The generalist career path is not limited to the private sector. While many educators “specialize” in a particular subject area as teachers, generalists also work in education. Most generalists have a diverse knowledge of the field and can perform various tasks across different departments. This skillset can be important in education, where there is always a high demand for educators and unpredictability is the norm. Thanks to this versatility, generalists can also take on many different job roles.
The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree is a popular postgraduate option among education professionals, allowing educators to expand their expertise in specialized areas. The online Ed.S. – Generalist program from Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU) offers a variety of courses from different areas to align with their interests and goals. From the responsibilities of all types of administrators to school operations to digital learning technology, students work with advisors to align coursework with a specific career path and gain relevant skills.
NWMSU’s program offers an array of topics for students to explore and shape their academic experience, including culture and student engagement, school law, leadership in special education and instructional systems design.
What In-Demand Skills Can You Gain?
Generalists in education bring a wealth of skills helpful to the modern education environment. This 2020 post from the work blog Be Unique outlines valuable traits possessed by generalists, noted below:
Methodology
Given their exposure to many different areas, generalists are often quality problem solvers. Their interdisciplinary experience helps them consider numerous perspectives and draw potential parallels to address an issue. They ask incisive questions that help them “manage complexity.”
These are valuable skills in education, as the field often requires balancing a variety of needs at many levels. The more concerns and variables they can consider in their methods of analysis, the more effective these decisions can be.
Flexibility and Adaptability
Generalists take on many different tasks, so the ability to be adaptable is critical. Given the unpredictable nature of education and its regular changes, this can be a major advantage for generalists. This versatility also means their skills are highly transferable among roles and departments.
Communication
Since they often have experience working with professionals in different areas, generalists are effective communicators. They can act as liaisons between departments and specialties. Their breadth of experience helps them translate ideas and intentions while maintaining integrity. The Be Unique article emphasizes the importance of this idea, saying generalists add critical context to the successes of specialists: generalists “can serve as a link between the scientific breakthroughs and the rest of the world.”
Decision-Making
Generalists’ wide scope of work also gives them added perspective. They can weigh the potential effects of a decision more comprehensively. This “broader approach and wider understanding of different things can help make better decisions,” as this 2019 post from Cleverism notes.
How an Advanced Degree Helps
NWMSU’s online Ed.S. – Generalist program coursework is flexible and helps students develop diverse skills. Electives like Leading in the Digital Age and Integrating the Technology Curriculum give educators an understanding of the different aspects of technology in today’s schools, from integrating learning and training environments to cultivating a thriving digital culture in schools. The School Law course provides a comprehensive look at all levels of educational law, and the Trends and Issues in Curriculum and Instruction course includes an examination of professional ethics and other topics. For students interested in the science of education, Culture and Student Engagement deeply examines research-backed studies, ideas and tools that promote student achievement.
Graduates will obtain broad, versatile skills in several areas that will help them in their future education roles. Specializing your postgraduate degree in a particular area — like the generalist area — will serve professionals well. As one article from Resilient Educator notes, “By taking specialty coursework, these students can ensure they’re more than ready for any state licensure requirements.”
Learn more about NWMSU’s online Ed.S. – Generalist program.
