Category: Student Focus

The job market for healthcare has changed since 2016! These top online degree programs in healthcare present you with the best opportunities to make the most of your education.

While investing in any degree will likely have a big effect on your career trajectory, if you choose to major in health care, you may be looking at particularly high returns. That’s because many health care jobs are in high demand and will continue to be for some time, thanks to an aging population, longer life expectancies, and increased access to health services.

There are a wide range of careers available in the field, from assistant-level patient care to highly specialized areas that require advanced training. What’s great about choosing a health care major, however, is that you can always decide to build upon your knowledge and explore new career paths as you gain experience.

But the big question is: Which health care degrees lead to the best employment opportunities? OnlineDegrees.com recently published a list of the Most Employable Degrees of 2016, which compiled and analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Center for Educational Statistics in order to rank programs based on their potential return on investment. We evaluated each major on a number of cost-benefit factors, including:

• Number of jobs matched to the degree
• Average annual salary of all job matches
• Average projected job growth rate (2014-2024)
  
• Average concentration of jobs per 1,000
• Number of schools offering programs in the field
• Average in-state tuition for these programs

Below, we pulled out the health care degrees from that ranking to highlight which majors offer students the best employment potential. Based on our analysis, here are the top 20 health care degrees of 2016:

1. Public Health

If you’re more interested in health issues that affect an entire population versus one-on-one patient care, a public health degree could be a great choice for you. In this career, you’ll work on important tasks such as infectious disease prevention and control, public health education, community initiatives, and more.

• Average annual salary, 2014: $77,518
• Average projected job growth, 2014-24: 26%
• Number of schools offering programs in the field: 271
• Average tuition cost, 2014-15: $12,974

2. Nursing Practice

Becoming a registered nurse could be a smart career move, as there simply aren’t enough of them to fill available positions nationwide. Although you can become an RN with just an associate degree, RNs today often choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree before taking the national licensing exam, since many healthcare organizations prefer that credential. Nursing students take a combination of classroom lectures in the sciences, and practical clinical training.

• Average annual salary, 2014: $90,487
• Average projected job growth, 2014-24: 25%
• Number of schools offering programs in the field: 185
• Average tuition cost, 2014-15: $14,902

3. Family Practice Nursing

Very similar to a general nursing degree, a family practice nurse learns how to care for patients of all ages. These professionals typically work in health care clinics, physician’s offices, or hospitals.

• Average annual salary, 2014: $79,477
• Average projected job growth, 2014-24: 30%
• Number of schools offering programs in the field: 228
• Average tuition cost, 2014-15: $12,544

4. Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing

Yes, there’s another nursing degree on this list (we told you that they’re in high demand). This degree specializes in an area of nursing that deals with mental health. Coursework will have more of a psychiatric bent than the general nursing degree route.

• Average annual salary, 2014: $79,477
• Average projected job growth, 2014-24: 30%
• Number of schools offering programs in the field: 59
• Average tuition cost, 2014-15: $8,551

5. Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology

From working with an aging population likely to develop hearing issues, to working with young children who have hearing or speech developmental delays, this major will position you for a healthy career diagnosing and treating ear and speech problems.

• Average annual salary, 2014: $88,213
• Average projected job growth, 2014-24: 30%
• Number of schools offering programs in the field: 149
• Average tuition cost, 2014-15: $6,624

6. Medical Radiologic Technology/Science

Another important area of health care that is more on the diagnostic side of things is medical radiologic technology. This degree can help prepare you to become an ultrasound technician, use X-ray equipment, and/or focus on radiation therapy.

• Average annual salary, 2014: $84,723
• Average projected job growth, 2014-24: 27%
• Number of schools offering programs in the field: 346
• Average tuition cost, 2014-15: $9,694

7. Communication Sciences and Disorders

This pre-professional degree program is focused around the science of speech, hearing, and language. Like audiology and speech pathology, this field of study prepares students to treat people with speech delays, hearing problems, and other related issues.

• Average annual salary, 2014: $88,213
• Average projected job growth, 2014-24: 30%
• Number of schools offering programs in the field: 119
• Average tuition cost, 2014-15: $7,516

8. Dental Hygiene

If you’ve been for a dental checkup recently, you probably realized that you spend more time with the dental hygienist than the dentist. This fast-growing field is in need of new graduates as people’s dental care needs increase. Hygienists perform cleanings, take X-rays, and help educate patients on proper oral hygiene.

• Average annual salary, 2014: $92,460
• Average projected job growth, 2014-24: 35%
• Number of schools offering programs in the field: 366
• Average tuition cost, 2014-15: $9,647

9. Adult Health Nursing

Coming in as the fourth nursing degree in the top 10, adult health nurse programs focus primarily on treating and managing the care of adult patients. Learning about the many chronic health conditions that adults commonly develop is a major focus of these studies.

• Average annual salary, 2014: $79,477
• Average projected job growth, 2014-24: 30%
• Number of schools offering programs in the field: 96
• Average tuition cost, 2014-15: $16,471

10. Pharmacy

In keeping with the theme of an exploding health care market, pharmacists are needed now more than ever. As more and more medicines are developed and access to treatment improves, pharmacies and hospitals will be looking to grow their pharmacy staff.

• Average annual salary, 2014: $115,710
• Average projected job growth, 2014-24: 25%
• Number of schools offering programs in the field: 124
• Average tuition cost, 2014-15: $12,220

Here are 10 more majors that made our list of the best health care degrees for 2016:

11. Pediatric Nursing

12. Geriatric Nursing

13. Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nursing

14. Women’s Health Nursing

15. Physical Therapy

16. Speech-Language Pathology

17. Medical Informatics

18. Dental Assisting

19. Diagnostic Medical Sonography

20. Pharmacy Technician/Assistant

Will Shortz, the genius behind The New York Times crossword puzzles, launched his career with a degree in enigmatology – the study of puzzles. Never heard of the major? That’s because Shortz designed it himself as part of Indiana University’s Individualized Majors Program.

And colleges with individualized majors aren’t as rare as you might think. The College Board lists a whopping 964 four-year schools that let you design your own degree as of January 2020.

There’s a trend afoot here: DIY college degrees. In the book DIY U, Anya Kamenetz observes: “The future lies in personal learning networks and paths… Increasingly, you will decide what, when, where, and with whom you want to learn, and you will learn by doing.”

What is a custom college major?

Custom college majors, or individualized majors, are programs that allow students to design their own course of study. As the University of Washington puts it, “A university education is about learning to ask and answer complex questions.” An individualized degree program allows you to do just that.

Custom majors usually approach a theme from several different directions, drawing together humanities, social science and science disciplines. Real-life examples are as diverse as the students who devise these individualized programs: students have designed majors that study sound, religious art, digital innovation management, happiness, love, globalization and marine archaeology, to name a few.

Is a custom major the right choice for you?

Custom majors are rigorous programs for self-directed students. The University of Washington notes on its website that individualized studies are not meant to be a light and easy route to a degree. Instead, this option is “for the intellectually curious, reflective and highly self-directed students who embrace learning for its own sake.”

Who can benefit from individualized study:

• Self-motivated students targeting a particular professional niche or intellectual vocation
• Mid-career professionals returning to school to fill a specific skills gap
• Students interested in emerging fields, such as sustainability or nanotechnology, who use individualized learning to anticipate job shifts before the academy has time to develop a formal program

Many online master’s and MBA programs, which cater to working professionals, allow students to tailor thesis and capstone projects to real-world business problems. Some go step further, encouraging students to tailor the course curriculum and major field to an applied specialty.

Who should not pursue a custom major:

• Students aiming for a graduate degree in a traditional discipline like chemistry or classics may be better served by sticking to the defined undergraduate curriculum. Most graduate programs in the hard sciences and traditional fields require certain courses as a prerequisite.
• Students with diffuse interests and career goals. The custom major is not a way to turn a random set of courses into a major at the last minute.

Creating a new discipline takes personal discipline. To create a program that has traction in the real world, you must create a rigorous and useful curriculum – a novel program of study.

Before you go down the DIY degree route:

Not everyone can build a custom degree and expect it to be accepted by a university from the get go. Individuals who decide to get an individualized degree often start their programs with an undeclared major. It can be a good way to do some scouting – to see what may work well and what might not. It can be a good way to get to know your professors before pitching your idea to them.

Another important factor to look into is whether your customized major will be significantly different to the degrees your college has to offer. If it isn’t, then maybe one of the degrees they have to offer may suit your needs.

It can also be a good idea to speak to people working in the field that you wish to enter to find out what skills you need and which classes are likely to be the most beneficial.

How to design your own major

You can take charge of your education and build a major that reflects your interests and career objectives. Each college should have specific policies related to individualized majors, but in general, expect to follow these steps:

1. Define your field of study. Generally, custom majors identify a common theme and combine courses from three or more disciplines to shed light on this special topic.
2. Find a mentor – or two or three. Persuade a professor to champion your degree path and mentor you along the way. For best results, identify an advisor in each department that your field touches.
3. Set an objective. Define the relationship between your field of study and a particular line of work.
4. Complete special projects. Individualized majors generally culminate in a research project or paper.
5. Choose an appropriate name for your degree. Your future employers need to know what you have studied. If they are confused, chances are you might not land that job – even if you have taken the right classes.

Many students who opt for individualized degrees often have clear career goals. And this can actually work in their favor. According to a 2017 survey of CEOs by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, 77 percent of the CEOs surveyed were concerned about being able to find people with the right combination of skills for their business. An individualized degree can help you gain the combination of skills necessary for your future career, demonstrate your innovativeness, and your ability to work hard to achieve you goals.

For the right student, a custom major can make academic learning come alive. Take the initiative to create a meaningful degree program for you, and follow your intellectual passion to graduation and a job in your targeted field.

And yes, you may be able to customize an online degree too!

When you think about launching a medical career, you probably envision med school. However, there are lots of rewarding health care careers that don’t require getting a PhD or going to medical school, but still offer a chance to administer care, help diagnose and treat patients and keep medical facilities running smoothly.

In fact, the prognosis is excellent for many types of jobs in the health care industry as the population continues to live longer, and advancements in medicine allow for more comprehensive preventative care and treatment options. Take a look at these six health care positions, ranging from those you can potentially begin with less than a year of training and certification to others that require a bachelor’s degree.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

What they do: If you’ve ever been for an ultrasound, you’ve seen a medical sonographer (sometimes called an ultrasound technician) in action. They use advanced sonography equipment and technology to perform diagnostic exams. In addition to technical knowledge, they must also have a knack for putting patients at ease.

Becoming one: Diagnostic medical sonographers must complete some form of study program before entering the field. Depending on if you wish to specialize in a specific area, such as obstetrics, schooling can take from one to four years. Coursework includes learning about the equipment and computer programs for the job, as well as anatomy and physiology, and other basic medical and patient care skills.

Career prognosis: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), diagnostic medical sonographers earned a median annual salary of $62,540 in 2014. For anyone considering the field, the job outlook is extremely favorable right now, with employment expected to rise 26 percent from 2014 to 2024.

Radiologic or MRI Technologist

What they do: Anytime someone needs an MRI or an X-ray, radiologic technologists are called in to perform the exams using high tech equipment. Their job is to work with patients to make sure that the precise images requested by the doctor are captured.

Becoming one: Most people enter this field after completing an associate degree program, and the appropriate state license to practice. Programs of study include hands on learning with radiologic equipment and courses in imaging and radiation safety, as well as more general medical studies such as anatomy and physiology, pathology, and patient care.

Career prognosis: Radiologic technologists earned a median salary of $57,370 in 2014, reports the BLS. The job outlook is fairly strong as well, with an expected growth of nine percent from 2014 to 2024.

Medical Lab Technician

What they do: From blood analysis to examining other specimens and bodily fluids, medical lab technicians perform a wide variety of laboratory tests to help physicians make medical diagnoses and treatment decisions.

Becoming one: Working in a medical lab involves acquiring a lot of complex skills, usually via a bachelor’s degree program. Classes typically include the sciences, clinical lab training, statistics, and more.

Career prognosis: With a median salary of $49,310 per year and 16 percent projected job growth through 2024, according to BLS, this job is one experiment that’s sure to come out positive.

Health Care Administrator

What they do: Not every job in the medical field requires hands-on patient care. Some take place behind the scenes, but are equally as important to keeping medical facilities running smoothly. That’s where health care administrators come in. They manage health care staff, keep tabs on patient relations, and oversee budget, compliance, and other HR functions.

Becoming one: Most health care administrators have a bachelor’s degree, while some larger hospitals and health care institutions might look for a master’s. Either way, be prepared to take a combination of health care management and business courses, including health law and policy, health care human resources, and more.

Career prognosis: Health care administrators earned a healthy median salary of $92,810 in 2014, according to the BLS. What’s more, those entering the field can expect an abundance of job openings, as demand is predicted to rise 17 percent nationwide through 2024.

Medical Records or Health Information Technician

What they do: Maintaining patient records and health information has never been more complex than it is today, as the nation moves to digital record keeping and changes in the health insurance sector continue. That’s why medical records and health information technicians play a vital role in making sure information, data, and insurance records are accurate.

Becoming one: As complex as the job might be, it doesn’t take a whole lot of schooling to enter the profession. Medical records technicians usually only have to complete a certificate or associate degree program. Coursework will bring them up to speed on health data standards, basic anatomy and physiology, coding, related software and computer applications, etc.

Career prognosis: Although the median salary of $35,900 per year isn’t super impressive, this position is often a stepping stone to other health care jobs, and the work hours and physical demands aren’t as challenging as some other medical professions. Better yet, with a projected job growth of 15 percent over the next 10 years, according to BLS, there’s the added benefit of job security.

Medical Assistant

What they do: There’s probably not a better introduction to the world of health care than working as a medical assistant. These professionals get right into the mix alongside doctors and nurses to assist with basic patient care, clinical duties, and administrative tasks. Often, they are the first people patients encounter, so good personal skills are a must.

Becoming one: Entry into medical assistant work typically takes 1-2 years, depending on if you choose to earn a certificate or associate degree. There is a national certification via the American Association of Medical Assistants, but that’s not always required by employers.

Career prognosis: Again, the median salary isn’t stellar at $29,960 per year (as of 2014, BLS), however, the hands-on experience is second to none for someone aspiring to advance in the health care field. And, finding a job as a medical assistant should be a cinch, considering the 23 percent job growth expected through 2024.

As you can see, there are a multitude of medical careers that you can typically break into in four years or less that offer job stability and the opportunity to help others. And should you choose to aim higher into a more advanced or specialized position, having experience from these gigs on your resume will go a long way.

Sources:
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm
Radiologic and MRI Technologists, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiologic-technologists.htm
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm
Medical and Health Services Managers, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm
Medical Assistants, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm

It is being called the Fourth Industrial Revolution; a new world in which artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, and other cutting edge sciences will reshape the landscape of the working world. But, as was the case with previous Industrial Revolutions, all of the potential benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution may come at a cost — jobs being taken away from humans and handed to automated agents of the new technology.

The adoption of hi-tech robots and AI systems will have a severe impact on the modern labor market. This view is reinforced by a recent report created by the World Economic Forum. Titled “The Future of Jobs,” the report states that in the near future, millions of jobs currently staffed by people will be made redundant or be taken over by robots, autonomous transport vehicles, and AI systems powered by increasingly powerful machine learning.

Some of the concerns in the WEF report were echoed at the recent 2016 Milken Institute’s Global Conference. The event was held with the rather grim sounding theme “The Future of Human Kind.” One of the panels at the conference was titled “Jobs and Technology: Is Any Job Truly Safe?”

Warnings about the loss of human jobs to machines are coming from many different organizations — including the White House. This year’s “Economic Report of the President” warns that 83 percent of workers who make $20/hr or less will eventually see their jobs automated and given to machines. This predicted impact drops to 31 percent for workers earning between $20-40/hr, however this is still a significant and worrying future trend.

The upcoming wave of automated workers poses a challenge to today’s college and university students. These young adults, who are already fully engaged with their studies, must now consider if their chosen future career paths will be compromised by what some experts are calling “technology-based unemployment.”

But, there are some skills which are more likely to remain valuable and less replaceable in the hybrid human/machine workplace. These are skills which students in any degree program can add to their education through elective courses, work experience, and volunteer activities.

Here are the top five future-proof skills that today’s students should consider honing before entering the upcoming automated workforce. These skills are not college majors to be pursued; rather, they are abilities that augment acquired education, and help to differentiate human workers from their potential machine replacements.

Teaching Others

The ability to teach concepts and skills to other people is very valuable. This skill requires a well-developed sense of human empathy, and an understanding of the different ways people learn new things. An affinity for training others is a skill that translates across numerous industries, both blue collar and white collar. While computer software can be used to deliver training, it is not the best or most intuitive teacher. And, employers want people on staff who have a talent for training others while working beside them.

Students can pick up this skill by taking courses which focus on the basics of adult education. Even better, students should consider volunteering at a local education outreach program. These programs often host classes for adults on subjects like basic computing and internet use, for example.

Content Creation

There are some pundits who believe AI systems will dominate the future workplace of copywriters, technical writers, illustrators, and other content creators. However, while there have been some interesting experiments performed in this area, intelligent machines are still not nearly as adept at content creation as their human counterparts. People who can create the right content for a given audience, especially an audience consisting of C-level executives or other business leaders, will always be in greater demand than a machine.

While there are some obvious degree programs based on content creation, this skill set is open to any student who wants to add it to their repertoire. Look for courses on writing and editing professional content; the ability to write relevant documents and self-edit them for clarity and error-free prose will be a valuable skill in nearly any workplace.

Research

Every student who has had to write a term paper has done research. In fact, we are a research-driven society. People go online to read about products before making purchases. DIY handymen read up on how to perform home projects before grabbing a tool belt. AIs and intelligent systems are remarkably good at manipulating information, but there is no overwhelming evidence that these machines will excel at self-conducting innovative research. Instead, these systems will continue to serve as research assistants to people.

Today’s secondary students are very good researchers by necessity. One key aspect of great research skills is knowing how to weigh and curate information found online. Anyone who has ever looked up illness symptoms in a search engine is well aware of the sketchy nature of information published online by self-proclaimed medical experts. When performing research online, people are able to provide intuitive context to findings, a skill that has not been demonstrated by intelligent systems.

Persuasion

The ability to persuade people is a uniquely human skill, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. A key principle of persuasion is to have empathy for the other person’s position. Persuasion is a finely-honed dance of human interaction. While a machine can present compelling information and mimic conversation, it is largely unable to perform the nuanced give-and-take that people can.

One of the best ways to develop persuasion skills is to participate in an on-campus debate club. Debating uses a great mix of skills, including persuasive speaking in a time-sensitive environment — something which is synonymous with the dozens of business meetings a student will find themselves participating in during their working lives.

Building Professional Relationships

There is a popular slogan found on job boards and professional networking sites: people don’t leave companies, they leave managers. There isn’t an employer out there that doesn’t appreciate someone who is able to create and maintain strong working relationships with direct reports, peers, and senior leaders. Robots may be excellent workers, but even a company that adopts some automation will still need people who can collaborate with others, both internally and with outside industry partners.

Students who end up participating in group projects are given the opportunity to hone their interpersonal skills. Being active in professional networking groups is another great way to practice building work-related connections — as opposed to machine connections based on Wi-Fi and a power cord.

Sources:
“The Future of Jobs,” World Economic Forum, January 18, 2016, https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs
“Middle class workers are losing their jobs to robots,” Geek.com, May 8, 2016, Meredith Placko, http://www.geek.com/news/middle-class-workers-are-losing-their-jobs-to-robots-1654097/

For anyone with aspirations of climbing the proverbial corporate ladder, you may think that getting an MBA is the only way to get ahead. While an advanced business degree can certainly open a few doors, it’s not necessarily a minimum requirement for success. In fact, there are many lucrative business careers that you can pursue as soon as you graduate with your bachelor’s degree.

Check out these six in-demand, high-paying business jobs you can launch right out of college — no MBA required!

Sales Manager

Although getting to a management level position takes time, it doesn’t necessarily require an advanced degree. Becoming a sales manager is all about excelling in sales, and using that knowledge and experience to train and develop a team of sales representatives who report to you. You’ll be the go-to person who helps determine sales goals, and makes sure they are being achieved.

With a median annual salary of $117,960 in 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there is ample opportunity to do well in this profession. What’s great about sales is that nearly every industry, from technology and pharmaceuticals to B2B services and retail, is powered by a sales team. Because of that, if you have knowledge about anything, whether it’s home improvement supplies, cars, or software, you can parlay that expertise into a sales role and work some career magic.

Employment of sales managers is projected to grow at a respectable seven percent over the period of 2016 to 2026, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Personal Financial Advisor

As Americans become more concerned with planning for retirement and better managing their money, personal financial advisors (also called financial planners) should have no problem finding work. That’s because people are turning to financial advisors to help them with investments, insurance decisions, savings plans, estate planning, and more. Higher life expectancies and an aging population are only helping fuel demand for these services.

In fact, the BLS projects employment of these professionals to rise 14 percent from 2016 to 2026. To cash in on this finance profession, all it takes is earning a bachelor’s degree. Going further to become a Certified Financial Planner can help you advance in the field, but as far as an MBA goes, it’s not necessary.

Personal financial advisors earned a median annual salary of $90,530 in 2016, according to the BLS.

Management Analyst

Like sales manager jobs, becoming a management analyst is something that happens after accumulating a lot of experience. However, earning an MBA along that path isn’t a requirement — it’s more about your track record and professional accomplishments.

Management analysts, sometimes called consultants, advise organizations on how to operate more efficiently and improve profitability. Earning a median annual salary of $81,330 in 2016, professionals in this role can do quite well for themselves.

As far as job prospects, growth projections are strong, with a healthy 12 percent increase in employment estimated through 2026.

Accountant

Here’s a surprise for most people: You don’t need an MBA to become an accountant. However, you do need at least a bachelor’s degree, and many in the field go on to pursue the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) designation to advance their careers.

Still, breaking into this financially focused career is something you can do right after your undergrad years. Accountants work mainly with financial records, ensuring everything is correct and above board, and preparing all necessary taxes. Nearly every company in the world, and a good number of individuals, require accounting services, so work is readily available.

A growth rate of 10 percent is expected between 2016 and 2026, and the median salary for accountants was $68,150 as of 2016. But depending on the location and the type of company you work for (or if you go into private practice), that number can soar.

Market Research Analyst

More than ever, marketing has become a science, as technology has improved the way companies examine consumer insights. That also explains why there’s a huge demand for market research analysts. With an expected job growth of 23 percent through 2026, the data suggests that it’s a position worth targeting once you complete your bachelor’s degree.

The median salary for market research analysts, who spend their days studying their category to help understand the consumer base and ultimately generate more sales, was $62,560 per year in 2016.

Advertising/Marketing Manager

With so many new advertising and marketing platforms beyond traditional print and TV, businesses are looking for professionals with both traditional and digital marketing knowledge. As teams and roles expand, the manager is the person who keeps projects moving forward, by coordinating with creative teams, sales, and other staff departments.

Growth is projected to be nine percent through 2026, so expect keen competition. Still, with the potential to earn a median salary of $127,560 per year without having to get an MBA, this is an important role to fill for those with the right talent.

As you can see, today’s complex organizations need a variety of business professionals to succeed, and they don’t expect everyone who applies to have an MBA. By completing a bachelor’s degree and doing a key internship or two as an undergraduate, you will be poised to start exploring many excellent career options.

Sources:
Sales Managers, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/sales-managers.htm
Personal Financial Advisors, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/personal-financial-advisors.htm
Management Analysts, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/management-analysts.htm
Accountants and Auditors, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm
Market Research Analysts, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/market-research-analysts.htm
Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm

As new educational technologies emerge amid debates over the value of a traditional college degree, there’s been some interesting and potentially disruptive trends developing. Wondering what the new year has in store for higher ed? Here are five of the alternative approaches catching on at mainstream institutions, and challenging the very notion of what a college education entails.

Nanodegrees

The trend: This emerging concept with the cool name isn’t entirely new. The general idea is for students to take intensive, immersive courses at their own pace in a particular subject area, in order to prepare for a specific career path. In that respect, it’s not unlike certification programs or bootcamp schools. The main difference here, though, is that its monthly tuition model is a fraction of the price.

The trendsetter: Udacity is the big player here, offering Nanodegrees for just $200 per month. And students who complete their degrees online within a year can get half that money back. What’s also unique is that the curriculum comes directly from tech companies like Google, so in a sense, it’s sort of like a job training program for employment hopefuls. A Google Android App Developer Nanodegree is among the most popular of the tech-centric offerings.

The challenge: With these partnerships and the low cost, students are willing to invest in the career-focused programs that have them poised to land jobs with top tech companies. However, this is a very niche audience. Only time will tell if the concept can be replicated for other industries, and if the credential of a Nanodegree will hold any real weight among hiring managers who are used to applicants having bachelor’s degrees.

The unbundling of higher education

The trend: Could the days of core requirements be coming to an end? Maybe not all at once, but that’s the idea behind so-called unbundled degree programs taking shape at select schools across the country. Essentially, students have more flexibility to choose courses and customize their degree without being forced to take specific required classes.

The trendsetter: MIT is just one elite school that is experimenting with an unbundled approach, specifically for its supply chain management students, according to an article on EducationDive.com. Students get to take half of the program via MOOCs (massive open online courses), with just the last semester taken on campus.

The challenge: Unbundled programs are likely to remain the exception rather than the rule because traditional colleges like to keep with, well, tradition. Student demand for a more customized learning experience could help fuel the trend, however.

Competency-based education

The trend: For students who have industry experience and want to pursue or complete a degree, it can be frustrating to sit through courses that they’ve already mastered through real life application. That’s where competency-based programs come in, allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge so they can move right into courses that are relevant to them. In a way, the CLEP program (which allows students to test out of introductory classes) and portfolio review offered at some schools is a version of competency-based education — this just takes those concepts to the next level.

The trendsetters: While this might be the norm in career-focused institutions, seeing it in practice at universities is somewhat new. Two that are doing it are Brandman University in Irvine, California, and the University of Wisconsin system.

The challenges: Because a competency-based model does away with the notion of credit hours, financial aid, which has always been based on maintaining full-time or part-time student status, becomes an issue. The same goes for admissions, as essentially a whole new system would be needed to evaluate applicants.

Liberal arts makes a comeback

The trend: Everything old is new again when it comes to liberal arts. While this very old-school academic tradition has fallen out of favor to make way for career-focused, practical programs of studies in the past decade, a resurgence is underway. And believe it or not, you can thank the tech industry. More and more technology leaders are looking to build workforces full of creative thinkers to complement and support the coders and developers. What better preparation for a career in creativity, communication, and critical thinking than liberal arts?

The trendsetters: Obviously there are lots of liberal arts colleges out there still steeped in centuries-old academic tradition. What’s groundbreaking, however, is that liberal arts is expanding at institutions you wouldn’t expect, such as West Point, Culinary Institute of America, and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, as an article from The Atlantic points out.

The challenges: With some still questioning if college offers a worthwhile return on investment, liberal arts remains a tough sell. That is unless the job market continues being vocal about the need for liberal arts minded candidates.

Online education more popular than ever

The trend: If there was ever a question about online learning being a passing fad, the latest enrollment numbers should put that notion to rest. According to data from MOOC aggregator site Class Central, more people signed up for online courses in 2015 than the previous three years combined. As of last year, over 35 million people have enrolled in at least one online course — up from an estimated 18 million in 2014. As far as online degrees, nearly every major college and university offers one or more programs that students can complete fully online, or in blended form.

The trendsetters: Just one glance at the 2016 U.S. News Best Online Programs rankings and you’ll see the wide range of prestigious schools now offering high-quality online education. Penn State, Virginia Tech, Indiana University-Bloomington, UCLA, and Columbia are just a few of the academic heavy hitters featured prominently in categories ranging from business to engineering.

The challenges: Even with online education being more widely accepted and recognized, there is still debate over whether it is on par with classroom-based learning. Still, as educators improve their online teaching methods, and institutions invest more in technologies that allow for real-time interactions between teachers and students, the line will continue to blur.

Sources:
“Google and Udacity launch Tech Entrepreneur Nanodegree,” VentureBeat, October 19, 2015, Emil Protalinski, http://venturebeat.com/2015/10/19/google-and-udacity-launch-tech-entrepreneur-nanodegree/
“Is unbundling higher ed’s next big disruption?” Education Dive, January 7, 2016, Tara Garcia Mathewson, http://www.educationdive.com/news/is-unbundling-higher-eds-next-big-disruption/411694
“The New College Degree: In an Unbundled World, Curation is King,” edSurge, December 30, 2015, Matt Pittinsky and Mike Buttry, https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-12-30-the-new-college-degree-in-an-unbundled-word-curation-is-king
“5 steps to successful competency-based programs,” Education Dive, December 17, 2015, Tara Garcia Mathewson, http://www.educationdive.com/news/5-steps-to-successful-competency-based-programs/410971/
“That ‘Useless’ Liberal Arts Degree Had Become Tech’s Hottest Ticket,” Forbes, July 29, 2015, George Anders, http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeanders/2015/07/29/liberal-arts-degree-tech/#2715e4857a0b5f94a87b5a75
“The Unexpected Schools Championing the Liberal Arts,” The Atlantic, October 15, 2015, Jon Marcus, http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/10/the-unexpected-schools-championing-the-liberal-arts/410500/
“Use Of MOOCs And Online Education Is Exploding: Here’s Why,” Forbes, January 5, 2016, Josh Bersin http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbersin/2016/01/05/use-of-moocs-and-online-education-is-exploding-heres-why/#7e96f3347f09
“U.S. News & World Report Unveils 2016 Best Online Programs,” U.S. News & World Report, January 12, 2016, http://www.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/2016/01/12/us-news-unveils-2016-best-online-programs