College, Career, Life » majors

Guide to Changing Your Major

collegecareerlife — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 11:15:31 +0000

With college costs on the rise, students feel increased pressure to choose the right major and to make every class count. Unfortunately, many college students don’t have the knowledge or guidance to help them with this decision. If you want to change your major, follow the steps below to increase your chances of making the best decision.

Consider Your Motivation for Changing

Asking yourself a few questions before changing your major can save time, money, and regret. Why do you want to change majors? A difficult class shouldn’t cause you to change your major. You also shouldn’t change due to pressure from other people. Make sure your decision isn’t based on something that will prove insignificant in the long run.

Research Majors and Careers

As technology changes, so do majors offered by universities. Many interesting, marketable majors are overlooked in favor of more popular majors. When choosing a new major, consider every major available-even those that aren’t familiar to you. To learn the latest on all majors, read Book of Majors 2011 (College Board Book of Majors)

Find Your Best Careers

One method to choose the best major is to work backwards by determining your best career fit. After finding the careers that match your personality, values, and interests, you can identify the majors that best prepare you for those careers. The following steps can help you narrow down your choices.

Take a Class or Two

Some classes are closed to non-majors, but if possible, take a course or two in majors that interest you. An introductory course can help you confirm your interest in the topic, introduce you to areas of concentration within the field, and possibly give you an idea of career options.

Try an Internship

An internship or part-time job could help you make a decision about which major would be best for your career goals. Before spending time and money on a degree, discover what working in a related field is really like. Internship experience will increase the likelihood of getting a return on your investment. You’ll also graduate with valuable work experience – and maybe even a job offer!

Talk with an Adviser

Once you decide on a new major, make an appointment with an academic adviser in the department of your chosen major. Your adviser can help you build a schedule, choose the correct classes, and recommend resources to help you make the transition.

Changing majors happens frequently and many students change majors several times throughout their college years. While sticking with the wrong major isn’t recommended, jumping from major to major isn’t the answer, either. To prevent wasted time and money, take the necessary steps to identify the best major for you.

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Jobs You Can Get With Any Degree

collegecareerlife — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 10:55:59 +0000

Choosing a college major is a tough decision, especially if you have a variety of interests. Don’t worry too much about making the wrong choice, because you can find an in-demand job that pays well no matter what your major. Keep your options open by considering a variety of industries. You may find your dream job in an unexpected place.

Human Resources Specialist

Requirements for human resources jobs varies from company to company. A bachelor’s degree in business or the liberal arts will provide the necessary qualifications for most entry level HR positions. Further education, training and certifications can increase marketability. Visit the Society for Human Resource Management for more information.

Account Manager/Representative

Account managers, also called account representatives or account executives, manage client accounts for service businesses. Account representatives work in public relations, advertising, marketing and similar fields.

Sales Representative

Not everyone is cut out for sales, but for those with the right personality, sales can be a very lucrative field. Sales is a profit-generating function, so employers are reluctant to layoff sales staff. Finding a position with a built-in client base is probably the best option for beginning sales representatives.

Purchasing Agent

Purchasing agents work for the federal government, local governments, manufacturing companies, corporations, service firms, contractors and hospitals. Responsibilities include purchasing quality materials for the best possible prices, preparing purchase orders, evaluating suppliers, negotiating contracts with suppliers, and monitoring shipments. Purchasing agents earned an annual average salary of $57,630 in 2008.*

Customer Service Representative

An increasing number of customer service positions require a bachelor’s degree. Although many jobs in the field are off-shored, customer service is a growing field and bilingual representatives are in especially high demand. Initial pay might not be impressive, but average annual salaries are steadily increasing.

Your degree doesn’t have to limit your career options. A degree that doesn’t relate to any specific career can offer more opportunities because you don’t have to focus on a particular industry. Taking classes in business or another technical field, or choosing to minor in a technical field, can increase your marketability.

* Salary information from MyPlan.com.

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Great Minors for a Liberal Arts Major

collegecareerlife — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:35:06 +0000

I’ve written about good career choices for liberal arts majors, including history, English, and psychology majors. In this post I’ll write about some minors to complement a liberal arts major and why they make good choices. Employers like well-rounded applicants, and having a liberal arts major along with a technical or business minor will make you a more competitive candidate. Some minors to consider if you’re a liberal arts major:

Business Administration

A business minor will give you a foundation in accounting, marketing, and general management. Whether you’re goal is to start work or to attend professional school, knowledge of the business world will be a great advantage.

Marketing

Many liberal arts majors pursue careers in marketing after college. Having a minor in marketing can give you an advantage over the competition.

Human Resources Management

Human resources management is another common career choice for liberal arts graduates, particularly psychology majors. Human resources management courses will teach you the business side of HR, while your psychology courses will help you understand the behavioral and emotional aspects.

Information Systems

Technical skills will be important no matter what career you choose. Employers expect a certain degree of computer skills and an information systems or computer science minor will demonstrate that you’ve learned the basics.

Education

Although education is a common career path for liberal arts graduates, many are not prepared for the challenges of teaching. By taking education classes, you’ll have a better idea of what to expect when you begin your teaching career.

Mass Media and Communications

A mass media and communications minor can be a great compliment for English major wishing to pursue a career in media or journalism. See Adrienne Carlson’s guest post for career options for journalism majors.

To learn about more college majors and what jobs you can get with different majors, read the Book of Majors 2010 (College Board Book of Majors).

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Career Options for Journalism Majors

collegecareerlife — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:01:14 +0000

It’s an exciting career option if you have the drive and energy to obtain, analyze and deliver the news as it is to the world, even in these times when newspapers are closing and the media is becoming more active on the Internet. Journalism graduates are still in demand, especially with television media still holding sway and more and more people looking for a career in web journalism. If you have a degree in journalism or a related subject, you could choose to work in newspaper offices, as part of an Internet news gathering and reporting operation, or with the television media. In all three options, you could seek work as a:

Reporter: This involves a fair bit of traveling as you’re required to visit places where news happens and gather information and facts. You have to be willing to follow leads, talk to people and most important of all, report the news as it is without embellishment or exaggeration. Most reporters work certain areas or go to places where they are asked to report from.
Photojournalist: This is probably the more glamorous version of being a reporter in that you get to have your own byline and travel to places where the news is happening. There may be an element of danger involved if you’re reporting from war-torn locations or places where natural disasters have occurred. Even so, many journalism majors are interested in photojournalism. It’s a hard field to break into, but once you’ve earned a fair bit of acclaim, it’s easy to keep going.
News analyst: You will be working behind the scenes, analyzing and dissecting the news so that editors are able to grasp how the news media should be presented to the public. Analysts decide the responsibility of the paper or television channel in that they set the policies that determine how much of sensationalism is allowed to creep into the news. They go by public and social trends in making their analysis.
Editor: Editors are responsible for the overall appearance of the news; they decide the daily headlines and they oversee the quality of the news and the veracity of the content. They are also responsible for coordinating with all other departments like advertising and management and ensuring that reporters and sub editors do their work. Editors and analysts are senior members of any journalistic organization.
Sub editor: This is an entry-level job that you can get if you have good language skills and are capable of writing and editing news copy. Most journalists begin their career as either a reporter or a sub editor who is responsible for shaping the reporter’s copy and editing grammatical and spelling errors.
Newscaster (television): This is the visible part of journalism, one that most people want to get into but which only those who have the looks and the pizzazz to carry it off succeed at. You may have to work in the industry for a while and prove yourself before you can become a newscaster who is responsible for reporting news on the television, either live or recorded.
Program director (television): This is similar to an editor’s job in the newspaper industry. A program director decides which news segments go into each newscast, which visuals should be used, how much air time each news item should get, and so on. It involves working behind the scenes in television.

There are various other jobs in the journalism industry besides these common ones listed above, so if you have a degree under your belt, all you need to do is find your passion and work at getting a job in the industry of your choice.

By-line:

This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of accelerated online degree . Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson1@gmail.com .

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Good and Bad Reasons to Get a Liberal Arts Degree

collegecareerlife — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:35:11 +0000

Liberal arts degrees are criticized because people with liberal arts degrees often end up doing jobs that could be done without a college degree. However, a “practical” degree is no guarantee of a job or a good salary. While it is true that graduates with technical degrees generally have an easier time finding employment and have higher average starting salaries, a liberal arts degree can be beneficial in certain circumstances. A few points to help you make a decision about pursuing a liberal arts degree:

You should get a liberal arts degree if..

You’re really interested in a particular subject and don’t mind spending five or six years in graduate school.
You have a certain job or jobs in mind that you would really enjoy and that you can get with a liberal arts degree. See a list of common jobs for graduates with different degrees at PayScale.com.
You don’t want to be limited to a particular field and like the flexibility that a liberal arts degree provides. You’re willing to pursue further education if necessary.

You shouldn’t get a liberal arts degree if….

You want to maintain a high GPA and think it will be easier as a liberal arts major.
You’re interested in a subject, but not enough to spend many years in graduate school studying it in-depth.
You love the classes, but aren’t sure you would love the career(s) related to the degree.

An important consideration when choosing a major is financial aid. Determine the maximum amount of loans you should take out based on your major and try not to go over that amount. If you have a good reason for getting a liberal arts degree, don’t worry about what others think. Don’t put yourself through four (or more) years of misery because of societal expectations about what degrees are best.

For more information see my recommended books for liberal arts majors or the Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors page.

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Top Ten Most Flexible Degree Choices

collegecareerlife — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:42:18 +0000

The following guest post was contributed by Christine Howell who frequently writes about Accredited Online Degrees and college related topics for Online College Guru, an online college directory and comparison website.

Recent economic conditions have reinforced the importance of flexibility in the employment marketplace. Selecting a degree program that allows a wide range of employment opportunities is essential for new and returning students in order to maximize their chances of obtaining employment quickly. Here are the ten best options for students seeking to ensure their employability in the highly-competitive job market of today.

Business administration

This degree opens doors throughout the corporate world. Whether the emphasis is on accounting, finance, marketing, or management, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration is the starting point for a wide range of careers that are always in demand. For those interested in working in the field of business, this is the most versatile degree to achieve that goal.

Engineering

For technically-minded students, engineering degrees offer a wide range of employment options. Architecture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medicine, environmental science and many other fields of endeavor require the scientific background an engineering degree can afford.

Computer science

Computer science is closely related to the engineering field. Although many feel this degree has lost its luster in recent years, it still provides a large number of career choices to those holding a Bachelor of Science degree. Computer science graduates go on to serve as systems administrators, software engineers, network specialists, and in many other positions and career paths.

Mathematics

Considered the most practical and useful of all general science degrees, a strong mathematics background prepares one for jobs in actuarial science, business, education, and even law enforcement. The analytical skills derived from a four-year program in mathematics can be applied to nearly every field of endeavor.

English and other languages

Often unjustly maligned, a degree in English can provide opportunities for employment in a number of lucrative positions, including editing, journalism, public relations and advertising, and commercial writing. Expertise in foreign languages can allow students to obtain jobs in the government and public service field, as well as a number of educational and administrative opportunities only available to those who speak and write a second language.

Education

This may not seem a versatile selection at first; however, the variety of different disciplines covered under this one degree is immense. For any field of endeavor, there is a degreed professional to teach it; this makes education perhaps the most flexible of all degree programs.

Political science

For those interested in public service, a political science major offers the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue elected, appointed, or agency-level career paths. Political science degrees prepare students for jobs in government, law, budget planning, university administration, and many other fields that require a detailed knowledge of the inner workings of societal structures.

Psychology

Marketing, advertising, public relations, health care, and education careers are among the career options available to psychology majors. While advanced positions require advanced degrees, the knowledge of human nature and behavior allows students to step into a wide range of jobs with a reasonable certainty of success.

Graphic design

Artistically-minded students will find ample career opportunities after graduating with a graphic design degree. Most jobs are found in the advertising and commercial fields, but talented graphic designers can find work as animators, product design specialists, creative directors, and webpage designers.

Economics

An alternative to the business administration degree, economics degrees offer a different range of job opportunities. Many economists are employed by large corporations or government agencies; others work in the area of finance, statistics, or as legislative assistants to elected officials. In any field where financial predictions are useful and necessary, economists find themselves in high demand. An economics degree is also the perfect prerequisite to an advanced business law degree.

These ten degree programs will increase the chances for students to find work quickly in their chosen field after graduation. Opportunities are varied and plentiful in these fields and, while some are more lucrative than others, all offer the chance to excel in one’s chosen field of endeavor.

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When and How to Choose a Major

collegecareerlife — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:35:43 +0000

Choosing a college major is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make. Although many people don’t work in a field related to their college majors, your major can determine what careers you’ll be qualified for after college.

When to choose a major.

Some colleges force students to choose a major at some point, often sophomore year. If you aren’t sure about what major is best, don’t feel pressured to pick a major the first or even the second semester of college. When I entered college, I didn’t even realize that you could be undeclared. I went from the wrong major first semester to another wrong major second semester. Due to this impatience (and lack of knowledge), I graduated with a degree that wasn’t right for me. To meet the requirements for most degrees, you’ll need to choose a major by your sophomore year if you want to graduate in four years. If you wait until junior year to choose a major, summer or intersession courses can help you catch up.

How to choose a major.

The best way to choose a major is to choose a career. Maximize your time and money by choosing a major that prepares you for a great career. Take career tests, talk to college career counselors, and interview the people in careers you are considering. Be aware that a technical degree will probably allow you to find a job more easily and offers more income potential, but a liberal arts degree isn’t completely useless. There are career options for those with liberal arts degrees. Increase your chances of getting a job with your liberal arts degree by choosing a more practical minor.

Choice of major is not given a lot of thought by many students, which leads to difficulty during and after college. Take your time choosing a major and don’t allow someone else to make the choice for you. This is a decision that will affect you the most and one that only you can make.

Some resources to help you choose a major:

Guide to College Majors, 2010 Edition (College Admissions Guides)

Book of Majors 2010 (College Board Book of Majors)

Choose Your Major – Marquette University

College Major Quiz – About.com

MyMajors.com

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Helpful Links for College Students

collegecareerlife — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:26:57 +0000

OnlineClasses.com has a list of 100 tips and tools to help you choose a major and a list of the 100 best blogs for career-minded students.

Lifehack.org offers advice for college freshman.

CollegeRuled is an online organizer and planner for college students only (.edu email address required).

LectureFox has free university lectures on a variety of topics.

The Student Loan Advisor from FinAid.org calculates the maximum amount you should borrow based on the degree you’re seeking.

The Career Project contains detailed occupation profiles with information about salary, work environment, and job satisfaction.

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College Majors You May Not Have Considered

collegecareerlife — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:00:10 +0000

At a large university, choosing a major can be overwhelming due to the number of majors available. If you attend a school with a wide selection of majors, research every major in your course catalog. Some often overlooked majors that offer great career opportunities :

Management Information Systems – Management information systems involves the design and management of database systems used for retrieval of internal business data. As a management information systems major, you’ll learn about data storage and security, accounting information systems, personnel information systems and business systems networking. Related careers include database administrator, information systems manager, computer systems analyst, and computer programmer.

Petroleum Engineering – Petroleum engineers design equipment and processes for the extraction of oil or natural gas. They develop methods to maximize oil and gas recovery while minimizing costs. See the Career Resources page at the Society of Petroleum Engineers website.

Forensic Science – Forensic scientists and technicians collect, classify and analyze evidence from crime scenes. They test weapons, fibers, tissues and other materials related to criminal investigations. For more information visit the Choosing a Career page on the American Academy of Forensic Sciences website. Also see Michelle Fabio’s guest post on Crime Scene Investigators.

Actuarial Science - Most actuaries work for insurance carriers, corporations or the government. They determine benefits needed to fund retirement plans and determine appropriate insurance premiums by analyzing statistical data related to death, disability, illness, and retirement. In order to become qualified to work as an actuary, one must pass a series of rigorous exams. For more information, see the website for the Society of Actuaries or Be An Actuary.org.

Biomedical Engineering – Biomedical engineers design and develop medical products such as artificial organs, prostheses, and instrumentation. They also maintain, install, and evaluate the safety of medical equipment. Other job tasks include designing computer hardware or software for medical uses, analyzing medical procedures, and consulting with hospitals on the use of medical equipment. For more information visit the Biomedical Engineering Society website.

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Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors: History

collegecareerlife — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:05:00 +0000

Who majors in history? Future business executives, lawyers, politicians, and writers. With a history degree, you are not limited to a particular occupation or field. Many history majors go on to obtain a doctorate, business or law degree. If you aren’t sure about graduate school (or want to take a break from school), but still want a history-related job, consider the following careers:

Librarian

Although many librarian positions require a degree in library science, many smaller libraries will accept a bachelor’s degree in any subject. Knowledge of history would be a great advantage for a librarian since many people visit libraries in order to conduct historical research. My hometown librarian was also the town historian . Whenever I was writing a paper and needed to research the area’s history, he was the person to consult. Librarians must have good interpersonal skills and patience because they interact with visitors of all ages. Average annual salary: $50,970.*

Curator

Curators acquire items for exhibit collections, develop database systems used for record keeping, conduct research, supervise museum staff, and negotiate the sale or loan of items. They promote the institutions for which they work by attending community events, educating the public, and organizing tours. Budgetary guidelines and institutional policies are also part of a curator’s responsibilities. Most curators work for museums, universities, or local government. Demand for curators is expected to grow much faster than average through 2016. Average annual salary: $46,000.*

Archivist

Archivists appraise, acquire, preserve, and classify historical documents. They may conduct research related to documents and provide assistance to other researchers needing to use these documents. To make access to records easier, they copy them to other formats, design classification systems, and maintain computer databases. Demand for archivists is expected to grow faster than average through 2016. Average annual salary: $43,110.*

Museum technician/conservator

Museum technicians assemble exhibits, clean items, and arrange artifacts for display. They may specialize in a certain type of artifact, such as books or paintings. Additional responsibilities include giving tours, supervising volunteer workers, and determining repair needs. Demand is expected to grow faster than average through 2016. Average annual salary: $35,350.*

To see more jobs for liberal arts majors, read Jobs for Psychology Majors and Jobs for English Majors.

*For more details about the each job, including responsibilities, values, skills, and projected growth, visit O*Net.

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Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors: English

collegecareerlife — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:20:00 +0000

English majors have skills that employers highly value: critical thinking, communication and reading comprehension. People with English degrees can be found in a wide variety of industries and occupations, including advertising and media. Some great careers for English majors to consider:

Copy Writer

Copy writers create advertising copy and promotional materials. They collaborate with clients, marketing executives, and salespeople in order to obtain necessary information about a product or service. Their work might appear on product packaging, internet advertisements, bulletin boards, or in brochures. Average annual salary : $50, 660.*

Personnel Recruiter

Recruiters identify qualified candidates and match them to employers who need their particular skills. They work with hiring managers to find appropriate candidates for openings within a company and keep applicants informed during the hiring process. Communication and interpersonal skills are essential as recruiters must maintain positive relationships with both job seekers and the companies for which they recruit. Demand for recruiters is expected to increase faster than average through 2016, according to O*Net Online. Average annual salary: $44,380.*

Technical Writer

Technical writers create instruction and operations manuals for various types of equipment and machinery. They must be well versed in relevant technical terminology and operating procedures, and may need to consult with engineers and other professionals. Technical writers may also help with drawing sketches or selecting appropriate photographs for manuals. Demand for technical writers is expected to increase faster than average over the next eight years. Average salary: $60,390*

Editor

Editors revise books and articles before publication. Not only do they check for grammatical and punctuation errors, but they also rewrite content to enhance clarity and verify facts and statistics. Other duties include generating story ideas, assigning topics to writers, and layout design. An editor may work for a newspaper, textbook publishing company, website, magazine, or other organization. Demand is greatest for editors with web experience. Average salary : $48,320.*

News Reporter /Correspondent

Reporters report news stories for newspapers, magazines, websites, or broadcast. They may conduct extensive research and interview a variety of individuals in order to gather necessary information. Reporters must work well under pressure and have excellent investigative skills. Average annual salary: $34,690.*

For more jobs for liberal arts majors, read Smart Moves for Liberal Arts Grads: Finding a Path to Your Perfect Career.

*ONet Online

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College, Career, Life » majors

Guide to Changing Your Major

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Jobs You Can Get With Any Degree

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Great Minors for a Liberal Arts Major

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Career Options for Journalism Majors

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Good and Bad Reasons to Get a Liberal Arts Degree

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Top Ten Most Flexible Degree Choices

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When and How to Choose a Major

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Helpful Links for College Students

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College Majors You May Not Have Considered

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Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors: History

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Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors: English

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