An MBA or Master’s degree in Business Administration is an excellent master’s degree program for those pursuing upper management positions in business. A bachelor’s degree plus some work experience in business is required for admission into an MBA degree program. With an MBA, the prospects for career advancement and higher earnings are significant. There are many MBA’s available including: MBA in Leadership, MBA in Entrepreneurship, MBA in Accounting, MBA in Health Care Management, and MBA in Public Policy. It is possible to combine two disciplines into one MBA degree program, for instance a blend of Information Technology and Business. An Executive MBA is a possibility for MBA degree holders with sights on higher education. MBA degree programs can be completed while maintaining a job and there are many offered online.
Business & Management
Any organization that provides services to clients requires businesspeople to keep the books and see that operations are running smoothly. This is true whether the organization is a multimillion-dollar corporation, the corner bodega, government offices, or a nonprofit hospital. Business degrees help prepare you for a wide variety of roles essential to operating a successful business, whether you have a knack for numbers, a flair for sales, a gift for leadership and management, or the patience to keep the company IT network humming. Business degrees are offered at all program levels, from entry-level accounting diplomas to MBAs, and generally run from one to four years, depending on the degree.
Computers & Technology
There are more than one billion personal computers in use worldwide today. That’s a lot of computers to program and maintain, and a lot of technology networks to support. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, information technology workers who earn an associate’s degree in computers are paid an average of $3,760 a month. Workers with a vocational certificate in engineering can earn even higher pay. If the virtual world of information technology is second nature to you, upgrade your skills for collecting into a marketable resume. Choose from IT degrees in communications, digital graphics, networks and databases, programming, and operating systems. Or, apply your technology expertise to a specialization in business, healthcare, security, or project management. CompTIA, Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, and Linux all offer certifications.
Source: Gartner, Inc., 6/23/2008
Criminal Justice & Legal
Being a bounty hunter may seem glamorous, but that’s only if you get your own TV show (don’t count on it). Otherwise, it’s pretty hard work and involves a lot of sitting around waiting for your quarry to show up. Criminal Justice and Law offer many other more interesting and more rewarding career opportunities. Twenty-first century pressures and new specializations such as homeland security have broadened the need for criminal justice and legal services, resulting in a greater demand for trained professionals. Schools have responded by increasing their degree programs. Most criminal justice degree programs are offered at the associate, bachelor, and master’s degree levels, and many paralegal programs are offered as diplomas requiring less than a year to complete, in addition to longer associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs.
Hospitality, Tourism, & Travel
If you want to see the world, a career in tourism, hospitality, or travel may be just the ticket. Supporting more than 7.5 million travel and tourism jobs, tourism is currently the third largest retail industry in the U.S. Tourism, hospitality, and travel encompass more than 15 interrelated businesses, including hotels and lodging, air travel, restaurants, cruise lines, car rental companies, travel agents, events, and tour operators. Career education programs in this industry range from diplomas in hospitality or travel operations to associate degrees in entertainment event marketing to bachelor of business administration in hospitality to MBAs in tourism management. Having an industry diploma, certificate, or degree is a worthwhile investment, since it could make significant difference in your earnings and your chances of moving up the career ladder.
Nursing & Healthcare
Healthcare is a booming industry right now—and will be for some time to come. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3 million new jobs in health care between 2006 and 2016, so pursuing a career in this large industry could be good for your financial health. Another advantage of this service sector is its wide range of jobs, from nursing to healthcare administration to medical technology. Nurses will be in high demand over the next decade, but so will medical diagnosticians, insurance billers and coders, EMTs, healthcare managers and medical office administrators, and rehabilitative and wellness therapists. Diploma and degree programs in the healthcare industry can prepare you for these careers and other specialties, such as surgical technology, pharmacy assistance, nutrition and exercise, and veterinary medicine.
Psychology & Human Services
In addition to the usual satisfaction that comes with having a career including being a productive citizen, bringing home a paycheck and perhaps benefits, a career in Psychology & Human Services offers a deeper sense of satisfaction since it involves helping others. A bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree in a variety of Psychology disciplines can lead to many career opportunities such as research, or counseling students, addicts or families through a variety of life situations, helping them grow and succeed in their relationships, academic or professional endeavors and more. Organizational Psychology and Industrial Psychology apply psychological concepts and theories to creating a better, more efficient workplace. Human Service careers focus on a variety of individuals and groups, for instance providing assistance to the elderly and children. Other Human Service careers involve developing public service programs, contributing to the greater good at a community level. Like so many careers, greater opportunities and responsibilities usually go hand in hand with higher education.
