A brief look at the job options for an individual with an Associate
Degree in Teaching.
An Associates of Arts degree in teaching is usually intended to be a
stepping stone to further studies in education. Most people who decide to pursue
their AA in teaching do so because they want to get a feel for the teaching
field before entering a bachelor’s program. The classes that are required to
fulfill an AA in teaching often include many basic education courses, such as
Introduction to Education and Educational Psychology. For those individuals who
do not continue on to a four year college or university, this AA degree can be
used to obtain jobs as tutors, daycare workers, preschool teachers, aides, and
substitute teachers.
Although most tutoring companies require their tutors to
have a BA, there may be some smaller businesses that would consider hiring
someone with an AA. A better option for an individual who is interested in
tutoring is to open a private practice. This gives the person the ability to
take on as much or as little they choose, and frees them from the restrictions
and regulations that many tutoring companies enforce. Parents who need someone
to help their child in a particular subject or with homework are very likely to
feel comfortable with hiring a tutor who has an associate’s degree. Obtaining
several reliable references and advertising in the right areas can greatly
increase the chances of running a lucrative
business.
Private daycare centers normally hire workers based on child care
experience and a clean background check, but having an AA in teaching can give
an individual an edge over other applicant’s who do not have any college
education. The laws regarding child care workers in large daycare centers vary
from state to state--some may require an associate’s degree specifically
concentrated in early childhood education, while others may even require a BA
for certain positions.
Individuals with an associate’s degree in teaching may be able to
teach preschool, though this can vary on a center-to-center basis. The Head
Start program, for example, currently allows anyone with an AA to teach in the
Early Head Start program, but requires an AA with some form of early childhood
education or development to teach in the later Head Start program. It is
interesting to note that the requirements are set to drastically change in 2013,
at which time most Head Start teachers will have to have a bachelor’s level of
education.
The most common job people with an associate’s degree in
teaching do is work as a paraprofessional in grade schools and high schools. As
teacher’s aides, they usually assist the teacher’s with grading papers, passing
out assignments, and working with students who need help with a particular task.
They are often seen as a vital part of the education program because they take
some of the pressure off the teacher and help to ensure a better-rounded and
disciplined classroom environment.
The AA in teaching can also be used to substitute teach.
While many states do not require education beyond a high school diploma to work
as a substitute teacher, the training an individual receives in an AA in
teaching program often proves very valuable when performing this line of
work.