Education major

Education: courses, careers, and where to study

Education prepares graduates for state-licensed teaching careers in public and private K–12 schools, combining content-area study with pedagogy and supervised student-teaching.

An Education major leads to state-issued teaching licensure. Programs typically require a content-area major or concentration (math, English, science, social studies, foreign language, special ed, or elementary K–6) plus an education-specific sequence (educational psychology, classroom management, assessment, methods, and a semester of supervised student-teaching). The licensure path varies by state, most require passing Praxis I and Praxis II content-area exams.

Graduates work in public K–12, charter schools, private schools, and international schools. The MSEd or M.Ed is a common follow-on degree for teachers seeking specialty certification or administrative pathways.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Education maps to CIP 13.0101, Education, General, within the EDUCATION family. The official definition:

A program that focuses on the general theory and practice of learning and teaching, the basic principles of educational psychology, the art of teaching, the planning and administration of educational activities, school safety and health issues, and the social foundations of education.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • Educational psychology and child development
  • Classroom management and assessment
  • Curriculum design and instructional methods
  • Content-area pedagogy (math, ELA, science, social studies)
  • Special education foundations
  • Educational technology
  • Cultural responsiveness and equity
  • Student-teaching practicum (12–16 weeks)

Typical careers

Typical salary range: $45,000–$58,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 secondary school teachers median $64,580)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Education. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

  • Education Teachers, Postsecondary
  • Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education
  • Teaching Assistants, Special Education

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Education major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Education program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Education department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Teacher-preparation programs are typically state-approved and may hold CAEP accreditation; licensure requirements are set by each state. Verify that a Education program leads to licensure in the state where you plan to teach.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Educationcareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Education program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Education programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

Search Education schools

Education by state

Related majors

How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.