Category Archives: Occupations

Business, Majors, Occupations

Financial Planning Major

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Are you interested in helping clients build up a nest egg?  If so, the Financial Planning major might be a great fit for you.  The program is offered as a major on the Bachelor of Business Administration degree plan, and it provides the educational requirements for students who want to sit for the Certified Financial Planner exam.  More information on some of the careers related to this major can be found on the Occupational Outlook Handbook website (links below).

Personal Financial Advisors

Insurance Sales Agents

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

Business, Government, Majors, Occupations, Web Resources

Career Spotlight: Accountant

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Known for its good salaries and stability, the field of accounting seems to be more popular than ever.  Accountants are responsible for preparing financial statements, handling tax payments, and being able to explain their work.  This means that their work requires much precision and attention to detail.  Accountants also need to be able to communicate effectively in person and in writing.  Baylor University offers three ways for an undergraduate student to complete an accounting major:

1) Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

2) Five-Year Joint Degree Program:  Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting/Master of Accountancy

3)Five-Year Joint Degree Program: Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting/Master of Taxation

Interested students can visit the Baylor Business website for more information on these programs.  For more information on accounting careers, the following links may be helpful:

Accountants and Auditors (Occupational Outlook Handbook)

This Way to CPA (AICPA)

 

Occupations

Career Spotlight: Computer Programmer

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For students who like working independently, staying up-to-date on the latest technology, and being in an office setting, a career as a computer programmer could be a good fit.  Earning a Bachelor’s degree in computer science is the most appropriate educational path for this occupation.  Additionally, students can increase their career opportunities through working in relevant internships.  For more information on the work of a computer programmer, visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*NET OnLine.

Business, Occupations

What is an Actuary, and Why Would I Want to Be One?

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Students tend to avoid learning about careers that are unfamiliar to them.  Unless you have a family member who is an actuary, or you stumbled upon the option while viewing your career assessment results, you may not have heard of actuaries.  Students who are mathematically-inclined should visit the following links to get more details on this high-paying career.

Be an Actuary

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Casualty Actuarial Society

Career Exploration, Creativity, Majors, Occupations, Web Resources

Careers in Video Game Development

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A dream come true for many, video game development is a growing field with opportunities for many different kinds of professionals.  Each year, Game Developer Magazine publishes a Career Guide that can be viewed online.  Included in their “Salary Survey” are programmers, artists/animators, game designers, producers, and others.  This year’s guide has more than 125 pages of information for the aspiring game developer.  Below are links that will allow you to explore Baylor majors that could help prepare you for a career in game development:

Computer Science (Gaming Concentration)

Studio Art (Graphic Design Concentration)

English and Professional Writing

Film and Digital Media

Business, Career Exploration, Communications, Government, Majors, Occupations

What Can I Do with a Communication Major?

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This space is inadequate to describe at length the wealth of possibilities a student could pursue with a communication degree.  Though most majors aid students in improving their communication skills, this post will address career possibilities with majors in Baylor’s Department of Communication:

Communication Studies (formerly Speech Communication)

Film and Digital Media

Communication Specialist

It should be noted that the Communication Specialist major combines coursework from Communication Studies and Film and Digital Media.  Students who are interested in the Communication Specialist major would be wise to check out careers that relate to both components of the major.

As I mentioned above, selecting a communication major opens up a wide variety of career options.  Think about it.  Most jobs require a person to communicate effectively, whether it means expressing oneself verbally, in writing, or in other forms.  Some nice starting points for information are the resources on the Career Counseling website related to choosing a major.  Additionally, a podcast is available for each of the three majors listed above.

Some of the more common occupations you will read or hear about in these resources are in business, media, law, social services, nonprofit, government/politics, and education.  Truly, the possibilities are endless, which is a nice feature for students seeking a major and career that offers variety.

Healthcare, Occupations, Web Resources

Animal-Assisted Therapy

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The therapeutic benefits of interaction with animals have been well-documented, and students planning careers in health care, education, or mental health professions might consider if animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a method of treatment that they would like to explore.  Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society) is the most well-known organization dedicated to training and research in the area of animal-assisted therapy.  Their definition of AAT is below:

AAT is a goal-directed intervention directed and/or delivered by a health/human service professional with specialized expertise, and within the scope of practice of his/her profession. AAT is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning.

Child life specialists, educators, mental health professionals, nurses, physical therapists, physicians, occupational therapists, recreation therapists, speech-language pathologists, and social workers are just some of the professionals who may choose to seek training in the area of AAT.

For more information on training programs in AAT, check out:

Center for Animal Assisted Therapy

Pet Partners

Business, Occupations

Calling All Future CEOs!

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There are some people in life who have their sights set at the top from an early age.  Do you dream of life in the C-suite?  If so, you should already be preparing.  High salaries and prestige don’t come easily.  What exactly can you expect from a career guided by the goal of being a top executive?  Try these resources for starters:

Top Executives (Occupational Outlook Handbook)

The New Path to the C-Suite (Harvard Business Review)

Baylor Business Undergraduate Programs and Advising (Hankamer School of Business)

Baylor Business Graduate Programs (Hankamer School of Business)

Baylor’s School of Engineering and Computer Science

Baylor Law School

 

Majors, Occupations

Career Spotlight: Conservation Scientists and Foresters

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Students with a love of nature are often drawn to learn more about careers in conservation science and forestry.  The job duties can vary widely depending on the employer.  While some foresters are in the business of preventing destruction, other foresters are consulted for their expertise when timber is going to be sold.  A student considering a career in conservation science and forestry can learn more from the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

The Council on Forestry Promotion and Recruitment in Canada has put together an interactive web tool called GoForestry, which allows the user to select interests and receive a list of related careers in forestry,.

Interested students should also read up on Baylor’s interuniversity Forestry program with Duke University.

Occupations

Career Spotlight: Geoscientists

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Some people believe that geoscientists simply study rocks.  The scope of their work is actually much wider, including the study of any physical aspects of Planet Earth.  Meteorologists, oceanographers, paleontologists, seismologists, and volcanologists are all considered geoscientists, and those specialties only make up the tip of the iceberg!  Common tasks for geoscientists on the job are analyzing data and writing reports on their findings.  Fieldwork on location is a significant portion of the work for many geoscientists, which can be a selling point for students who don’t want a job that requires being at a desk every day.  The positive outlook for job growth in this field and strong salaries are also attractive.

If you are interested in a career as a geoscientist, you can pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology or Geophysics at Baylor.  Click here to listen to the podcast about the Geology major at Baylor.  The Occupational Outlook Handbook notes that job prospects will be best for candidates with a Master’s degree in geology.

For more information on a career as a geoscientist, please visit the websites that were consulted for this post:

Occupational Outlook Handbook

American Geological Institute