Career and Technical Education

Why Study Career and Technical Education?

The Career and Technical Education program prepares practitioners and education professionals to plan, organize and deliver instruction in business, industry and technical settings. The program prepares teachers to help students in middle and high schools develop career-related and technical skills.

Candidates learn the concept of interdisciplinary instruction by learning how to apply core academic subjects such as math, into business math and drafting. The program offers options leading to a Bachelor of Science in Career and Technical Education. The three options offered under the B.S. in Career and Technical Education are;

• Business, Marketing and Computer Education
• Technology (Engineering) Education
• Family and Consumer Science

Candidates completing the program are prepared to teach specific vocational and technical education programs at various educational levels.

The program qualifies candidates for an Illinois Professional Educator License endorsed at the high school (9-12) and middle school (6-8) levels. Additional courses may be completed for a computer networking certificate.

There is a graduate degree offered. The Masters of Arts in Teaching program, focuses on preparing individuals seeking a Master’s degree and educator licensure endorsed at the high school (9-12) and a middle school (6-8) level.

Candidates selecting the non-certification program option must take the first 12 semester hours of professional education; the remaining 18 semester hours are IT, T&Ed or BE electives. These candidates are exempt from the 24 semester hours plus student teaching requirement.

Career and Technical Education Facts:

• The median annual wage was $58,500 in May 2015.
• Career and technical education teachers work in public and private schools.
• Employment growth will be due to continued increases in school enrollments.