Career and Technical Education

With the Bachelor of Science in Career and Technical Education, you may choose from four different specialty areas: Business and Marketing Education, Engineering and Technology Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, or Industrial Education.

Business and Marketing Education
The Business and Marketing Education bachelor's degree program at Murray State University is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). In addition, Murray State is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The accreditation of the academic program assures students a high quality education and greater opportunities in the employment market.

Career Outlook: The students majoring in Business and Marketing Education at Murray State University will be prepared for a career as a teacher at the middle or secondary school level. Teaching positions increase in number each year. In fact, several geographic locations currently have a shortage of teachers, and a teacher shortage is projected nationwide for the future. With additional education and experiences, business educators are qualified for such positions as business managers, department chairs, and area coordinators of centers for career and technical education.

Engineering and Technology Education
The Engineering and Technology Education bachelor's degree program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). As an Engineering and Technology Education graduate, you will be prepared to teach in technology education programs that are offered in most middle and secondary schools. A nationwide movement in support of this program ensures that graduates have excellent employment prospects. The diversity of the Engineering and Technology Education program will provide you with an overview of an industrial setting that is sought by employers.

Career Outlook: If you desire to serve society, there may be no better way than through engineering and technology education. There is a demand for technology teachers of all occupational areas. This is due to the renewed emphasis on preparing people for the world of work in schools, community colleges, and adult programs in Kentucky and in our nation.

Family and Consumer Sciences Education
The Family and Consumer Sciences Education bachelor's degree program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). A degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education can provide a variety of career options with cooperative extension services, businesses, family resource centers, and schools. Family and Consumer Sciences Education includes teaching others about content areas of family and consumer sciences, including family studies, nutrition and food science, textiles and apparel production and analysis, resource management, consumer skills, and living environments. Graduates can teach in middle, secondary, or post-secondary classrooms, but there are also opportunities as educators or program directors with other family-related agencies. 

Students in the Family and Consumer Sciences Education program may also become active members in the Murray State chapter of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), a student organization.

Career Outlook: A career in family and consumer sciences can provide a good income and will give you the satisfaction of helping others. The primary responsibility of this profession is to help individuals and families solve daily living problems associated with their family, job, and other life roles. There is a shortage of family and consumer sciences teachers in the state of Kentucky and in the nation. It is predicted that this shortage will exist for at least ten years because of teacher retirements. Teachers and early childhood professionals will continue to be needed to ensure that children and youth are prepared for their futures as family members and as professionals.

Industrial Education
This bachelor's degree may be used for in-service teachers to obtain a rank change in career and technical education (grades 5-12) when combined with an appropriate associate’s degree.

The Master of Science in Career and Technical Education degree program is tailored to working professionals and is designed to take your career to the next level. The program consists of 30 hours of graduate-level coursework. Applicants should consult with an advisor for admission requirements. At least 21 credit hours must be earned at Murray State, and the requirements for the program must be completed within 8 years of the time a student initially enrolls in any course applicable to the program. The student’s progress will be continuously assessed throughout the program using established program checkpoints. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.

The GRE exam is not required for admission to this degree program, and interested individuals may apply at any time. Program participants will complete a creative component (instead of developing a thesis paper) prior to graduation. This creative component may be directly related to the students' professional work if they so choose.