With hundreds of degree programs to choose from, selecting the right course can be a challenge. In addition to finding a course that aligns with your interests, you also need to give serious thought to the types of jobs you’ll be eligible for once you graduate. And that’s no easy feat given the changing face of employment in our increasingly automated age.
In this article, we’ll look at three major areas of employment with great prospects for the future.
Engineering
Engineering is a broad discipline combining technology with science and math to design clever solutions to a multitude of problems. As a result of the breadth of engineering problems that need to be tackled in the modern world there are a wide range of degree programs focused on different kinds of engineering.
In the past, engineering could be split into four main categories—Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Chemical. Today that list also includes Management and Geotechnical engineering, and each branch has hundreds of subcategories.
If you consider the challenges facing the United States as infrastructure ages and breaks down, you might think that choosing to study for a civil engineering online degree would offer plenty of employment opportunities once you graduate—and you’d be right to think that!
This year, the American Society of Civil Engineers released an updated infrastructure report giving the U.S. a pitiful D+, meaning there was no overall improvement since its last report in 2013. With the new President promising to deal with America’s infrastructure problems, prospects look good for graduates with a masters degree in civil engineering.
You can study civil engineering online with the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Healthcare
In much of the western world the population is getting older. This growth in seniors means that all manner of healthcare services are in high demand, with that demand expected to continue in the future.
Aside from the most obvious professions that spring to mind when you think about healthcare, demand will be strong for nurse practitioners, hospital administrators, physician’s assistants, case managers, laboratory managers, nursing home and senior living facility managers, and more. Choosing to study for a healthcare administration related degree will give you plenty of choice when it comes to roles with good career progression opportunities and high salaries.
Cybersecurity
If you enjoy a challenge, then a computer science degree focusing on cybersecurity could be just what you’re looking for.
Foreign governments and criminals are always looking for ways to attack and gain an advantage, and the only thing standing in their way is a small army of big brained computer security specialists.
As Forbes reported in 2016, over 209,000 cybersecurity jobs remained unfilled that year, and the shortage of cybersecurity professionals is expected to mushroom to more than 1.5 million by 2019.
With a degree in computer science you could practically waltz into the job of your choosing when you graduate, and cybersecurity professionals currently enjoy an earnings boost over other IT professionals of around 9%.
Given the price of education, it’s vital that you choose a degree that will ensure strong career prospects when you graduate. Choosing to study any of the three areas mentioned in this article will allow you to find a rewarding job with a higher than average income and great job security.
