10 Top Double Majors With an Education Degree

The top double majors for an education degree range from specific subjects, like English and math, to education specialties, like special education and instructional design. These fields can improve your teaching capabilities and help you effectively achieve learning outcomes.

Choosing to double major is a way to enhance your skills and broaden your career opportunities. The top 10 double majors for an education degree each offer benefits to strengthen your teaching abilities and help you excel as an educator.

Education Degree Double Majors

Adding a double major to your education degree program, like one of these top 10 majors, can benefit you by strengthening your teaching skills, providing more job opportunities across different disciplines.

1. Early Childhood Development

The early childhood development major focuses on the study of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional factors that are involved in the development of young children. Courses generally cover teaching strategies for early childhood education. When paired with an education degree, these courses can help teachers create learning environments that effectively support young learners and ensure they meet developmental milestones.

2. English

An English major focuses on the study and analysis of literature to gain a strong foundation in writing, language, and composition. A double major in English and education not only prepares graduates to work as English language arts teachers but also strengthens their ability to encourage reading comprehension and writing skills in a variety of learning environments.

3. Special Education

With a special education major, students study techniques and strategies to teach students with disabilities. This involves learning about behavior management, inclusive teaching practices, and creating learning plans, like the Individualized Education Program (IEP). Adding a special education major to your education degree can prepare you to address the diverse learning needs that are present in schools and create a more inclusive and compassionate classroom.

4. Foreign Language

Majoring in a foreign language involves courses that teach students to proficiently speak and understand the cultural context of languages such as Spanish or French. Teachers can benefit from a dual major in education and a foreign language because it enables them to not only teach a second language but also encourage cultural awareness in their classrooms. With this combination of majors, educators can work in diverse settings while remaining inclusive and effective in their teaching methods.

5. Reading and Literacy

Reading and literacy majors involve courses that focus on phonics, the development and assessment of reading skills, and instructional methods for creating effective literacy programs. This major, paired with an education degree, prepares teachers to improve student reading comprehension skills with engaging activities and help them become more proficient readers.

6. Psychology

A psychology major, which provides foundational knowledge in human behavior, stages of development, and mental processes, is a dual major option that can benefit an education degree. These majors can work together to give teachers insights into mental health and student behavior which can enhance their classroom management skills and allow them to implement effective teaching strategies.

7. Instructional Design

Instructional design is a major that teaches students to utilize technology in the classroom and create learning materials and experiences that are both effective and engaging. Courses cover curriculum development, assessment methods, and educational technology, many of the topics overlapping with education major courses. A dual degree in instruction design and education can give you the ability to increase positive learning outcomes with innovative teaching strategies.

8. Music

Music major covers music theory, composition, and the history of music. Choosing a dual degree in music and education gives you an understanding of both educational methods and teaching strategies as well as a thorough knowledge of music. This can equip you to effectively teach music classes or integrate music into the classroom to create an engaging learning experience.

9. Sociology

A sociology program focuses on society, social behavior, and global cultural norms. By learning about societal issues and effective research methods, sociology students gain insights into areas of inequality and diversity. Aside from qualifying you to teach sociology classes, double majoring in sociology can help you provide a more inclusive teaching environment by giving insight into student backgrounds and social issues in education.

10. Liberal Arts

Liberal arts is a major that covers a range of topics like humanities, social science, natural science, and literature. Pairing liberal arts with an education degree can strengthen your critical thinking and communication skills and give you a well-rounded foundation that can benefit your teaching skills. With this double major, you will be more prepared to teach different subjects and encourage students to use creativity and curiosity in the classroom.

What Is a Double Major?

A double major is a degree program with two distinct subjects of study in which students gain expertise. Students who complete a double major fulfill credit requirements and complete coursework for each discipline, equipping them with a broad range of knowledge and skills and earning them one degree that lists both majors. Students can often earn a double major within four years.

Double Major vs. Dual Degree

A double major is two subjects combined in a singular degree program, whereas a dual degree combines two subjects but results in two separate degrees. Dual majors can be earned from different departments of a university and the requirements for each are completed separately. They generally take longer to earn and usually require more credits than a double major because the course requirements rarely overlap.

FAQs About Double Majoring With an Education Degree

Choosing to double major with an education degree requires you to consider how it can benefit your future career. These answers can help you with the decision process.

Can You Double Major With an Education Degree?

Yes, you can double major with an education degree by completing the degree requirements for education and a second subject of your choice. Doing so gives you expertise in two areas to enhance your teaching skills and increase career options.

Is a Double Major With an Education Degree Worth It?

Depending on your career goals, a double major with an education degree is worth it. It gives you a more broad set of skills to excel in your teaching role and the ability to focus on teaching specific subjects that interest you.

What Are the Benefits of Double Majoring With an Education Degree?

Aside from giving you a well-rounded education and skills in two fields, there are many benefits to adding a double to your education degree. When you graduate you will be prepared to teach additional subjects and incorporate innovative and effective teaching strategies in a variety of education-centered careers.

Will a Double Major With an Education Degree Improve My Career Outlook?

With a double major in education and another related subject, you gain expertise that can help you stand out in the job market. Your enhanced set of skills strengthens your resume and gives you more career flexibility, improving your overall career outlook.