Careers for Addtional Studies Programs

This page will focus on three of the most promising educational paths classified under additional studies: ESL education, psychology, and continuing education. Also known as remedial education instructors, ESL education teachers work with children and adults to help them achieve a better command of the English language. The next profession, a psychology career, involves the study of human behavior and the provision of mental health care in a variety of settings. Lastly, although not technically a career path, continuing education classes are available to working professionals who wish to keep their credentials or licenses current. A summary of these career tracks follows.

About the Fields

An ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher works with children and adults to improve their proficiency in the English language, both written and spoken. You may also hear these teachers referred to as ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) instructors. Many ESOL instructors are bilingual, usually in English and Spanish, in order to better meet the needs of their students. ESOL teachers may work at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary level.

Psychologists study the human mind and behavior in order to perform research, clinical, organizational, or consulting roles. Students who choose a psychology career typically specialize in clinical, counseling, organizational, school, developmental, or social psychology. Psychologists work in many venues, including private practices, mental health clinics, hospitals, government agencies, corporations, and educational settings.

Continuing education has applications to many different fields. The purpose of obtaining continuing education credits is to keep one's professional credentials current. To do so, professionals must complete classes approved by the credentialing body for their field. Continuing education classes may be completed in person or online in most cases.

Career Possibilities

Possible careers for ESL instructors include teaching ESL or ESOL students, either adults or children, in public or private K-12 schools or at community colleges. A psychological career may involve research, clinical practice, teaching at the college or graduate level, or consulting for corporations. Those who seek continuing education credits typically already have a career in fields like law, medicine, psychology, education, nursing, and so on.

Education and Credentialing

To become an ESL instructor, you will need at least a bachelor's degree and a teaching license if you intend to teach in public schools. In most school districts, a master's degree in education with an emphasis on English as a Second Language instruction is preferred or required. Certain states may have specific licensing programs for ESL instructors.

A psychology career requires a Ph.D. in psychology or a Psy.D. to practice independently. For school psychologists, an Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) degree in a psychology-related field may also be acceptable. The program from which you obtain your psychology degree must be accredited by the APA in order to obtain a license eventually. Licensure requires a passing score on an exam, a doctoral degree, an approved internship, and one or two years of experience as a psychologist.

The goal of continuing education is to maintain a credential, not acquire one. Every profession will have different continuing education requirements to renew one's professional license or certificate. The credentialing body for the profession will provide guidelines for selecting approved continuing education programs and courses.

Additional Info

Additional studies is somewhat of a "miscellaneous" career category, which means many positions fall under its purview. If none of the positions we've described interests you, you still have an endless number of educational alternatives. Browse through our other career field descriptions to find out if another course of study might better suit you.

You may also be interested in...