Teaching Technology

I am a student at Southwestern Community College and really want to teach in a tech program at a high school or college. After I graduate from college, what else do I need to do to be able to teach?

To teach in a public high school, you need to earn your teaching license, bachelor's degree, and possibly a master's degree. To teach in a community college, you may need a minimum of a master's degree and possibly a PhD. To teach at a four-year university, you generally need a master's degree to work as an adjunct instructor and a PhD for a permanent job.

What you do after earning your associate's degree depends on your immediate goals. If you'd like to start teaching as soon as possible, you could earn your bachelor's degree in education. This degree provides you with licensure, which makes you eligible for teaching jobs. You may eventually need to earn your master's degree, but you are generally given a certain number of years to complete it.

You may want to consider earning your master's degree in a technology-related field instead of a master's degree in education. If you go this route, you could teach at a community college or as an adjunct instructor at a university. Earning a PhD in a technology-related field could open doors to permanent university positions.

You could also earn your degrees in reverse: a bachelor's in technology, a master's (and licensure) in education and a PhD if you choose to continue your education. If you'd rather teach college courses than high school, you can skip the teaching license in favor of an advanced degree. Any of these degrees can be earned online.