Education degree: Biology or geography.

Hello everyone,

Not sure if I should post this question in the general forum, moderators feel free to move it to the correct location. This is my dilemma. I will be retiring from active duty military service in February 2012, and I want to start a second career. After doing research and some soul searching, and speaking with my family of course, I have decided to pursue the field of k-12 education. I'm currently in hawaii but will be moving back to Florida in February. I have decided to use my post 9/11 gi bill to pay for an alternative teaching degree. It leads to a bachelors degree in education, and since I already have a BA degree, the program will only last 18 months plus field experience. My question to all of you teachers in here is this one. What field should I pursue the degree in? The program will allow me to concentrate in biology or geography? I really like both subjects, however, I want to do one that is inn high demand, just not sure which one. (I'm 37 btw). Again, thank you all for your answers, your help is really appreciated.

 

If those are really the only two choices then I'd say choose biology

 

I have been a teacher for many years and I will give you my opinion on the subject, although I'm no expert. In all levels of K-12 education, the only subjects where there is a good chance of finding a job is in science or mathematics. All of the other subjects have a large number of unemployed teachers vying for few positions. This is especially the case here in California, but I'm told it is a fairly widespread phenomena. Biology would probably be a better choice than geography, even though both are sciences. Geology is not a subject that is widely available in K-12 settings, but most science curriculums have a section on geology, therefore there might not be many opportunities for a geology specialist. If you have any interest in math, you might be well-advised to pursue that discipline because math teachers can find a job even here in California.

I have heard that it's pretty easy to find a teaching job in Hawaii, by the way.

 

I agree with Kizmet an SurfDoctor; Biology is a better choice for K-12 Education, unless you want to work for U.S Geology Survey later...then Geology would be the winner. But who knows later you want to be a Medical Doctor...

 

Thank you all for your help. Yes Hawaii is currently in need of teachers. Furthermore, the starting salary is not that bad, $47,000 last I checked. The one thing about Hawaii is that it is so dammed expensive, otherwise I would definitely stay here in Hawaii. I have decided to do a biology concentration. Although the teaching market is bad in Florida, and the nation; hopefully things will get better within the next 24 months or so.