With a stagnant economy and college costs on the rise,
it’s hard to know what direction students should take to ensure job security
after college.
Here are 5 hot areas of study
for 2012, based on trends and surveys of where the jobs are:
Public Health
According to the U.S.
Government, healthcare will generate more jobs than any other industry in this
decade. From surges in diabetes domestically to outbreaks of communicable
diseases in Asia, the public health field has a range of exciting options. Some
of the best programs at the undergraduate level are at Emory University in
Atlanta, situated strategically near the Center for Disease Control, and
Georgetown University in Washington, DC, home to the National Institutes of Health.
Students can be focused on the scientific aspect of public health, the
statistical angle, or policy initiatives.
Petroleum Engineering
As the U.S. struggles to reduce
its dependence on foreign oil, petroleum engineers are in demand. According to
careercast.com, petroleum engineers earn the highest starting salary of any
recent graduates, at more than $100,000 a year. What colleges offer this major?
As you might guess, Texas, Oklahoma and Alaska are the hubs for petroleum
engineering programs. Texas A&M, U. Texas at Austin, U. Oklahoma and the
University of Alaska all offer top programs with internships nearby.
Environmental Studies
Careers in this field are
growing as corporations and governments become more focused on saving the
environment. From policy analysts to engineers who design green power
alternatives, the options are broad and appeal to a variety of interests. The
University of Vermont, set amidst a rich area of forests and lakes, provides
unparalleled opportunities for field research and was recently awarded a $20
million dollar NSF Grant. Engineering students at UVM build wind turbines on
campus, while recreation management majors focus on green resorts, and
agriculture majors explore sustainable farming. If a small school is more your
style, then Dickinson College in Pennsylvania provides one of the oldest
environmental majors in the country. With 40 study abroad programs on 6
continents, Dickinson has a true commitment to global leadership in
environmental science/studies.
Bio-Medical Engineering
This challenging field brings
together the discipline of engineering with the science of medicine. Some of
the most exciting research and discoveries for 2012 and beyond lie in this
arena. From cancer drug development to tissue regeneration neural engineering,
bio-medical engineers are on the forefront of helping people live better lives.
Brown University has a growing Bio-Medical department with expansive facilities
in conjunction with a top rated medical school. The Whitaker Institute at Johns
Hopkins is considered to be one of the most prestigious biomedical schools in
the country, and Georgia Tech also boasts a top 10 program. It is a highly
competitive major however, and applicants typically need to have strong grades
in 3 lab sciences, calculus, and high SAT or ACT scores.
Accounting
It may not sound sexy, but
according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Job Outlook
for 2011, 62% of employers were hiring accountants. Given the scandals on Wall
St. and in companies like Enron, there are exciting opportunities with the SEC
and private auditing agencies such as PwC and KPMG.
Many accountants also go on to
become CFOs later in their careers, and the pay scale is attractive right out
of college. NYU’s Stern School of Business boasts a top 10 accounting program
in the heart of the finance world. And specialty undergraduate business
colleges like Babson, Bentley and Bryant also have strong programs, as do many
state universities.
Cristiana Quinn, GoLocalProv
College Admissions Expert
Business & Investment Opportunities
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