We are pleased to announce a new episode of the Meet the Majors Podcast. Pat Arredondo stopped by to talk about the undergraduate Special Education program at Baylor. If you have an interest in making a difference in the lives of young people with special needs, we hope you will take a listen!
So often we hear students state with confidence that they want to work in health care, yet they are unsure of the specific ways they would like to serve patients. I would like to introduce you to a health care occupation that might be unfamiliar to you. Orthotists and prosthetists, also referred to as O & P professionals, design medical support devices and prosthetic limbs. They also measure and fit patients for these devices.
O & P professionals must have a Master’s degree in the field. A list of accredited programs is available on the website for the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education. Common prerequisite courses include biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology. This is not a comprehensive list, and interested students should consult the websites of the graduate programs they are considering.
More information on this career can be found at the Occupational Outlook Handbook website, including the favorable job growth projection for this occupation, or at OPCareers.org.
Baylor students are known for their service to the community and aspirations for making a difference through their work. Relevant experience can be gained through volunteer work, and it may also help you discern what type of occupation will suit you best. There are also internships available with many nonprofit organizations, and quite a few of these opportunities are open to all majors. Conducting a job search in Hire a Bear can be a great place to start. Just this morning, I conducted an advanced search for “Intern” positions in the “Nonprofit” employer category, and the search yielded 60 results!
Another great resource for researching nonprofit organizations is Idealist.org. Donna Sparks, Assistant Director of Career and Professional Development at Baylor, points out that the job search feature on the site will allow students to view some available positions. However, many nonprofit employers do not have the funds to pay to advertise their positions on websites like Idealist.org. A student who is serious about finding employment with a nonprofit organization should also visit the websites for the individual nonprofit organizations.
For more information on how to use your major to make a difference in the world, visit our websites for career exploration and job search resources.
The College of Arts and Sciences houses more academic majors than any other school at Baylor University. Students interested in earning a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree have numerous options, and the College has a fantastic online resource for obtaining more information on each of their programs. Students who visit the Majors in Arts and Sciences website will find sections on major descriptions, sample classes, and career possibilities. For a quick comparison of your options, this site is excellent.
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)
Psychology majors are frequently asked what they will do with their major. For those of you who enjoy studying human behavior, there is a great resource available for you called Careers in Psychology. Students can gather information on graduate school and career possibilities, as well as read profiles of successful psychologists. Having a sense of your career goals can really help when you are selecting psychology electives, and of course, it is never too early to start planning for graduate school!
A large percentage of Baylor undergraduate students say that they intend to pursue some type of postgraduate education. Earning a graduate or professional degree can enhance career and financial opportunities, but it is normal to wonder how to pay for graduate school. One of the most important things you can do to increase your chances of receiving financial aid is to begin your search early. You will also want to know what type of degree you are pursuing. From there, consider the following resources to help you in your search:
Funding Your Graduate Education: Sources of Information (United States Department of Education)
Scholarships, Grants, Loans and Student Employment (Baylor University Student Financial Services)
Sources of Funding (Baylor University Graduate School)
Financial Aid Advice (Baylor University Student Financial Services)
Early registration season is upon us, as students make decisions about Spring 2013 semester schedules. An important resource available to you is the Academic Advising website. From the GPA Calculator to Major Academic Planners (MAPs), the website is full of tools that can help you in planning out your future semesters. There are also pages that will explain how to change your major or identify your academic advisor. Reading up on policies and Baylor protocol will increase your chances of getting the schedule that you want for next semester and make it more likely that you will graduate on time. Best wishes in snagging the classes you want!
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)
By this point in the semester, students can usually see in which subjects they might benefit from a little extra help. The Paul L. Foster Success Center offers free tutoring in multiple locations around campus. Interestingly, the majority of students who use tutoring services regularly are not students who are struggling to pass. They are diligent students who know that tutoring just might mean the difference between a B and an A. To learn more about your tutoring options at Baylor, check out this website.