HIGHER EDUCATION 2023-24
SPECIAL SECTION
for organizations from sports teams to nonprofits . If math is a strong suit for you , this major could open a lot of opportunities to choose a company that aligns with your passions and capitalizes on your strengths in your dayto-day role .
5 . Physical Therapy – Due to an increasing aging population , physical therapists are in high demand . Working in this field , you could find a job in a hospital , rehab facility , or even with a sports team . Because physical therapists can work in several different areas , the unemployment rate is low .
6 . Medical Assistance – Another role in the health care industry , medical assistants support doctors and other health care professionals in a clinical setting . Most only need an associate degree from a two-year college to get started .
7 . Marketing – Another degree that can lead you down many different career paths , marketers develop strategies to promote products and services for companies . Several types of marketing , such as digital marketing , are growing rapidly with the prevalence of online shopping and social media , making targeting ads to consumers even easier and more profitable .
8 . Software Engineering – Interested in learning another language ? Programming language , that is ! The rapidly advancing field of software engineering studies the scientific and mathematical side of computer software . If you ’ re good at problem-solving and excited by the opportunity for continuous learning , a software engineering major could be of interest .
9 . Psychology – Psychologists can work in a variety of locations : within schools , private practices , or even large hospitals . To become a psychologist , you must graduate with your bachelor ’ s degree , then go on to master ’ s and doctorate degrees to work in a clinical setting .
10 . Education – Although the field of education is changing dramatically , the demand for quality educators remains high . Teachers can choose to teach in person or online , depending on the type of school and the subject .
Trade and Technical Schools
Trade school enrollment continues to increase since the early 2000s , but a steep decline in vocational education in the 1980s and ‘ 90s led to a shortage of skilled workers across the nation .
The ongoing need for these critical workers has meant an increase in wages and jobs , encouraging students and parents to see past an old stigma of choosing vocational school over college . Plus , over the past 30 years , the cost to attend a four-year college has increased by about 200 percent , leaving some students wanting to avoid the hefty price tag of a four-year degree .
Following are some of the highest-paying trades or vocations available , according to Indeed . com :
• Licensed Practical Nurse ( LPN ) – Working under the direction of doctors and registered nurses , LPNs are responsible for updating patient charts and keeping doctors and nurses up-to-date on patient health changes . LPNs work long shifts and can be employed in a hospital , outpatient facility , nursing home , or other caregiving facility .
• HVAC Technician – Installing , repairing , replacing , and maintaining systems are all part of an HVAC tech ’ s role . Heating , ventilation , refrigeration , and air-conditioning systems are required to properly maintain workplaces , hospitals , and homes , among other buildings .
• Home Inspector – Ensuring the safety of a home or building is the main job of home inspectors . They are required to be familiar with all types of related systems including heating , electrical , plumbing , and the overall structure . Being a home inspector requires you to be physically fit and capable of climbing ladders and crawling through small spaces .
• Plumber – Not only responsible for installing appliances and unclogging toilets and drains , plumbers often install and repair gas supply lines as well . It ’ s critical to understand the flow of these systems and to problem-solve and troubleshoot when issues arise within them .
• Electrician – Training to become an electrician takes about as long as it takes to get a bachelor ’ s degree and a license , but this job training pays for itself along the way . If reading blueprints and installing or repairing wires and other electrical components interests you , this career might be electrifying !
• Landscape Designer – If you enjoy the outdoors and gardening , look into the work of landscape designers . These professionals offer plans on designing outdoor spaces for residential and commercial settings that consider environmental challenges , features that are meant to be emphasized , and overall aesthetics .
• Respiratory Therapist – Respiratory therapists work with patients who have breathing difficulties , and may aid in emergency situations such as drowning , heart attack , or shock . They assess patients ’ respiratory needs and make sure they ’ re receiving proper care and treatment .
• Dental Hygienist – Smile ! Your career could be in making teeth brighter . Dental hygienists work to clean teeth , take x-rays , and educate patients on oral health . They are also ranked among the most satisfied workers . You ’ ll need an associate degree to pursue this career .
• Ultrasonographer – After obtaining an associate degree , sonographers go on to prepare patients for procedures , review and process images for physicians , and administer ultrasounds . They are also responsible for operating imaging equipment . n
PETERS TOWNSHIP | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2023 61