Introduction
Bachelor’s degrees include many courses and can be completed online, like many other degrees: each year, countless students complete bachelor’s degrees with fully online courses. Most future educators juggle multiple responsibilities, and fully online degrees provide a flexible option where education can be completed from anywhere.
Accredited universities approved these degrees, as well, and approved the same education degrees that students work with in a physical classroom. Graduates are, in most cases, able to attain a teacher’s license, depending on the particular state rules.
How student teaching is done is different, and this guide helps explain it, online teaching degrees, what to expect, and if this is the best option.
What Is an Online Bachelor’s in Education?
Four-year bachelor’s degrees provide the necessary education for future student-licensed teachers. Specializations are different, but most degrees include core courses in:
- Teaching Methods
- Classroom Management
- Child Development
- Educational Psychology
- Literacy Instructing
- Subject-Specific Teaching Techniques
The only difference is that physical classes and other students and teachers are not in the same physical space.
Real-world training can still be completed online, and digital education majors are not excluded from this. Online education majors complete student teaching and field work in actual schools.
How Are Online Education Degrees Structured?
Most schools do things in the same way most schools do. Students do the following:
Live Virtual Classes
Some schools organize video calls that are scheduled so that discussions are done in real-time. Students can talk to both the teacher and the other students in the class.
Pre-Recorded Lessons and Self-Paced Modules
Students can do readings and hit deadlines at their own pace, but are still required to do everything by the end of the week.
Online Assessments
These can be anything from quizzes and research papers to digital projects and lesson plan submissions, to just forum participation.
Field Experience and Student Teaching
Students are required to do their teaching placements in real schools, and in the school classes, they teach, but qualified teachers oversee them.
Most schools make arrangements with nearby schools so that students can have their placements where they live.
Can You Get a Teacher’s License with an Online Degree?
Yes, but only if they are accredited and the program is structured so that it leads to state teacher certification.
Graduates are required to:
- Complete all coursework.
- Pass their student teaching.
- Fulfill their state tests. To do this, they have to take tests like the Praxis, edTPA, or other state-specific tests.
- Please apply for a teaching license in the state where you want to teach.
Since state regulatory rules are in effect for teachers, students have to make sure that the program they want to pick fits their own state’s requirements. This is especially important before they pay to start the program.
Different Online Teaching Degrees
Elementary Education (K–5 or K–6)
This focuses on preparing students to teach in elementary school classrooms, teaching several subjects.
Secondary Education (Middle or High School)
Students in this program usually have a major in one of these subjects:
- English
- Math
- Biology
- History
- Social Studies
- Chemistry
Special Education
This specialization deals with teaching students with cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities.
Early Childhood Education
This specialization focuses on teaching and caring for children in the age range of 0-8.
Education Studies (Non-Licensure)
This focuses on non-teaching roles in the classroom and includes careers like:
- Corporate Training
- Educational Administration
- Programs for Youth
- Community Education
Advantages of Earning a Teaching Degree Online
Keep Your Location
Payment and relocation for a degree are big issues for students with obligations. Online education helps with this.
Customize Your Schedule
Depending on the program, you are free to pace your learning at your own speed or follow a fixed schedule.
Same Programs as Other Universities
Online programs are both challenging, and the coursework is of the same quality. Schools with this rule are known as accredited.
Students Gain More School Options
Students can attend schools in different nearby cities or even in vastly different geographical locations from their own.
Opportunities for Employees
Most online students have the option to work while acquiring their degree on a part-time or full-time basis.
Challenges to Consider
Flexibility for Independent Learning
Online students must willingly demonstrate the ability to self-schedule and self-organize in order not to fall behind.
Reliable Technology
Stable internet and a functioning computer are both essential.
Limited Face-to-Face Interaction
Some students adapt and communicate well online; however, individuals who thrive and prefer direct communication might undergo certain challenges.
Each State Has Its Own Certification Regulations
If a student intends to teach in another state, then the student may have to follow additional procedures.
How Online Student Teaching Works
Online students are expected to complete the teaching practicum in person. However, the process is not complicated.
The university assigns the student to a particular local school or assists the student with finding a placement.
The student works full-time in a classroom teaching, while a college faculty member, who is a supervisor, assesses their teaching practice. This is usually done through site visits or videos.
If the student completes the practice, then the student fulfills the field experience requirement for the license.
This supervised practice provides online students with the same experience as students who attend campus, giving online students a rich variety of experiences in education.
How much does it cost to get an Online Teaching Degree?
The cost of tuition can change drastically depending on one of the following factors:
- Public/Private
- In-state/Out-of-state
- Nonprofit/For-profit
Online programs can cost:
- Roughly the same as an on-campus degree
- Slightly less because of lowered campus fees
- More affordable because of tuition discounts
The majority of students use some form of financial aid:
- Federal Loans
- Grants
- Scholarships
- State Programs
- University-Specific Aid
Is an Online Education Degree Right For You?
The program is a good fit if you:
- Need a flexible learning schedule
- Prefer to study on your own
- Want to avoid long commutes
- Have a good desktop/laptop and a stable internet connection
- Can stay organized without the need for supervision
It may not be a good fit if you:
- Have a hard time with self-discipline
- Prefer to have direct face-to-face communication
- Learn best when looking at someone face-to-face
- Don’t feel comfortable using new technology
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Do Employers respect an Online Teaching Degree?
A. Yes. Employers focus on the credentials the person holds and their performance on the job. If the program is online, employers won’t have an issue with it.
Q2. Can someone get a degree through Online Education and start teaching in Public Schools?
A. Yes, if the person meets the standards of a state-approved online degree and has obtained a proper license, they can start teaching in public schools.
Q3: How Long Does an Online Teaching Degree Take?
A: Most of these programs will take about four years, although students who transfer a lot of credits may finish ahead of schedule.
Q4: Am I Going To Have To Visit Campus?
A: Most of these degree programs are 100% virtual, although, for student teaching and fieldwork, internships, you will need to be around local schools.
Q5: Can I Be Employed While Pursuing a Teaching Degree Online?
A: Yes, many do… because of the flexibility of the online learning system, students can find a balance between work and school.
Conclusion
So, can you earn your bachelor’s in education online? Definitely, online teaching degrees give an affordable, adaptable, and completely valid means of obtaining teaching licensure.
Along with classroom accreditation, online programs provide teaching coursework and classroom standards, making online teaching accredited programs a valid option.
For students needing innovation, without needing to sacrifice the quality of education, it will be a smart decision to earn a bachelor’s degree in education online.
