderful profession where you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
But you need not major in education to become a teacher. I personally found my education courses boring and useless overall, whereas I LOVED my undergraduate classes at Williams, where I majored in English and took all pure liberal arts courses, nothing pre-professional. I got my MA in education, but you could get certified as an undergrad by taking certain courses and student teaching, and still either major in something else or have lots of room in your schedule for the pursuit of intellectual interests.
College is a special time in life, when you can immerse yourself fully in the life of the mind and take interesting courses that will help you become a critical thinker, a writer, and an interesting, knowledgeable, well-rounded human being… all of which will help with teaching or any other career!