Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
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Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other.: The DTI for this program is 59.2%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other., compare your expected starting salary (currently $42167) to the average debt ($24977) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 59.2%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($42167) against the typical student debt ($24977), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
If you’re thinking about Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other., you’re looking at a field that’s both challenging and rewarding. Typical starting salaries are around $42167, with grads carrying about $24977 in student loans and a debt-to-income ratio of 0.59—which is manageable for most.
Each year, over 40101 students complete this major, so you’ll have plenty of peers to connect with. Whether you’re motivated by salary, job outlook, or the chance to build something meaningful, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. can help you get there. Make the most of your college years by seeking out hands-on experiences and building your network.
Degree Overview
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other (CIP 13.1399) is a specialized category for educators who focus on niche or emerging disciplines that do not fit into traditional buckets like math, science, or history. This often includes teaching paths for cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics, sustainability, or specialized vocational trades. It is a field for "educational pioneers"—those who translate cutting-edge industry knowledge into classroom-ready curricula.
This field is ideal for "specialist educators"—individuals who possess deep technical expertise and want to design the instructional systems that will train the next generation of experts in high-demand, non-traditional fields.
What Is a Teacher Education (Other) Degree?
A degree in this category focuses on pedagogy (the science of teaching) applied to a very specific, often technical, subject. Because it is categorized as "Other," these programs are frequently interdisciplinary, combining the latest learning sciences with a specific industry skill set. You might study how to teach data ethics to high schoolers or how to develop professional development programs for corporate engineers. It is a dual-focus major that requires you to be both a master of your subject and a master of human learning.
Schools offer this degree to:
- Train "Curriculum Designers" for industries undergoing rapid technological change
- Develop "Corporate Trainers" who specialize in onboarding employees into complex technical roles
- Prepare "Vocational Instructors" for highly specialized trades like renewable energy technology or precision manufacturing
- Study Educational Psychology as it pertains to specialized adult learning and skill acquisition
What Will You Learn?
Students learn that teaching a specialized subject requires more than just knowing the facts; it requires the ability to "deconstruct" complex skills for a learner.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Master Instructional Design—creating step-by-step lessons that lead to mastery of a difficult skill
- Use "Educational Technology" (EdTech) to create immersive or remote learning experiences
- Perform "Needs Assessments" to determine exactly what skills a specific workforce is missing
- Develop Authentic Assessments—testing students through real-world projects rather than just paper tests
- Apply "Differentiated Instruction" to help students with different learning styles succeed in technical subjects
- Understand the legal and ethical requirements of inclusive education and classroom management
Topics You May Explore
Coursework is a blend of psychology, communication, and your chosen technical specialty:
- Learning Theory: The science of how the human brain processes and retains new information.
- Curriculum Development: How to build a "roadmap" for a year-long course in a new subject area.
- Instructional Media: Using video, VR, and interactive software to enhance specialized training.
- Assessment and Evaluation: The math and logic behind measuring student progress.
- Specialized Pedagogy: The specific methods used to teach your "Other" subject (e.g., how to teach coding vs. how to teach dance).
- Educational Leadership: Managing departments, budgets, and teams of other teachers.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Graduates find roles in traditional schools, corporate headquarters, and government agencies.
Common job roles include:
- Instructional Designer: Creating the courses and materials used by schools or companies.
- Corporate Trainer: Leading professional development workshops for a specific industry.
- Specialized High School Teacher: Teaching niche subjects like "Mechatronics" or "Environmental Law."
- Education Consultant: Advising school districts on how to implement new specialized programs.
- Learning and Development (L&D) Manager: Overseeing the entire training department of a large company.
- Curriculum Specialist: Working for textbook or EdTech companies to write and test new lessons.
Where Can You Work?
Educators in this field work where knowledge meets the workforce:
- K-12 Schools and Districts: Implementing specialized "STEM" or "Magnet" programs.
- Colleges and Trade Schools: Teaching in highly specific vocational or technical departments.
- Fortune 500 Companies: Training employees in tech, finance, or specialized manufacturing.
- Government Agencies: Creating public education campaigns or training for the military or civil service.
- EdTech Startups: Building the apps and platforms that the world uses for online learning.
How Much Can You Earn?
Earnings are often higher than traditional teaching roles, especially for those who move into the private sector or corporate training.
- Instructional Designers: Median annual salary of approximately $70,000–$95,000.
- Corporate Trainers: Salaries typically range from $65,000 to $90,000.
- L&D Managers: Median annual salary of around $95,000–$130,000.
- Specialized K-12 Teachers: Salaries often range from $50,000 to $80,000 depending on the district.
Is This Degree Hard?
The difficulty is in the double mastery required. You cannot just be a "good teacher"; you must also be an expert in your specific, "Other" subject area. It requires a high level of organization and the ability to simplify complex ideas without losing their meaning. You must also be comfortable with technology, as specialized instruction today is almost always driven by digital tools and data.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Love a specific niche subject but realize you enjoy "explaining it" as much as "doing it"
- Are a "people person" who finds it rewarding to see someone else have an "Aha!" moment
- Want to be a leader in a new or emerging field of education
- Enjoy the challenge of creating something from scratch (like a new course or textbook)
- Are interested in the "science of learning" and how technology can make education better
How to Prepare in High School
- Take classes in Psychology, Speech/Communication, and your chosen specialty subject
- Practice "peer tutoring"—helping other students understand difficult concepts
- Volunteer as a camp counselor or assistant coach to get experience leading a group
- Learn basic graphic design or video editing; teachers are often content creators today
- Pay attention to which teachers you like and analyze why their methods work for you
The ability to bridge the gap between complex, specialized knowledge and a student's understanding is the hallmark of a successful professional in specialized education.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor