Career & Technology Education
Career Opportunity
Career Preparation
Most of the students in the bachelor of science occupational education degree program are mid-career professionals who worked in an occupation for a number of years and have now begun, or wish to begin, a teaching career. The degree provides students with a blend of academic coursework, career education coursework, and further learning in the student’s teaching specialty area. The program is committed to educating participants in comprehensive personal development, which responds to specific occupational updating, professional growth and enhancement, and state-of-the-art information sharing for and with career educators. The program advocates a teaching approach, which brings about desired changes in the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and appreciation level of those in training. The program offers flexibility in course planning depending on the objectives of the student.
Students who complete a degree in occupational education may apply for Career Education teacher certification with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to teach in:
1. Comprehensive high schools with career education programs in their specialty area.
2. Public post secondary programs such as career centers, adult evening schools, Federal Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) programs, and others (completion of a vocational education credential program may be required).
3. Private postsecondary settings such as private proprietary schools and private two-year colleges.
4. Community colleges with career education programs.
5. Industry and business training programs as trainers, managers, and program designers for adult learners.
Occupational education teachers prepare their students to be successful in their chosen career paths. They teach extensive employability and leadership skills, life skills and enhance their general education skills and knowledge. The teaching specialty areas are too numerous to list, but will generally fall into trade and technical or health sciences career clusters. Examples of each include:
- Trade/technical
- Drafting and Design Technologist
- Electronics Technologist
- Computer Networking and Repair Technologist
- Health sciences occupationsPractical Nurse
- Radiology Technician
- Dental Hygienist
Related Job Listings/Job Search Websites
- Central Career Network - mules.erecruiting.com
- Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD) - www.cord.org
- Jobs in Schools - www.jobsinschools.com
- Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education - www.dese.state.mo.usl
- MO Regional Education Applicant & Placement Program - www.moreap.net
- National Center for Research in Vocational Education - http://vocserve.berkeley.edu
- National Council for Occupational Education - www.umt.edu/cnoe
- Occupational Information Network (O*NET) - www.doleta.gov/programs.onet
- School-to-Work Internet Gateway - www.stw.ed.gov/index2.htm
- St. Louis County Job Search/Online Application - www.co.st-louis.mo.us/personnel/jobsearch
- Teaching Opportunities - www.Teachers-Teachers.com
- Technical Education Association of Missouri - www.moteam.org/jobs.htm
- Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Association - www.impactonline.org/vewaa
- Vocational Education Resources - http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~sorg/vocation.html
