Education Specialist Degrees in Texas
Texas is home to one of the largest school systems in the United States, due to the large amount of students it serves each year and the wide range of needs that make up this state. Whether you teach early childhood, elementary, or secondary education, there are many opportunities for you to positively influence the field of teaching in Texas.
Exploring post-graduate education options may help you find a new calling or develop more advanced skills in your current area of specialty.
Role of Educators With an Ed.S Degree in Texas
One of the benefits of an EdS degree is the fact that it can be tailored to many different career goals and talents. Find out which degree program fits your needs by contacting Texas education specialist programs below.
Whether you want to stay in the classroom or check out new career paths, Texas may be the right place to be. Texas makes the majority of the United States textbooks, since it is such a large state and produces so many textbooks for its own school districts. For that reason, there is always a need for curriculum developers who can create fact-based, evidence-based curricular standards and teaching materials (MRT, 2016).
Furthering your education may benefit you regardless of which field you teach in. However, you may find that an advanced degree is particularly advantageous in fields like science, math, and computer science. Researchers believe that STEM is the base of Texas’ future, and preparing students with a solid base of knowledge now may help them succeed in challenging career paths down the line (Houston Chronicle, 2016).
If you’re curious to know how an Ed.S could change your career options, get in touch with the schools listed below today.
Getting Your Educational Specialist Degree in Texas
As the name indicates, an education specialist degree is designed to help graduates thrive in one specific area of education, rather than simply building their general teaching skills. For that reason, the courses and practical experience requirements required in each area of specialty are unique.
Choosing the right area of specialty is important, so spend some time contacting Texas schools and figuring out which specialty best suits your experience and goals.
Below, find some of the Ed.S options offered at Texas institutions:
- Art Education
- Early Childhood Education
- Mathematics Education
- Professional School Counseling
- Special Education
- Secondary Education
- Language and Literacy Education
Throughout the two years you spend in school, you should earn between 30 and 40 credits. This experience should give you a strong understanding of current research in your field, techniques that make use of current research, and priorities in your subject area. In a reading specialist program, you should learn how to effectively teach reading and literacy to students of different ages.
Commonly required courses include:
- Survey of Reading Instruction
- New and Digital Literacies
- Curriculum Development and Evaluation
- Foundations of Motivation for Education
- Research Methods in Language Education
- Teaching Reading in the Elementary School
- Teaching Reading in the Secondary School
- Content Area Literacies
You may find that your interests lie outside of the classroom. The right degree can put you in a position to become a licensed a school counselor, school psychologist, or administrator. These degrees have different requirements that help you use your teaching experience to succeed in other fields.
In order to become a school counselor in Texas, you may take classes like:
- Seminar in School Counseling
- Interventions in Counseling
- Advanced Cross-Cultural Counseling
- Psychodiagnosis
- Professional Ethics
- Counseling Consultation
- Expressive Arts and Play Media in Counseling
You may get the opportunity to complete some of your courses online. Many programs are fast-paced and professors expect you to independently keep up with your readings, assignments, and projects. However, your practical experience requirements must be met in person at a local, approved school. As an aspiring school counselor, you may complete several supervised rotations at local schools to become comfortable with students. If you opt to become an administrator, you may be assigned to an internship with a local principal or district administrator.
Committing to two more years of training may seem intimidating, but the benefits are vast. An advanced degree can demonstrate your commitment to parents, teachers, and administrators. You may become more confident in your teaching position, which helps her students get more out of the time they spend in your classroom.
Working With an Education Specialist Degree in Texas
After you earn an education specialist degree, TX may mandate that you add a new endorsement to your license. The Texas Education Agency has different certification requirements for administrators, teachers switching their subject area or grade level, and counselors. Whether you decide to stay in your current career path or go into a new one, you may benefit from a strong job outlook in Texas.
Some career options are listed below with average salary information and job outlook data:
- School administrator: 21% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $82,430average salary (BLS, 2016)
- Instructional coordinator: 22% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $68,250 average salary (BLS, 2016)
- Elementary school teacher: 28% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $54,780 average salary (BLS, 2016)
Advanced education degrees in TX can provide you with experience in teaching and mentoring new teachers. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and use your training to assist other teachers. By helping other teachers, you are directly improving Texas education as a whole. You may want to get started by making contacts through groups like the Texas Classroom Teachers Association and the Association of Texas Professional Educators.
Are you ready to use your graduate degree to contribute to the future of Texas? Use the list of Ed.S programs below to explore different options.
