Top 5 College Degrees for the Real-World

Considering earning a college degree that will always be in demand? Then you may want to consider looking into one of the following degree options that can offer real-world, work-relevant value.

"Work based learning appears to be the best way for the majority of young people to prepare for the world of work," according to a Harvard Graduate School of Education 2011 study, which supports the concepts of a career-based approach.   

This type of learning goes hand in hand with how college students gain real-world skills and prepare for careers that are work relevant now and in the future. Listed below are the top 5 college degrees that analysts have predicted will be in demand.               

#1 Degree –Bachelor's in Information Technology (IT) & Information Systems

What’s consistent about technology is that it’s always changing and transforming our world by improving efficiency and solving business problems. Can you see yourself as part of these solutions? If so, as part of the real-world degree program, you can expect to study topics and gain practical experience that includes internet applications, network solutions, and operating systems. A degree in this field will launch your career as a web developer, software engineer, or business systems analyst.

#2 Degree – Bachelor's in Business Administration 

The National Association of Colleges and Employers report that 52% of employers will hire graduates with a four-year degree in business. If you know that you would enjoy working for corporate America then you should be thrilled about the prospects of your highly employable future. When considering potential career opportunities, the possibilities are endless. Employment in this field is vast and covers a wide range of opportunities. However, you just may want to consider expanding your niche and tailoring it to include various options just in case you don’t end up in the specific market that you were hoping for.       

#3 Degree – Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care

The need for health care and health related assistance has increased over the years as Americans and consumers globally have lived longer and more vibrant lives. Therefore the need for medical assistance and educated professionals will continue to be in demand. By studying real-world degree programs in this field, you'll gain skills in the classroom and in the lab that you can later use in a doctor's office or clinic. Some of the more popular careers that you can pursue with a bachelor’s degree in this field include dietitian, registered nurse, clinical laboratory technician, physician assistant, biological technician, and medical and health services manager.  

#4 Degree – Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement 

Earning an associate's degree in this field can open a few doors through studies as a paralegal. And according to the U.S. Department of Labor, this degree is becoming more popular to gain entry into this field. But if you have an interest in working on the state or federal level then a bachelor’s degree is needed and the monetary benefits will be well worth the additional two years in college. Typical careers with a bachelor’s degree include secret service agent, probation officer, bailiff, private investigator, warden, FBI agent, and legal assistant. 

#5 Degree – Bachelor's in Marketing/Communications 

According to the NACE 2010 Job Outlook report, each year employers are asked to rate the importance of certain skills and qualities when hiring possible job candidates, and each year without fail, “strong communication skills” are at the top of the list. 

If you are a college-bound student and communications and perhaps marketing is part of your career interest, you should strongly consider a four-year degree in this field. In addition to studying communications, you'll also take business-related courses that cover how basic business intersects with communication tools such as social media, public relations, advertising, and even sales.

What College Major Should I Choose?

Identifying the appropriate college major that reflects a student’s passion and ultimately their career purpose can sometimes be challenging. The interest that they had in high school can sometimes shift directions upon entering into college. And the attempt that many colleges make to create a well- rounded student by promoting the opportunity to take classes in various general courses exposes students to perhaps a new found interest or it may confuse their decision making process regarding the appropriate college major.  

As a result, college students find themselves often changing majors, sometimes more than once. Or taking a break from school to find themselves, and try to refocus on what they really want out of life. There are even situations where students taking a break from college may become comfortable with a lifestyle that does not include school and they become complacent and decide not to return to college at all. 

 

The retention rate for college students across our nation is disappointing. Although colleges and universities are cognizant of this dilemma, most institutions find that they are powerless against the fact that some students are truly unaware of and not able to accurately identify their college major. And the students who seem to be impacted the most are freshmen. 

 

Approximately 30% of freshmen across our nation each year drop out of college; some of these students do return to school but not all of them return to the original college or continue with their original college major. As a result students’ will spend on average five to six years completing what is typically a four year bachelor’s degree. Not only do students take more time to obtain their degree, but the extra one or two years in college can add up, costing them more money than they would have spent if they had selected a college major that truly reflected their passion and purpose as a freshman and stuck with it.      

As an advocate of higher education, a career consultant, and a college professor, I have seen this situation occur far too often. College students become discouraged with the direction that they should take and without the proper guidance or direction, they simply give up on obtaining the college degree that they had hoped for. I was one of those students who changed majors more than once and I can sympathize with what our freshmen are faced with today. However, giving up is not the solution; there are ways to tackle this problem.

Solutions

Sometimes a break from college may be needed in order for students to gain a better or more informed perspective on their college major choice.  Some students may even want to take a semester or quarter off to volunteer through an organization such as Volunteer Match (www.volunteermatch.com) or the Student Volunteer Network (http://www.svnusa.org/svn/register.asp) where they can focus less on themselves temporarily and more on others who could use their assistance and kindness. Students could also consider gaining industry experience by opting for an internship to provide them with great professional experience and also enlighten them on the specific tasks and responsibilities of a career that they are interested in. This first hand experience could make or break their career choice. But the best part of gaining this experience is learning what works or doesn’t work for them as a possible future career.

At some college campuses, guidance counselors are available to assist students in finding their college major. Some college campuses even have a career advising department devoted to addressing these concerns. Both guidance counselors and career advising departments usually offer career assessments that students can take to narrow down possible careers and their specific college major. Finally, career coaches or consultants are ideal for assisting students. They usually provide an in-depth and personal approach to assisting students one on one with their career or college major needs. Their expertise and experience can be beneficial to students who simply need to identify their passion. 

Whatever option college students take to address the selection of an accurate college major, the take away from this problem is simple: do something, don’t give up. When it comes to obtaining a higher education the knowledge and experience that one gains during their college years is priceless.