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Education Specialist Degrees in Utah

Teaching is undoubtedly one of the most challenging, creative, and rewarding professions in the world. The skills and theories you learn give you the building blocks you need to meet the needs of specific students, but you also have to be innovative and flexible to find solutions that work with each child in your classroom. That’s why each state, including Utah, has continuing education requirements for teachers.

However, beyond the typical continuing education requirements, there are many ways that you can learn practical, usable skills for your career. Becoming an education specialist is one option that is growing rapidly in popularity.

Role of Educators With an Ed.S Degree in Utah

By the time they graduate high school, Utah students must be ready to enter the workforce, use critical thinking skills in postsecondary institutions, and contribute to society.

You may help them succeed with the right training—find out more about earning an Ed.S degree by contacting Utah schools.

Education efforts are ramping up in many subject areas across Utah. In particular, the need for teachers who can effectively use and teach technology in the classroom is growing (Herald Extra, 2016). Educational administrators have praised Utah tech companies for their support of technology education and their development of programs in this area.

Each year, schools struggle to get the funding they need to meet or exceed standards and expectations. However, Utah legislators work hard to ensure that teachers have what they need to succeed. After cutting funding to education, legislators successfully advocated to have $4.7 million returned to the public education budget (Deseret News, 2016).

There are many training options at this level, and it’s important to find one that fits your needs. Contact education specialist programs to talk about your options with an advisor.

Getting Your Educational Specialist Degree in Utah

There are two main routes you can follow as you earn an education specialist degree in Utah. First, you can continue to work as a classroom teacher. This route involves studying techniques and research in your chosen subject. You may stick with the subject or age level you currently teach, or you may use this opportunity to completely switch paths.

The second option is advancing your career in another area of education. Options in this category include school psychology, administration, and curriculum development.

Some of the popular Ed.S options at Utah programs are listed here:

  • School Psychology
  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Administration and Supervision
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Educational Technology
  • Reading, Literacy, and Assessment

If you’re like most teachers, many of these options may appeal to you. However, you should spend time considering your options and finding the ideal one for your career. Course requirements differ between areas of concentration. If you decide to focus on educational technology, you may take classes like:

  • Trends and Issues in Educational Technology
  • Digital Media in Education
  • Research Theory, Design and Analysis
  • Innovations and Learning Technologies
  • Instruction for eLearning

The field of educational administration requires strong, evidence-based leadership skills and the confidence to make tough decisions. To become a competent leader, you may take courses like those listed here:

  • Collaborative Communication for Administrators
  • Policies and Law in Schools
  • School Organizational Dynamics
  • School Budgets and Resources
  • Creating Safe Learning Environments
  • Recruiting and Retaining Effective School Personnel
  • Effective Educational Practices

Generally, education specialist programs are intended for working teachers with a sufficient amount of experience in the field. Since most teachers opt to continue working while in school, many programs have blended or online degree options. With this type of program, you may complete your coursework online and attend a minimal amount of in-person sessions throughout the semester. With the exception of your hands-on experience requirements, you may have the chance to complete all of your work remotely.

Advancing your education to this level may be beneficial for your school district, since it may allow the district to develop stronger lesson plans and achieve more challenging student goals. In addition, building your knowledge base puts you in a position to help other teachers, an effort that gives students all over Utah access to high-quality teaching.

Working With an Education Specialist Degree in Utah

Early in your education, you should find out whether or not you can use your current teaching license to continue working after graduation. The Utah State Office of Education requires professionals in certain positions to attain a higher level of licensure. This is particularly likely if you plan on going into administration, curriculum coordination, or counseling.

Exploring different career options may show you what to expect from your job search. Overall, the demand for education professionals in Utah is above the national average. Job outlook statistics and average salaries are listed below:

  • School administrator: 21% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $87,850 average salary (BLS, 2016)
  • Instructional coordinator: 27% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $59,560 average salary (BLS, 2016)
  • Elementary school teacher: 29% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $54180 average salary (BLS, 2016)

It’s important to maintain a prominent position in the teaching community of Utah. Doing so keeps you involved in legislative efforts, standards development, and classroom initiatives. Networking may also put you in contact with those who could benefit from your help and mentorship. You may want to get started by getting involved in groups like the Utah Education Association and the Utah Association of Teacher Educators.

An advanced degree may fit into your busy teaching schedule. Find out what the next step is by contacting education specialist degree Utah programs.