When choosing your major, make sure you pick one that will help, not hinder, your job search after graduation.
While earning a college degree can be a great start in preparing you
to pursue a career, the major you choose to study could heavily
determine your employment prospects upon graduation.
The popularity and "employability" of a degree changes over time,
says Stephanie Kinkaid, program coordinator for the Wackerle Career and
Leadership Center at Monmouth College. "With the economy still lagging,
students must be prudent when choosing a major," she adds. Degrees that
once were popular now have high degrees of unemployment and may no
longer be a smart choice, Kinkaid explains.
So before you shell out the cash to go back to school, check out the
degrees that you may want to think twice about before pursuing.
Degree to Avoid #1: Information Systems
According to the Georgetown University study, "Hard Times: College
Majors, Unemployment and Earnings 2013," the unemployment rate for
recent information systems graduates is 14.7 percent. That's almost
double the unemployment rate for recent computer science graduates (8.7
percent).
Management information systems students study the use of information
systems in businesses and other organizations, according to the College
Board, the organization that administers the SAT.
Why the higher unemployment rate for information systems? Many
employers feel that a major in information systems places too little
emphasis on programming, which is essential in today's world, says
Kinkaid.
Alternative Degree Option: Computer Science
What makes this degree a better option? Kinkaid says computer science
degrees have a richer curriculum than information systems programs.
"Employers want candidates with a strong knowledge of databases,
business coding, and management, which computer science delivers,"
Kinkaid explains. These marketable skills may contribute to the 8.7
percent unemployment rate of recent computer science graduates, which is
much lower than the rate for graduates with an information systems
degree (14.7 percent).
Plus, "as employers search for candidates who can wear many hats,
computer science majors have won out over information systems in both
opportunities and salary levels," says Kinkaid.
Finally, computer science graduates could easily move into an
advanced degree in engineering, so many candidates find this degree more
flexible for further education, she adds.
Potential Careers:
Degree to Avoid #2: Psychology
Psychology grads are not fairing very well in the job market,
according to the Georgetown University "Hard Times" study. In fact, the
unemployment rate for recent psychology graduates is 9.2 percent.
And that's despite the wide reach of the degree, which, according to
the College Board, examines the way humans feel, think, act, and learn.
One reason graduates with a bachelor's degree in psychology are not
doing well in the job market is that many jobs in the field require more
than just an undergraduate degree, according to Kinkaid.
"A minimum of a master's degree in psychology is often required to
work in the clinical psychology field, so unless you plan to pursue an
advanced degree, a bachelor's degree in the field may not be enough to
find employment," Kinkaid adds.
Alternative Degree Option: Social Work
Students who want a similar degree but with better employment
opportunities should look into a degree in social work, says Kinkaid.
While the Georgetown "Hard Times" study reports that recent graduates in
social work have an unemployment rate of 8.2 percent, which is only
slightly lower than that of recent psychology graduates, social work
degrees could lead to more possibilities after graduation. Why? Because
while a master's in psychology is often required to find a job, a
bachelor's degree in social work is usually enough for a recent graduate
to obtain an entry-level position working in the social science field,
says Kinkaid.
Plus, a social work degree offers the holder a much wider range of
opportunities for employment, says Tracy Whitaker, the director of the
Center for Workforce Studies and Social Work Practice at the National
Association of Social Workers. For example, social workers could be
employed in a variety of settings, including health facilities, social
service agencies, schools, and even the criminal justice system, and
private practice, says Whitaker.
They can also work "across a spectrum of service delivery, from
providing direct services to individuals, groups, and families, to
leading agencies, developing policies, or working in advocacy," Whitaker
adds. Because of this, a social work degree ends up being much more
versatile than a psychology degree, which might not allow you to move as
easily across settings and into different types of service delivery as
your career progresses, Whitaker explains.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Social Work Program.
Potential Career:
Degree to Avoid #3: Mass Media
The Georgetown University "Hard Times" study says recent mass media
graduates have an unemployment rate of 8.9 percent. According to the
College Board, mass communications students explore different forms of
mass media - TV, newspapers, the Internet, and film - and how they
affect our culture.
While that might sound appealing, the truth is that traditional media
is disappearing, says Greenberg, and that has affected the usefulness
of degrees like mass media. "We're now operating on a 24/7 news cycle
and breaking news is generally found online first," Greenberg explains.
In other words, media is changing so quickly that by the time someone
graduates with a degree in this field, their education might actually
be outdated, Greenberg explains.
Alternative Degree Option: Hospitality Management
Hospitality management, which also involves communications but at the
customer relations level, is a much better option in today's
marketplace, says Greenberg. Why? Well, for starters, Greenberg says
there are not as many players in this market as with media, so there
could be more stability in terms of employment. And with the Georgetown
"Hard Times" study reporting a 6.0 percent unemployment rate for recent
hospitality management graduates, this major could lead to more job
security.
Plus, "unlike media, there's not really a technological substitute
for the hospitality industry, so this industry will likely not change
either, and will continue to see growth," Greenberg adds. Moreover,
Greenberg points out that hospitality covers hotels, restaurants,
resorts, casinos, and even golf courses, so even if an entire sector is
down due to financial struggles, someone could potentially jump into
another sector.
Potential Careers:
Degree to Avoid #4: Biology
Interested in all the forms of life on our planet from plants to
animals? That's what a biology degree is all about, according to the
College Board. Unfortunately, that interest hasn't translated well into
the job market, as the unemployment rate for recent biology degree
graduates is 7.8 percent, according to the Georgetown University "Hard
Times" study.
Why the high unemployment numbers? According to Greenberg, the
problem with a biology degree is that it might just be too general to be
useful. "So it's not so much that the actual demand for a biology
degree has decreased, but people who have much more specific skill sets
are much likelier to be hired first," says Greenberg.
One exception: if you're planning on continuing on to medical school,
a biology degree makes sense, says Greenberg. "However, it may not be
the best choice if there are no post-undergraduate education plans, as
it is too broad to continue to be marketable," adds Greenberg.
Alternative Degree Option: Nursing
Nursing is an example of a specific degree that involves the study of
biology, which is why the demand is higher, says Nancy Brook, a
registered nurse and educator at Stanford Hospital and Clinics in
California. "Nursing remains a profession that is recession-proof, which
makes it very desirable, especially with an ever-changing economy,"
says Brook.
And the numbers reflect this sentiment - the Georgetown "Hard Times"
study reports a low unemployment rate of 4.8 percent for recent nursing
graduates.
But what makes the degree so valuable? Brook says the career
opportunities for a graduate registered nurse are almost limitless, from
working in the emergency room to the maternity ward. And that's without
taking into account the opportunities in schools, health departments,
summer camps, nursing facilities, and rehab centers, Brooke says.
Plus, Brooke says, "The salaries for nurses have continued to climb
as well, making nursing a career in demand for the 21st century for both
women and men."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Nursing Program.