As math and science, unlike many other subjects, cannot be effectively taught by somebody who hasn't studied them in detail, capable teachers are in relatively high demand. Job security is also very good.
High school teachers overall earn an average of $62,000 per year, but the actual figure in any particular case depends on their experience, which subject they teach, and the school they work for.
There is this very common idea that science and math, as taught in high school, are hard except for a couple of natural geniuses. Certainly, not everybody is equipped to become a Ph.D. scientist, but the myth of STEM being only for the chosen few is really an indication that most math and science educators just aren't doing a very good job.
A quality bachelor's degree in math and/or science education (you may choose a specialization, or combine both) will set you apart from the herd. Getting such a qualification in Europe, where pedagogical theories are not as assembly-line orientated as in the U.S, will make you even more employable.
A degree in math or science education typically also includes training in areas far more advanced than those your future students will have to learn. This serves a dual purpose: it makes it easier to answer the dreaded question "Why do I have to know this?" and ensures that you have a firm grasp of all the material covered in high school.
In fact, a degree in math or science education contains many of the advanced courses a regular B.Sc does. There is also a teaching component to the curriculum, which generally includes about a semester of practical classroom exercise. This could easily be thought of as something tacked on just to let students qualify for their teaching licenses, but that would be a mistake.
Teaching is about more than enabling young adults to pass some section of the SATs. Teachers serve as role models, but more importantly demonstrate - formally or just by example - the importance of a good work ethic, communication skills, critical thinking and problem solving, and leadership.
Teaching well also requires several skills most people just don't possess naturally. Learning these and getting the opportunity to practice them under experienced supervision will make you a much better teacher. With luck, you may turn out to be one of those who make math and science seem easy rather than arcane.
The college admissions process in the US has become a race to the bottom as students compete with their peers for a single spot in a liberal arts college, convinced by parents and guidance counselors that their survival rests on playing a musical instrument or varsity sport. Many smart kids don’t do well on standardized tests. This doesn’t limit them as much when looking outside of the US, as many colleges in Europe do not require standardized tests. Many countries see entry into universities as a right, rather than a privilege, so admission standards are not as stringent.
When you also factor in the many problems with US higher education, it is imprudent not to consider other possibilities. It is true there are many excellent schools in the United States—I don’t think anyone would argue that. There are some that have managed to look at applicants as people, and not just a checklist of achievements. Some even have reasonable tuition rates, and/or professors that actively teach and have highly engaged students. Despite this, I have yet to find a school in the United States that addresses all of these issues: allows students to opt out of the rat race the admissions process has become, have reasonable tuition, AND have positive results around the educational experience and post-graduation outcomes. Not every school in Europe provides all this either, but the schools listed in our database do.
Finding these programs is burdensome, difficult, and confusing, especially with institutional websites in foreign languages... We know that making the decision to study abroad can be difficult, so we want to make it easy for you. We scoured the continent for vetted programs and made them available to thousands of families looking to leave the US and find a better life in Europe. We found over 11,200 degrees, 870 universities, 550 cities, and 32 European countries to choose from. Europe offers an impressive range of educational opportunities!
We have gathered all of the information you need to know about studying in Europe – from the different types of schools available to how to get housing and everything in between. Our database helps you find these programs quickly and easily, helping you contextualize the many benefits and options around higher education in Europe.
You will be able to find programs and courses that suit your interests and needs, taught in English by experienced professors in state-of-the-art facilities. Search our database of English-taught European bachelor's and master's programs and get started on your journey to Europe today.
Travel opportunities abound when attending college in Europe. For example, Lille, a city in northern France with multiple universities, is close to major cities such as Brussels, London, and Paris via high-speed rail. Air travel, especially with the rise of affordable airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Transavia, can be comparable in price to rail travel, so many more destinations open up for short-term travel.
