Social Studies Demand
Social Studies Demand
Last year I was searching for a position and did not have any luck. Is Social Studies on the decline and which areas are in demand at this time. I was only interested in China and have worked there previously. I am open to other countries but saving potential matters to me.
Response
Social studies has always been a low demand subject field in IE, more so as a generalist than a specialist (history, etc.).
Below is the list of subject disciplines and their relative and general (broad strokes) demand.
Within the social studies field Economics is the most in demand.
Really, you couldnt get a job in China? I have to think if there isnt anything wrong with you, you were only interested in embassy ISs or elite tier ISs, since saving seems to be your priority.
In order starting at the top, and most difficult:
1) Expat School Nurses: Most ISs just hire local, nurses make very good coin in the profession and those in DE are pursuing retirements/pensions, finding one that is dual licensed or able to get dual license, is usually just a stroke of good fortune. Add the requisite language skills and its basically a unicorn.
2) Bilingual Expat Professional Staff: This includes Program officers, such as admissions, finance, marketing, and communications. Most ISs just have to hire locally. This also includes expat ITs in multi language such as literature and language and primary, EC ITs that can do bilingual and immersion (depending on the language and location).
3) Expat Specialized Performing and Fine Arts: At the top of the list in this category are fields like Equestrian Science and Riding. It took one IS in Japan 3 years to hire an IT for their program. These also include specialized ITs I have seen in the past for subjects such as glass blowing, Japanese dance, flower arranging, stained glass, lacquer painting, most of these though are hired on a PTE basis, and often on LH contracts.
4) Health Education Technology: These credentials are difficult to obtain often requiring a nursing license, or other such professional license.
5) Expat Aboriginal or Tribal Foreign Language: These are uncommon languages that professional educator credentials can only be obtained by a small number regulatory authorities, and are taught in only a small number of Uni. This also includes expat ITs in dual language such as literature and language and primary, EC ITs that can do bilingual and immersion (depending on the language and location).
6) Expat Specialized Vocational Education: Fields such as hospitality and tourism management are very hard to identify ITs with actual professional and teaching experience. Many ISs just have to settle for a business studies IT
7) Expat Specialized Industrial Arts: Courses like textiles and metal craft, etc. These courses are difficult to identify ITs with actual professional and teaching experience.
8) Expat Specialized Design Technology/ICT: Courses like A/V and broadcast production are difficult to identify ITs with both the classical training (theater) and the technology skills that can produce things like a television show.
9) Field Science: Its a lot easier to find a classroom physics and chemistry IT then it is an IT who can do full time field science. Most ISs just hire a Biology or ESS IT from the classroom to the field. An IT really has to have a passion and dedication to maintain a living lab 365/24/7 in addition to actual experience organizing and managing such a program. Add specialized environments such as marine science, etc and this type of position can be very difficult to fill.
10) Upper Secondary Maths: Calculus, it really comes down to finding an IT who is comfortable with not only the skill but able to transfer knowledge.
Below is the rest of the list containing the more conventional subjects. I weighted them for both demand and supply to reach a 'difficulty' ranking, with the understanding that these subjects tend to move in cycles. Starting at the top and most difficult:
ICT-CSI/Programming
Maths
*Counselor-University
Physics
ICT-DT
Chemistry
ICT
**Special Education-Specialist
Foreign Language/Trilingual
Literature-Foreign
Dance
PHE-Sports/Coaching
Foreign Language/Bilingual
Economics
ENS-Earth Science
PHE-Sports/Aquatics
Geography
Biology
Music
Art
ENS
***Librarian
Literature-Journalism/Speech
Theater
Global Perspectives
Literature
Psychology-Sociology
History
General Science
Business Studies
Psychology
Social Studies
Family Consumer Science/Home Economics
PHE
Elementary/Primary
Special Education-Generalist
Literature-Reading
***Counselor
ESOL
**** Early Childhood
Political Science
Civics/Government
G&T
Notes:
* This assumes a University Counselor who actually knows their stuff and has the connections for all five of the US/UK/EU/CAN/AUS systems. If its just a counselor who can put together recs and knows the system they came from than see counselor below.
** This is for a specialist in SPED/SEN/LD who can wear all the hats, and can work the entire spectrum. If its just a SPED/SEN/LD IT who can do paperwork and some tutoring than see the generalist classification below.
*** I put these so low because they really belong on the Junior Leadership scale. ISs dont really need counselors its just another student management position to inflate the leadership hierarchy. Its for when the AP/VP/DP doesnt want to do the PTA or parents coffee mixer, and senior leadership wants a buffer between them and the faculty and everyone else. Librarian is a curious position because students dont really need libraries anymore, its one thing if the librarian is actually providing instruction in reading or research or technical/academic writing but if they are just watching a room with some meeting areas and some stacks of YA fiction and magazines, you dont need much of a librarian.
**** Anyone can do this who is an adult, provided the job is nothing more than babysitting and child care.
I had mixed feelings for music, I could of broken it out into music-instrumental and music-choral but there would have been a lot of curriculum specific weightings, and ultimately I just left in generalized.
Below is the list of subject disciplines and their relative and general (broad strokes) demand.
Within the social studies field Economics is the most in demand.
Really, you couldnt get a job in China? I have to think if there isnt anything wrong with you, you were only interested in embassy ISs or elite tier ISs, since saving seems to be your priority.
In order starting at the top, and most difficult:
1) Expat School Nurses: Most ISs just hire local, nurses make very good coin in the profession and those in DE are pursuing retirements/pensions, finding one that is dual licensed or able to get dual license, is usually just a stroke of good fortune. Add the requisite language skills and its basically a unicorn.
2) Bilingual Expat Professional Staff: This includes Program officers, such as admissions, finance, marketing, and communications. Most ISs just have to hire locally. This also includes expat ITs in multi language such as literature and language and primary, EC ITs that can do bilingual and immersion (depending on the language and location).
3) Expat Specialized Performing and Fine Arts: At the top of the list in this category are fields like Equestrian Science and Riding. It took one IS in Japan 3 years to hire an IT for their program. These also include specialized ITs I have seen in the past for subjects such as glass blowing, Japanese dance, flower arranging, stained glass, lacquer painting, most of these though are hired on a PTE basis, and often on LH contracts.
4) Health Education Technology: These credentials are difficult to obtain often requiring a nursing license, or other such professional license.
5) Expat Aboriginal or Tribal Foreign Language: These are uncommon languages that professional educator credentials can only be obtained by a small number regulatory authorities, and are taught in only a small number of Uni. This also includes expat ITs in dual language such as literature and language and primary, EC ITs that can do bilingual and immersion (depending on the language and location).
6) Expat Specialized Vocational Education: Fields such as hospitality and tourism management are very hard to identify ITs with actual professional and teaching experience. Many ISs just have to settle for a business studies IT
7) Expat Specialized Industrial Arts: Courses like textiles and metal craft, etc. These courses are difficult to identify ITs with actual professional and teaching experience.
8) Expat Specialized Design Technology/ICT: Courses like A/V and broadcast production are difficult to identify ITs with both the classical training (theater) and the technology skills that can produce things like a television show.
9) Field Science: Its a lot easier to find a classroom physics and chemistry IT then it is an IT who can do full time field science. Most ISs just hire a Biology or ESS IT from the classroom to the field. An IT really has to have a passion and dedication to maintain a living lab 365/24/7 in addition to actual experience organizing and managing such a program. Add specialized environments such as marine science, etc and this type of position can be very difficult to fill.
10) Upper Secondary Maths: Calculus, it really comes down to finding an IT who is comfortable with not only the skill but able to transfer knowledge.
Below is the rest of the list containing the more conventional subjects. I weighted them for both demand and supply to reach a 'difficulty' ranking, with the understanding that these subjects tend to move in cycles. Starting at the top and most difficult:
ICT-CSI/Programming
Maths
*Counselor-University
Physics
ICT-DT
Chemistry
ICT
**Special Education-Specialist
Foreign Language/Trilingual
Literature-Foreign
Dance
PHE-Sports/Coaching
Foreign Language/Bilingual
Economics
ENS-Earth Science
PHE-Sports/Aquatics
Geography
Biology
Music
Art
ENS
***Librarian
Literature-Journalism/Speech
Theater
Global Perspectives
Literature
Psychology-Sociology
History
General Science
Business Studies
Psychology
Social Studies
Family Consumer Science/Home Economics
PHE
Elementary/Primary
Special Education-Generalist
Literature-Reading
***Counselor
ESOL
**** Early Childhood
Political Science
Civics/Government
G&T
Notes:
* This assumes a University Counselor who actually knows their stuff and has the connections for all five of the US/UK/EU/CAN/AUS systems. If its just a counselor who can put together recs and knows the system they came from than see counselor below.
** This is for a specialist in SPED/SEN/LD who can wear all the hats, and can work the entire spectrum. If its just a SPED/SEN/LD IT who can do paperwork and some tutoring than see the generalist classification below.
*** I put these so low because they really belong on the Junior Leadership scale. ISs dont really need counselors its just another student management position to inflate the leadership hierarchy. Its for when the AP/VP/DP doesnt want to do the PTA or parents coffee mixer, and senior leadership wants a buffer between them and the faculty and everyone else. Librarian is a curious position because students dont really need libraries anymore, its one thing if the librarian is actually providing instruction in reading or research or technical/academic writing but if they are just watching a room with some meeting areas and some stacks of YA fiction and magazines, you dont need much of a librarian.
**** Anyone can do this who is an adult, provided the job is nothing more than babysitting and child care.
I had mixed feelings for music, I could of broken it out into music-instrumental and music-choral but there would have been a lot of curriculum specific weightings, and ultimately I just left in generalized.
Re: Social Studies Demand
Thank you for the reply. I was asking for a high salary but figured a certified teacher could ask for pay over 25,000 rmb. This reply explains why there are not as many options. I have not been abroad from some years and did not realize many individuals have the basic credentials now. As far as a sped license is this worth it internationally? I saw your response and was not clear on whether me having this credential will increase my value.
Reply
@star32569
RMB¥25K is very reasonable, thats third tier coin in IE.
SPED/SEN/LD probably isnt. Its growing in IE but there are still many ISs that either dont offer SPED/SEN/LD or only do mild needs. These ISs expect a spec.pop. IT to really know what they are doing and have experience doing it. Having a credential checks the legal box and a degree in psyc. etc. would improve that but with zero experience youre going to be of very little value to an IS. There just isnt the level of prescription and resources (course in a box materials) that you can show up and put something together for a lesson/unit plan. Whereas with spec.pop. students you need a well developed tool box to be able to create essentially a tailored lesson for a particular student, that not only is effective but looks authentically effective.
Could you get a SPED/SEN/LD credential through an assessment pathway and find an IS thats really only looking for an LS role combined with some ESOL (maybe reading) sure those are out there. If the barrier to entry is low enough even a low value add can be a good investment. There are a lot of students with undocumented and undiagnosed conditions that many ITs in IE just have to work with and having spec.pop credentials can be enough of a value to an IS that you get the offer over someone else. Though, if thats the scenario the ISs leadership may be setting you up to be the remedial IT.
RMB¥25K is very reasonable, thats third tier coin in IE.
SPED/SEN/LD probably isnt. Its growing in IE but there are still many ISs that either dont offer SPED/SEN/LD or only do mild needs. These ISs expect a spec.pop. IT to really know what they are doing and have experience doing it. Having a credential checks the legal box and a degree in psyc. etc. would improve that but with zero experience youre going to be of very little value to an IS. There just isnt the level of prescription and resources (course in a box materials) that you can show up and put something together for a lesson/unit plan. Whereas with spec.pop. students you need a well developed tool box to be able to create essentially a tailored lesson for a particular student, that not only is effective but looks authentically effective.
Could you get a SPED/SEN/LD credential through an assessment pathway and find an IS thats really only looking for an LS role combined with some ESOL (maybe reading) sure those are out there. If the barrier to entry is low enough even a low value add can be a good investment. There are a lot of students with undocumented and undiagnosed conditions that many ITs in IE just have to work with and having spec.pop credentials can be enough of a value to an IS that you get the offer over someone else. Though, if thats the scenario the ISs leadership may be setting you up to be the remedial IT.
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Thames Pirate
- Posts: 1190
- Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:06 am
Re: Social Studies Demand
Ah, the famous mythical equestrian school in Japan. This one makes me laugh every time you repost this bull.
Re: Social Studies Demand
Social Studies isn't in high demand right now, especially outside of specialized areas like Economics. If you're aiming for better pay, being open to other subjects or regions could help. Having extra credentials like Special Ed can be useful, but experience really makes the difference in getting noticed.
Re: Social Studies Demand
China's a tough market right now, honestly. If you're open to other countries, look into places with growing economies and a need for international relations expertise, maybe Southeast Asia.