Options Increase For Teachers Seeking an On-Campus Or Online Education

As the turbulent economy has many individuals looking for work, many individuals are taking advantage of an increasingly competitive job market to further their education. Consequently, the education sector is experiencing growth, creating opportunities for teachers at all levels.

However, this influx of new students is putting increased pressure on educators to update their skills in order to meet the needs of an ambitious student body. As a result, many institutions of higher learning are creating programs that cater to teachers who are returning to the classroom as students.

For example, Fort Hays State University is currently expanding its Two-Plus-Two agreements, which allow students studying elementary or early childhood education in an associate's program to simultaneously work toward a bachelor's degree, the Hays Daily News reports. The Hays, Kansas-based university has announced plans to offer more options that will help community college students who are pursuing careers in the education sector achieve their higher learning goals more efficiently.

In addition to the Two-Plus-Two program, the school offers a Transition-to-Teaching program, which allows education majors to enter classrooms as instructors while they complete the requirements of their degree. University officials report such initiatives come in response to an increase in students in the school's College of Education and Technology.

Over the past four years, enrollment has risen by 50 percent in undergraduate programs and 57 percent and graduate programs. Many of these new students are nontraditional learners, as the number of transfer students has grown by 60 percent over the past four years.

Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education and Technology, told the media outlet many of these students are "working full-time, are parents, [and] productive community members that are taking some hours and progressing toward their teaching degree."

Many companies and organizations are working to help these individuals reach high levels of education through financial assistance programs. For example, Pearson Education and Liberty Mutual recently renewed their Liberty Mutual Return to Learn Program, which provided 15 full-tuition scholarships to teachers who plan to pursue master's degrees.

If you are looking for money for college then you should look into student loans. As similar initiatives continue to expand, current and prospective teachers may consider enrolling in online degree programs that can help them enhance their qualifications without halting their career development. Online colleges such as DeVry University and the University of Phoenix offer several flexible learning options for educators.