Certificates and degrees earned by graduates of two-and four-year colleges or universities lead to different kinds of professional opportunities. Many professions require graduate degrees beyond the traditional four-year degree, such as a medical degree or a law degree. For example:
A course of study in bookkeeping at a community college generally prepares a student for a job as a bookkeeper.
A four-year degree in economics may prepare a student for any one of several jobs in a bank or a business.
A four-year degree in English may serve as background for elementary or secondary school teaching or for work as an editor with a magazine.
In Chart 1, below, there is a partial listing of different occupations and the educational background generally required or recommended for each. Some people who go on to acquire jobs in the four-year-college column obtain a graduate degree or some graduate education, but many of these jobs can be filled by people who do not have more than a four-year college education. For more information on the educational requirements of specific jobs, contact a guidance counselor or check the latest copy of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor, in your library. (See the last section of this handbook for information on this book and other publications that discuss jobs.)
Administrative Assistant Automotive Mechanic Cardiovascular Technician Commercial Artist Computer Technician Dental Hygienist Drafter Engineering Technician Funeral Director Graphic Designer Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technician Hotel or Restaurant Manager Medical Laboratory Technician Medical Record Technician Insurance Agent Registered Nurse Surgical Technologist Surveyor Visual Artist Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Accountant Computer Systems Analyst Dietitian Editor Engineer FBI Agent Investment Banker Journalist Medical Illustrator Pharmacist Public Relations Specialist Recreational Therapist Research Assistant Social Worker Teacher Writer
Architect Biologist Chiropractor Dentist Diplomat Doctor Economist Geologist Lawyer Librarian Management Consultant Paleontologist Priest Psychologist Public Policy Analyst Rabbi Scientist Sociologist University Professor Veterinarian Zoologist
Step 1:
Using the form below, sit down with your child and make a list of jobs that sound interesting. It may help to first think about friends or people you've read about or have seen on television who have interesting jobs. List those jobs in the left-hand column. If your child cannot think of interesting jobs, have him or her list subject areas of interest. Then try to help your child identify jobs in those subject areas. Depending on the job, there may be courses in middle school or high school that will give your child a preview of the type of knowledge that is needed for the particular job. In the right-hand "Education" column, write down the level of education required for the job and any high school or college courses that may help your child prepare for such a career.
Step 2:
Take the form to your local library and, with the help of a reference librarian, locate books and search the Internet for information on some of the careers your child has selected. Libraries usually have directories that list career requirements. It is not a problem if your child does not know what career path he or she wants to follow; his or her focus during these years should be on doing well in school.
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