Graduate Assistantships and College Teaching Jobs: Stop-Gap Employment and Career Step-Up for Any Master's Degree

Opportunities in part-time college teaching and college teaching assistantships are growing significantly. Best of all, any master’s degree holder could qualify.

On the up side, college teaching jobs nationwide are expected to grow 22.9% through 2016. The pay isn’t high; beginning wages are only $15,660 and median annual earnings are $28,060.* But remember, this is usually part-time.

If you have a graduate assistantship, you’d be expected to be enrolled fulltime in the institution’s graduate study program. Assistantships frequently offer discounted tuition if you are pursuing a graduate degree. So career changers and “student scholars” should take this option seriously. Actual salaries range significantly by the type of institution: national, state or private; large or small.

However, before investing yourself into this career direction, you need to be strategic in looking into whether your field, and your geographic region, does indeed present these opportunities. The most likely opportunities in your area will be in colleges and universities that have high-growth, “big” (large enrollment) programs or those that offer a well-established career-technical or professional development tracks, like a certificate program.

Researching college teaching jobs take time and thoughtful self-evaluation. What’s your long-range goal? To teach? To change careers? Those questions are likely to come up in interviews. You might be expected to write a “Statement of Teaching Philosophy” when you apply. And if you’ve never taught before, you should think about what your teaching philosophy will be, and why; as well as talk to experienced professors to understand the issues in higher education teaching today.

Teaching assistants assist a department chairperson, faculty and professional staff by teaching lower-level courses and preparing course materials and examinations and participating in research.*

Adjunct and part-time college teaching opportunities are often sporadic (based on the current course enrollment and other course planning issues). The pay rate is "by the course". If you think you'd love teaching, you should pursue teaching a class, reflect on the experience, and then decide if you would want to stay in the profession. Then, networking with the department faculty and staff at each college is the best way to get on the list of part-timers. Your career as a college teacher may grow slowly, but if you've taking it this far, it's likely to be very satisfying in the long-run.

“The Teaching Professor” blog and web site is a great resource for learning about the realities of college teaching.

* Source: “50 Best College Majors for a Secure Future” by Laurence Shatkin.

Series: High-Demand College Majors in Ohio, Part 4: Pharmacist

Jobs for pharmacists are expected to grow 21.7% nationwide through 2016, although slower in Ohio at 15%. The greatest number of openings will be in social assistance and the non-store retail industries.

Average starting salary is $73.010 and median annual earnings are $100,480, which depends on length of experience, geographic location and employer.

In Ohio, The University of Toledo offers a program in Pharmaceutical Sciences: http://bit.ly/3BNfmo Specialization is possible in three distinct disciplines: Pharmacology/Toxicology, Pharmacy Administration, and Industrial Pharmacy.

Pharmacists compound and dispense medications, using prescriptions from physicians, dentists or other practitioners.

In Ohio, there are about 330 openings for pharmacists each year. By 2016, employment is expected to grow 15% to reach 11,540 jobs.

Sources:
The College Board
“50 Best College Majors for a Secure Future” by Lawrence Shatkin.
http://www.projectionscentral.com/lt_search.aspx

Series: High-Demand College Majors in Ohio, Part 3: Physical Therapist

Jobs for physical therapists are expected to grow 27.1% through 2016, with the largest openings in acute hospitalization, rehabilitation and orthopedic settings.

Average starting salary is $48,530 and median annual earnings are $69,760, which depends on length of experience, geographic location and employer.

Schools must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Schools in Ohio that offer a program in Physical Therapy are:

Cleveland State University (A4, D6, F1, PU)
College of Mount St Joseph (A2, A4, D6, F1, PR)
Ohio University (A4, D6, F1, PU)
The Ohio State University (A4, D6, F1, PU)
The University of Findlay (A1, A6, D6, E3, F3, PR)
University of Cincinnati (A1, A4, D6, E5, F1, PU)
University of Dayton (A4, D6, F1, PR)
University of Toledo (D6, D7, F1, PU)
Walsh University (A4, D6, F1, PR)
Youngstown State University (D6, F1, PU)

Physical therapists improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength and decrease or prevent deformity from disease on injury. Ambulatory health care service providers are expected to provide the greatest job growth through 2016 (44.2%).

In Ohio, there are about 250 for physical therapists each year. By 2016, employment is expected to reach 8510 jobs.

Sources:
www.apta.org
The College Board
“50 Best College Majors for a Secure Future” by Lawrence Shatkin.
http://www.projectionscentral.com/lt_search.aspx

Series: High-Demand College Majors in Ohio - Registered Nurses

The nursing field is going to be on the rise for some time to come; 23.5% growth is expected through 2016. The average starting salary is $42,020 with median annual earnings of $60,010.

RNs with a bachelor’s degree have better job security than those without one. Four advanced specializations: clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, nurse mid-wives and nurse anesthetists, who serve as primary care providers, are in highest demand. These specializations require post-basic education.*

There are 69 RN nursing programs in Ohio. Seven of them are in the Cleveland area:

Bryant & Stratton College, Parma
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland State University
Cuyahoga Community College, Metro and Western campuses
Lorain County Community College
Ursuline College

Typical duties include:

- Monitor, record and report patient symptoms and changes in patient conditions.
- Maintain accurate, detailed patient records and reports.
- Record patient medical information and vital signs.
- Many others!

In Ohio, there are about 4430 openings for registered nurses every year. By 2016, employment is expected to reach 138,640.**

* “50 Best College Majors for a Secure Future” by Lawrence Shatkin.
** http://www.projectionscentral.com/lt_search.aspx

Series: High-Demand College Majors in Ohio - Physician Assistant

You can land a well-paid, high-demand job as a physician’s assistant by first attending a school accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant*.

This is a high-growth job with 27% growth expected through 2016. Average starting salary is $46,750 and median annual earnings are $78, 450**.

Schools accredited in Ohio are:

Cuyahoga Community College / Cleveland State University
Kettering College Of Medical Arts
Marietta College
Medical University of Ohio at Toledo
Mount Union College (*provisional)
University Of Findlay

Physician assistants diagnose and treat medical problems. Program applicants are usually required to have previous health care experience and some college education. The typical applicant already has a bachelor's degree and about four years of health care experience. Nurses, EMTs, and paramedics often apply to the programs. Continued education is required after graduation. ***

In Ohio, there are about 60 openings for physician assistants every year. By 2016, employment is expected to reach 1950 jobs.****

* Princeton Review
** “50 Best College Majors for a Secure Future” by Lawrence Shatkin.
*** http://www.aapa.org/education-and-certification/physician-assistant-programs
**** http://www.projectionscentral.com/lt_search.aspx

For more information, contact jill@whatsyourmajor.net

Three Questions to Ask Yourself to Find a College Major and Lasting Employment

Finding a college major that will result in a long-term job requires you to set a criteria:

1. Are you looking for a major where you have a good chance of being hired in your region; jobs that are high in number or growing fast?

Or, is salary more important to your definition of security?

Once you think about those questions, then set your criteria for your perfect college:

2. Should it be local? Lowest cost possible?

3. Now, before going further, take a pause. What will really make you happy while in college? And then, later, when on the job? What type of lifestyle are you looking for from both situations? What do you value? What type of students and coworkers, and school and work setting, study topics and duties will get you excited?

These questions aren’t at all easy to answer. First job experiences and networking are ways to help you answer them. But if you’re willing to research your opportunities thoroughly before making a decision, you’ll have a better chance of making the right choices.

When you’ve answered these questions, it’s time to start shopping for colleges and jobs. The following resources will help you zero in on a major and job, the job opportunities in your region, and the colleges in your region that offer the right major:

“50 Best College Majors for a Secure Future”, by Lawrence Shatkin
College Matchmaker search engine from The College Board
The Occupation Outlook search for job titles and growth projections in your region

For more help, email jill@whatsyourmajor.net