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.
My mission is to empower youth with: - The knowledge about career possibilities, and the education and training needed to attain them - The creative-thinking and emotional skills that make for good career decisions and which employers prefer; - And the resilience needed to flourish in life.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
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
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
Friday, November 13, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
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
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
Monday, November 09, 2009
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
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
Saturday, November 07, 2009
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
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
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Two Fun, Easy Tools Will Guide You To Your College Major
The gigantic World of Work is a daunting concept for most students. Two easy and fun tools developed from the research of John Holland,: the RIASEC codes and Career Clusters can alleviate much of your confusion.
According to Holland, you can plug into the World of Work through your personality and interest in working with either data or ideas, and then and people vs. things. For many students, this is intuitive. You just “know” whether you’d rather work on spreadsheets or concepts for new products, when given a series of choices in an assessment.
Holland also theorized that you can make a match between job, and appropriate work environments using six RIASEC codes. Career Centers often do an exercise called “The Career Party” because, again, this process is pretty intuitive. You already know what type of people you’d like to work with, when you read the descriptions of a Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, or Conventional personality. You might fit into one or more of the codes. More structured assessments do this, too.
Career centers might give you a list of job matches that fit your codes. But I find that this idea unfolds more naturally when you visually overlap Career Clusters over your RIASEC codes, such as assessment provider Lawrence Jones explains.
So you’ve taken over 30,000 job titles and chopped your list down to 5000. Progress, right? Now the ball is back in your court. You’re now going to decide if college, other training or work is your next step. Each path has an “opportunity cost”, because you have to give something up when you follow it. But there are gains too, of course. Which decision fits you best? That’s another blog entry!
Info@whatsyourmajor.net
According to Holland, you can plug into the World of Work through your personality and interest in working with either data or ideas, and then and people vs. things. For many students, this is intuitive. You just “know” whether you’d rather work on spreadsheets or concepts for new products, when given a series of choices in an assessment.
Holland also theorized that you can make a match between job, and appropriate work environments using six RIASEC codes. Career Centers often do an exercise called “The Career Party” because, again, this process is pretty intuitive. You already know what type of people you’d like to work with, when you read the descriptions of a Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, or Conventional personality. You might fit into one or more of the codes. More structured assessments do this, too.
Career centers might give you a list of job matches that fit your codes. But I find that this idea unfolds more naturally when you visually overlap Career Clusters over your RIASEC codes, such as assessment provider Lawrence Jones explains.
So you’ve taken over 30,000 job titles and chopped your list down to 5000. Progress, right? Now the ball is back in your court. You’re now going to decide if college, other training or work is your next step. Each path has an “opportunity cost”, because you have to give something up when you follow it. But there are gains too, of course. Which decision fits you best? That’s another blog entry!
Info@whatsyourmajor.net
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sizing Up Campus Culture
The best time to dig deep into a college's culture is after you've determined that the college meets your academic and financial and practical needs, and you've visited once. When you're ready to put together your final list of eight to ten colleges that meet all of your basic criteria, you need to further evaluate your chances for success at them:
1. Read about the college‟s mission statement, strategic plan, and President‟s message on the web site. Ask to see the most recent student satisfaction survey, which should be on file in the President's office.
2. Don't assume that a college that is affiliated with a religious institution will express that heritage in daily campus life. The influence of that institution may or may not be dominant on campus.
3. Ask the tour guide and college representatives about the social tone, campus culture (or campus climate) and to provide examples of how they experience it.
4. Visit your final choice colleges a second time, after you‟ve been accepted, but before you accept the financial aid offer. On this visit:
- Pay attention to verbiage used in event posters, student newspapers and presentations. And ask random students on campus for their opinion about the campus climate.
- Take advantage of overnight stay programs that are commonly offered by the Admissions Department.
- Have your child visit or call the residence halls, explaining that he/she is a prospective student and ask the same questions that you asked of the tour guides and official representatives.
5. To fully understand how diversity and collaborative learning impacts daily campus life, take the extra effort to interview faculty members (especially those in your child‟s field of study). Be sure to ask for specific examples or data about the following questions:
- How does the institution encourage activities where students from different backgrounds meet and work together? Ask for examples where the activities impacted the majority of students, not just members of club or academic program.
- How often do students work in teams to complete assignments, solve problems or apply course content?
- How frequently do students engage in service learning or take part in community-based projects to fulfill class requirements?
- How many students collaborate on research with faculty members?
- How many interdisciplinary courses are offered? Are they open to all students?
- How many students are involved with living and learning communities? How is the faculty involved with these communities?
7. Since retention and graduation rates are correlated with student satisfaction, look them up on the College Board College Matchmaker, or other, college search engine, and compare your final choice colleges.
8. Consult student-written guides and forums about campus life, which are available for selected campuses. The most popular guides are:
“The Insider‟s Guide to The Colleges,” The Yale Daily News
“Students‟ Guide to Colleges”, The Penguin Group
“The Big Book of Colleges”, College Prowler
Visit online forums, where you can read comments and pose questions to experienced parents and students:
www.collegeconfidential.com
www.campusdirt.com
9. You may want to have a discussion with your child about the importance of campus diversity and culture to his or her happiness as a student. But don‟t expect tremendous insight. Your child‟s personality is still in a formative stage and he or she has a limited worldview.
10. Resist the urge to judge the campus morals and values, superficially. What you think is best for your child might not, in fact, be best. Listen beyond what your child says about a campus. He or she wants to please you and may be telling you what you want to hear. Look for signs of genuine enthusiasm.
1. Read about the college‟s mission statement, strategic plan, and President‟s message on the web site. Ask to see the most recent student satisfaction survey, which should be on file in the President's office.
2. Don't assume that a college that is affiliated with a religious institution will express that heritage in daily campus life. The influence of that institution may or may not be dominant on campus.
3. Ask the tour guide and college representatives about the social tone, campus culture (or campus climate) and to provide examples of how they experience it.
4. Visit your final choice colleges a second time, after you‟ve been accepted, but before you accept the financial aid offer. On this visit:
- Pay attention to verbiage used in event posters, student newspapers and presentations. And ask random students on campus for their opinion about the campus climate.
- Take advantage of overnight stay programs that are commonly offered by the Admissions Department.
- Have your child visit or call the residence halls, explaining that he/she is a prospective student and ask the same questions that you asked of the tour guides and official representatives.
5. To fully understand how diversity and collaborative learning impacts daily campus life, take the extra effort to interview faculty members (especially those in your child‟s field of study). Be sure to ask for specific examples or data about the following questions:
- How does the institution encourage activities where students from different backgrounds meet and work together? Ask for examples where the activities impacted the majority of students, not just members of club or academic program.
- How often do students work in teams to complete assignments, solve problems or apply course content?
- How frequently do students engage in service learning or take part in community-based projects to fulfill class requirements?
- How many students collaborate on research with faculty members?
- How many interdisciplinary courses are offered? Are they open to all students?
- How many students are involved with living and learning communities? How is the faculty involved with these communities?
7. Since retention and graduation rates are correlated with student satisfaction, look them up on the College Board College Matchmaker, or other, college search engine, and compare your final choice colleges.
8. Consult student-written guides and forums about campus life, which are available for selected campuses. The most popular guides are:
“The Insider‟s Guide to The Colleges,” The Yale Daily News
“Students‟ Guide to Colleges”, The Penguin Group
“The Big Book of Colleges”, College Prowler
Visit online forums, where you can read comments and pose questions to experienced parents and students:
www.collegeconfidential.com
www.campusdirt.com
9. You may want to have a discussion with your child about the importance of campus diversity and culture to his or her happiness as a student. But don‟t expect tremendous insight. Your child‟s personality is still in a formative stage and he or she has a limited worldview.
10. Resist the urge to judge the campus morals and values, superficially. What you think is best for your child might not, in fact, be best. Listen beyond what your child says about a campus. He or she wants to please you and may be telling you what you want to hear. Look for signs of genuine enthusiasm.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Rankings vs. Reality: How Do You Assess Your College Choices?
College rankings publishers are getting smart about answering students’ real questions about what makes for a great higher education experience. Whether you use or believe these rankings, or the methodology used, the newer, more creative rankings publishers, can open students’ minds about what might really be important in their college decisions.
Look on the home page of any college web site. If it made the cut on one of the U.S. News and World Report or The Princeton Review’s favorable lists of distinctions, it will certainly be promoted there. U.S .News and World Report rankings are developed by peer ratings from college administrators, while The Princeton Review’s come from student surveys.
So, despite the controversy over rankings, colleges care about them.
Most students make final college choices on the basis of some reality: financial, career or just how the campus “feels” to them. However, it’s also worthwhile to look at how the college might impact you as a person.
Some publishers have responded creatively to new and different issues raised by the public, the media and even higher educators themselves about what makes for a great college experience. Since 1996, Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) , a non-profit organization, has member schools who are recognized as having “students heavily involved in cooperative rather than competitive learning, and a faculty of scholars devoted to helping young people develop their powers, mentors who often become their valued friends."
And this fall, the Washington Monthly evaluated schools based on:
- “Social mobility” - the recruiting and graduating of poorer students
- Research - the support of scientific and humanistic study, by producing PhDs and by the winning research grants
- Service – the school’s effectiveness at giving back to the country, through either military or civilian service
One can certainly imagine the positive impact on character that would come from a collaborative learning experience in an environment that focuses on social impact. Ask creative questions of your prospective faculty on these matters when you whittle down your college list.
Look on the home page of any college web site. If it made the cut on one of the U.S. News and World Report or The Princeton Review’s favorable lists of distinctions, it will certainly be promoted there. U.S .News and World Report rankings are developed by peer ratings from college administrators, while The Princeton Review’s come from student surveys.
So, despite the controversy over rankings, colleges care about them.
Most students make final college choices on the basis of some reality: financial, career or just how the campus “feels” to them. However, it’s also worthwhile to look at how the college might impact you as a person.
Some publishers have responded creatively to new and different issues raised by the public, the media and even higher educators themselves about what makes for a great college experience. Since 1996, Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) , a non-profit organization, has member schools who are recognized as having “students heavily involved in cooperative rather than competitive learning, and a faculty of scholars devoted to helping young people develop their powers, mentors who often become their valued friends."
And this fall, the Washington Monthly evaluated schools based on:
- “Social mobility” - the recruiting and graduating of poorer students
- Research - the support of scientific and humanistic study, by producing PhDs and by the winning research grants
- Service – the school’s effectiveness at giving back to the country, through either military or civilian service
One can certainly imagine the positive impact on character that would come from a collaborative learning experience in an environment that focuses on social impact. Ask creative questions of your prospective faculty on these matters when you whittle down your college list.
Washington Monthly ranks colleges by social mobility, research and "giving back" to the US. http://ping.fm/VJGHw
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
New career & college articles - national scope: High-demand majors/careers, more! http://ping.fm/czQt4
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