As many schools are currently experiencing a shortage of qualified educators, several campus-based and online schools are launching initiatives to attract professionals from various fields to enter the teaching profession.

For example, a Washington state-based college recently announced it will begin offering a masters degree program in teaching that will hold classes on evenings and weekends to accommodate working students, The News Tribune reports.

The curriculum is designed for individuals who wish to teach in urban areas. College officials say that they are recruiting diverse degree seekers from various backgrounds that may be able to inspire students in high-risk schools.

The demand for teachers who are able to work with minority students in metropolitan areas is growing, according to the news source. As a result, individuals who are thinking about a career change may want to consider teaching in high-risk school, as these positions could offer them a great deal of job fulfillment and security.

Government analysts say that career opportunities for teachers will be more favorable in inner cities and rural areas than suburban school districts over the next eight years.