Virginia Bachelor’s in Education Programs
If you’re looking for a rewarding career with hidden benefits, education could be your calling. Becoming a teacher in Virginia will provide you with the opportunity to inspire young minds, make a difference in the lives of students, and work in an intellectually challenging environment.
If you are interested in a career as a teacher, earning your Bachelor’s in education is a good place to start. At EducationDegree.com, we make it simple to find Virginia universities offering education programs. Use our directory of featured schools to connect with schools that can help you achieve your goals!
Earning Your Bachelor’s in Education in Virginia
A logical first step to becoming a teacher in Virginia is completing an accredited Bachelor’s in education program. Your course curriculum in a BA program may include classes in the arts and social sciences that are designed to provide you with a well-rounded education. In addition, you will also need to choose a degree concentration or area of instruction that you desire to teach; classes tailored to this concentration or major will also make up a portion of your curriculum. The Virginia Board of Education has designated many areas of certification such as:
- Middle School English/Language Arts
- Elementary Education: Content Knowledge
- Special Education: Visual Impairments
- Art Content Knowledge
- Secondary English/Language Arts
Once your Bachelor’s in education program is completed, you may also be required to complete a teacher preparation program that prepares you for teaching licensure in your area of expertise. You may work as a full-time teacher for up to three years while completing your certification requirements.
The Outlook for Teachers in Virginia
Virginia’s public and private school system has an excellent reputation for promoting high standards of education. Forbes magazine recently rated several Virginia cities, including Richmond, as a couple of the top 20 places to educate children.
Choosing to study a high-demand area of education will help improve your chances of finding employment post-graduation, as well as help fulfill a need in Virginia’s education sector. The Virginia State Department of Education has identified several critical shortage areas, or positions that school districts have the hardest time filling with qualified educators, including the following specialties:
- Special Education
- Elementary Education PreK-6
- Middle Education Grades 6-8
- Career and Technical Education
- Mathematics Grades 6-12
- Science (Secondary)
- Foreign Language Grades PreK-12
- Library Media PreK-12
- History and Social Science (Secondary)
- English (Secondary)
TeachVirginia also offers an online directory of employment opportunities for teachers in Virginia, making it easier to connect educators with open jobs.
Virginia offers competitive pay for many teaching positions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2012 the annual mean wage for different positions in Virginia was:
Set yourself up for success in the field of education by finding the right Bachelor’s in education program. Use our directory of featured listings to reach out to schools that can help you achieve your goals. Be sure to request information from multiple programs to choose the best fit for your goals!
