Whether you work with preschoolers or high schoolers, teaching offers a rewarding career where you can make a lasting impact. If you have a specific passion — be it art, music, theater or physical education — teaching allows you to share that passion while engaging with the subjects that matter most to you. Even better, you can inspire the next generation of students to find their own enthusiasm for that subject.
If you’re eager to shape young minds in a specific educational content area, earning your teaching degree is the first step. Troy University’s B.S. in interdisciplinary education provides a flexible, hands-on pathway that lets you focus on your favorite subject while gaining the certification to teach students from preschool through 12th grade. In this program, you’ll experience a strong sense of community and build lasting relationships with fellow educators supporting you both inside and outside the classroom.
Content Areas for Your Education Degree: Options at TROY
While many students interested in education want to be general classroom teachers, opportunities also abound for those interested in a specific content area. Dr. Shannon Dadd, Associate Professor and Secondary P-12 Coordinator at TROY, shares that you don’t have to know which content area (or even age group) you want to work with right away, but you might already have an idea based on your previous experience.
“For example,” she shares, “students who’ve been involved in marching band often come to TROY knowing they want to share that love for music by becoming music educators. The interdisciplinary education degree allows them to do just that. And, whether you want to teach music classes to kindergartners or lead a high school choir, TROY’s program prepares you for teaching careers with any age group.”
Content area certification programs at TROY include:
Art Education
If you enjoy art and want to show others how to express themselves creatively, consider specializing your teaching degree in visual art. This program equips you to teach students a variety of media, including painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics and sculpture, while preparing you to earn art teacher certification in Alabama after graduation. In the program, you’ll refine your technical abilities in courses such as 2D Studio or 3D Studio, while learning pedagogical skills in courses such as Integrating Art into the Curriculum. These courses will provide you with the tools to offer a broad range of artistic projects in your future classroom.
Music – Choral Education
If you want to help develop students’ singing abilities, TROY’s Music – Choral Education degree is perfect for you. This program equips you to teach the choral music content area across grades P-12 and prepares you to earn music teacher certification in Alabama. You’ll refine your vocal and conducting skills through courses like Choral Techniques and Diction for Singers, while Choral Pedagogy focuses on teaching techniques. You’ll also gain insight into music history and theory, enriching your ability to bring context and depth to your teaching.
Music – Instrumental Education
If you want to teach others how to play musical instruments, you can specialize your teaching degree in Music – Instrumental Education. This education degree option equips you to teach instrumental music across grades P-12 and prepares you for music teacher certification in Alabama. In courses like Class Brass, Class Woodwinds, Class Percussion and Class Strings, you’ll develop your skills in conducting and instrumental instruction. Additionally, courses in music theory and music history will deepen your understanding of musical structure and its cultural significance, allowing you to bring a richer context to your classroom.
Theatre Education
If you’re passionate about drama and want to inspire students through the performing arts, TROY’s theatre education degree equips you to teach theater across grades P-12. This program prepares you for theatre teacher certification in Alabama and offers courses like Acting, Directing, and Creative Drama, where you’ll refine your skills both on stage and behind the scenes. You’ll also learn effective teaching strategies through specialized pedagogy courses, such as Developing an Educational Theatre Program, allowing you to foster creativity and collaboration in your future classroom. By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to guide students in bringing stories to life through theatre.
Physical Education
For those interested in sports, physical wellness and health, TROY also offers a teaching degree specializing in physical education. This program equips you with the skills to promote healthy lifestyles and physical activity while preparing you for physical education teacher certification in Alabama. Through courses like Motor Development, Exercise Physiology, and Classroom Management for Physical Education, you’ll learn how to design engaging, age-appropriate activities that inspire students to stay active. You’ll graduate ready to lead P.E. classes, coach sports teams and promote wellness in schools.
Field Experience and Hands-On Learning
Regardless of the teaching degree option you choose, a key component of the bachelor’s in education program is the focus on hands-on learning. Throughout the program, you’ll participate in field experiences that expose you to real classroom settings in your content area — and across multiple grade levels. These experiences are designed to help you apply the skills and knowledge you learn in your courses. Whether you’re leading a music ensemble, coaching a sports team or guiding an art project, you’ll gain the confidence and adaptability needed to succeed in diverse educational environments.
Dr. Dadd emphasizes the importance of this exposure:
“By the time they graduate, our students have taught across multiple grade bands — from third grade to high school. This experience is crucial because teaching strategies vary significantly depending on the age group.”
TROY’s partnerships with local schools ensure you’ll work alongside experienced educators, gaining valuable mentorship and insight into the daily responsibilities of a teacher. These real-world experiences will prepare you to transition smoothly into your teaching career, equipped with the tools and confidence to thrive in the classroom.
A Supportive, Collaborative Approach to Teaching
Beyond its variety of certification programs available and its hands-on learning, TROY’s interdisciplinary education degree prioritizes community and collaboration — both of which are key to succeeding in teaching careers. Dr. Dadd explains:
“We model a teacher community, and that experience makes a significant difference when our students enter their own classrooms. Our students see the collaborative nature of our faculty, and it influences how they approach their own teaching.”
At TROY, students benefit from a dual-advising system, ensuring you receive guidance from both education experts and content specialists. This support system is vital to helping you navigate state certification requirements and develop mastery in your chosen content areas.
Additionally, you’ll gain mentorship and personalized support that extends beyond the classroom.
“At TROY, we are more than just professors. We are mentors, advisors, and sometimes even like family,” says Dr. Dadd. This sense of community is invaluable for prospective teachers, who will rely on their peers and mentors as they navigate the challenges of their early teaching careers. As Dr. Dadd often tells her students, “Find your teacher tribe. Surround yourself with positive, hardworking teachers because they’ll help you grow and push you to be your best.”
By fostering collaboration and support, TROY ensures you’ll not only leave the bachelor’s in education program with a strong educational foundation but also with the confidence and connections to thrive in your teaching career.
Start Your Teaching Career with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Education from TROY
Choosing the right teaching degree is the first step toward a fulfilling career where you can inspire learners of all ages. TROY’s B.S. in interdisciplinary education degree offers the flexibility, hands-on learning and supportive community you need to thrive as an educator. Whether your passion lies in art, music, theater or physical education, TROY equips you with the skills and certification to teach students across all grade levels. Request information or apply now to take the next step toward sharing your passion with others.
