This is an exciting time to be in school, as there are more opportunities and ways to learn. For 2012, you’ll see a continuation of trends and some new efforts that point the way for how students will be learning from community colleges, two-year and four-year public and private universities, and for-profit online schools in the future.
Education in emerging markets
Businesses are thinking globally, and so are colleges and universities. From the growth in study abroad programs to graduate education, more U.S. universities are expanding with overseas programs. In 2012, for example, Harvard Business School will have four executive education programs in India.
Sciences will stand out even more
The national STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) initiative is seeking to boost students’ knowledge in public schools. At the college level, schools are working to prepare students with the math and science skills to get hired in high-demand fields such as engineering and technology.
Campuses get more social
Tweeting, sharing content, “likes” on Facebook … it’s all part of how colleges and universities are going to continue interacting with their students, and students interacting with each other and their professors.
Online learning gets more tools
Online learning continues to evolve, and one trend that students will see is how learning management systems like Blackboard and OpenClass will integrate more social media. Cloud computing also will become more of a factor, making it easier for you to access reading material or the paper you’re working on from anywhere. That’s going to make it easier for you to collaborate with other students and share content, which can help you succeed in your classes.
Campuses get greener
Colleges and universities realize that they need to train students to fill the exploding number of high-paying green jobs. Community colleges, for example, are working to update their curriculum so that its students will contribute to the green economy and sustainability movement.
Let us know some of the trends you’re seeing in education in 2012!
Take a look at the college degree held by Ginni Rometty, who will take over as IBM’s first-ever female CEO and president on Jan. 2, 2012, and you’ll see someone who committed in college to a career in technology. She earned her bachelor’s of science degree with high honors in computer science and electrical engineering from Northwestern University.
Technology is a job sector where more women are needed, and Rometty’s promotion reflects that companies are seeking female leaders with technical experience.
If you’re interested in working in the technology industry, don’t be intimidated by pursuing fields such as computer science while browsing college websites and course catalogs. While the technology field needs people in all types of roles, from human resources to public relations, leaders like Rometty reveal that focusing on science and technology from the onset can be rewarding.
But females are discouraged from technical education pursuits, Caroline Simard, vice president of research at the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, recently told the New York Times. She said:
“Research shows that the majority of people have an implicit bias that associates science and technology with gender, so from a very young age, girls are not encouraged to pursue these careers. Women like Ginni Rometty are a powerful antidote against the stereotype.”
While IBM is a top global company, there are small- and mid-sized technology firms in your own town that need leaders, and by focusing on a technical education in computer science,software engineering, or other tech fields, you could position yourself to take on a leadership role and further help break the glass ceiling.
Lots of lattes, mochas, espressos, cappuccinos and plain ol’ cups of coffee are consumed by folks in these fields, who no doubt battle coffee breath daily, too.
Whether you’re starting off in a career from the ground (get it?) up, or going to college to get an advanced education in a field where you are employed, coffee breaks may be part of your regular routine.
Here’s a look at professionals who need a java jolt to get through the daily grind.
If you’re already working in these fields or taking classes in one of these job sectors, are you finding you’re heading to the coffee shop or plugging in your coffee machine more frequently?
“Show me your teeth,” growls Lady Gaga in her aptly named song “Teeth.” Is she reliving one of her dental nightmares through music? Nope, she’s just emulating other pop stars who have gotten lyrical inspiration from the human body.
The body has certainly offered plenty of fodder for songs over the past decades. Some artists have taken it literally, others figuratively, and still others have taken it right to the gutter. We opted to keep our playlist fairly clean from head to toe (check them all out on our YouTube channel’s playlist!), and true to form, we gave you some great ideas as to where you can study more about that particular body part.
“Hair” – Lady Gaga
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to love me for who I am
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to know, I am my hair
Bodily inspiration hit Lady Gaga once again for her song “Hair,” and though it’s not exactly the anti-war anthem from the musical of the same name, it does the job when it comes to declaring a person’s unique personality.
Head over heels
Where should I go?
Can’t stop myself
Outta control
This fun all-girl punk band made us all feel the cool West Coast vibe during the 1980s, but this song affirmed that even California dreaming can get a bit overwhelming at times.
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“Bette Davis Eyes” – Kim Carnes
She’ll turn the music on you
You won’t have to think twice
She’s pure as New York snow
She’s got Bette Davis eyes
Whether you love or loathe Carnes’ raspy vocals on this song (which won Record of the Year at the 1981 Grammys, by the way), you’ve got to admit that this song further cemented Bette Davis and that sultry gaze of hers in our pop culture. Interesting fact: Davis’ large peepers were caused by a mild form of Grave’s disease, in which an overactive thyroid causes one’s eyes to bulge.
“You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” – Meat Loaf
And then you took the words right out of my mouth
Oh, it must have been while you were kissing me
You took the words right out of my mouth
And I swear it’s true
I was just about to say I love you
Before Meat Loaf (born Martin Lee Aday) became the obscenity-spewing human whirlwind on “The Apprentice,” he enjoyed his celebrity as a rocker and sometimes actor. “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” might be his biggest claim to fame, but “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” is just as lyrically pleasing—not to mention a whole lot shorter.
Won’t you wear my ring around your neck
To tell the world I’m yours, by heck
Let them know I love you so
And let them know by the ring around your neck
This song might not be as well known as some of Elvis’ other hits, but it does remind us of a time when the symbol of “going steady” was a guy’s class ring dangling from his girl’s necklace. You’ve also gotta love that “heck” rhymes with “neck” in this verse. Wonder what Elvis would have thought about today’s song lyrics?
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“Stomach vs. Heart” – Barenaked Ladies
I gained all this weight out of love, not hate
I’ve got so much love to give (give me a break!)
I’d love to sleep in late, but that dessert looks great.
Was it something I said or was it some I ate?
Leave it to BNL to take on two major organs in one song. Sure, it’s yet another take on the heartbroken love song, but kudos to the band for rhyming “gratification” with “constipation”…
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“Fat-Bottomed Girls” – Queen
Fat-bottomed girls you make the rockin’ world go round
Freddie Mercury wasn’t singing about the robust rump of Kim Kardashian, but perhaps this fun little ditty–along with Sir Mix-a-lot’s “Baby Got Back”–was a foretelling of society’s obsession with curvaceous women.
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“Legs” – ZZ Top
She’s got legs, she knows how to use them
Though you might need eye bleach after a glimpse of those down-to-there goatees, you had to hand it to ZZ Top for writing a song about gams to last for the ages. Feminists called foul, while the clever ad campaign behind L’eggs Sheer Energy found the perfect song for their commercial during the 1980s.
Now I gotta cut loose, footloose
Kick off the Sunday shoes
Please, Louise, pull me up from my knees
Jack, get back, come on before we crack
Lose your blues, everybody cut footloose
This anthem from the movie (and musical and movie remake) of the same name is about breaking free of society’s mold, but it will forever be associated with Kevin Bacon’s ecstatic dance of teenage repression.
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“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” – Frank Sinatra
I’ve got you under my skin
I’ve got you deep in the heart of me
So deep in my heart that you’re really a part of me
I’ve got you under my skin
“Old Blue Eyes” immortalized the body’s largest organ, using it as a beautiful metaphor to explain how smitten he was with his lady. It’s fitting that this song gives many Sinatra fans goose bumps; his music had a way of getting under people’s skin itself.
Naturally, there’s a bunch of other body-related songs that didn’t make the list. Don’t forget to check out the cool YouTube playlist we put together just for you — lots of fun retro music videos to enjoy!
**What’s your favorite? Leave a comment (keep it clean!), and tell us which song gets to you.
Once upon a time, computers were cool. And then the dot-com bubble burst, and technology became a bad word. Now the industry is making a comeback, with Hollywood and celebrity entrepreneurs leading the way in their glamorous portrayal of the tech world. Check out some tech icons – real and fictional – who are making computer science cool again.
Mark Zuckerberg As if being co-founder, CEO, and president of Facebook weren’t enough, entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg is now immortalized in film. (Yes, we’re talking about “The Social Network.”) The programming prodigy began writing software in middle school, well before his Harvard dorm room days. We’re guessing that the billionaire’s real-life story is not as sensational as the movie makes it seem – but we’re certainly paying attention to computer geeks now.
Chloe Sullivan She wasn’t in the original Superman comics, but on the WB’s “Smallville,” which just finished its 10-year run, Chloe Sullivan (played by Allison Mack) won over even the most hard-core comic book geeks. Chloe was always something of a computer whiz, but once she launched Watchtower as the heroes’ base of operations, she truly became a force to be reckoned with. The erstwhile best-friend-in-the-shadows was transformed by her own techie talents and tenacity. So go ahead and let your geek flag fly.
Stevie Richards Wrestling fans know him as Stevie Richards, but the former ECW, WCW, WWE, and TNA wrestler has been getting his real name – Michael Manna – out there as a tech guru. He founded the T4 Show (Tech Today Tech Tomorrow) to cover the world of technology in a way that’s fun and easy to understand. He became “chief technology evangelist” for PhoneFusion to help the company with phone upgrades and updates. And this past March, the pro wrestler scored some serious geek cred by being the first person to pitch a perfect game in Major League Baseball 2K11. Looks like computer geeks come in all shapes and sizes.
Chuck Bartowski Chuck Bartowski (played by Zachary Levi) is just your average computer whiz – until he opens an encoded e-mail and all the government’s secret info (a neural supercomputer called the Intersect) is embedded into his brain. NBC’s action-comedy series “Chuck” hasn’t necessarily changed the image of the computer geek – the title character is the head of the Nerd Herd at an electronics retail chain, after all – but it does open up lots of inspiring tech career possibilities. Who wouldn’t want to use their IT know-how to become a smokin’ secret agent with a sexy theme song?
Dennis Crowley Lest you think geeks are out of your league, consider the case of Dennis Crowley, co-founder and CEO of Foursquare, the super-successful location-based mobile platform. Back in his days at Syracuse University in the late ‘90s, the wunderkind couldn’t even get into a computer science course. He says he was bad at math, so he ended up teaching himself programming later on – out of a book. So even if you didn’t catch the computer science wave in college, it’s not too late to get started. For Crowley, all it took was a great idea and passion to persevere.
If you’re interested in a tech career, sign up for a few computer science courses to hone your skills. There’s a lot more to learn than just programming languages – you can take courses in computer graphics, artificial intelligence, and gaming, to name just a few. And with technology jobs growing at twice the rate of job growth overall, there’s never been a better time to get your geek on.
What do you love most about summer? For me, it’s the long hours of daylight, lazy days at the beach, and more time with my family. It might surprise you to learn that the very things you love about summer can help you discover a new career passion. If you’re a quintessential summer lover, don’t miss these opportunities to marry your love of the warmer months with your work.
Resort Activities Director
If you love a good vacation – and who doesn’t? – a career in leisure could be your ticket to success. Bring your passion for water sports, cookouts, and luaus to work, along with some planning prowess, and you can get paid to organize and enjoy your favorite summer activities. It’s like working in a land of permanent vacation. Sign me up: In addition to strong leadership, organization, and communication skills, many of these wellness workers have a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation or a similar field, and some hold a master’s degree. Summer lover salary: $25,270
Toy Designer Summer is a time for fun and games, laughter and leisure. And wouldn’t it be great to find work in your play? From card games to board games to Matchbox cars, toys rely on skilled artists to bring them to life. When you bring your big ideas and creative skills to the table as a toy designer, you can count on fun all year long. Sign me up: A bachelor’s degree in toy design or industrial design is a great way to demonstrate your drawing, sculpting, and computer design skills. Summer lover salary: $61,890
Chef
If you enjoy spending summer nights hosting dinner parties for all your friends (no worries about going out on a school night!), sink your teeth into a career in the culinary industry. Chefs are kings of creativity, using knowledge of food as well as artistic license to develop and prepare mouth-watering, crowd-pleasing concoctions. Become a year-round chef and savor the flavors of summer. Sign me up: Culinary school is the place to go to become a well-seasoned chef; a bachelor’s degree and oodles of kitchen experience can help you make it to the top. Summer lover salary: $44,780
Solar Photovoltaic Installer
Summer is all about the sun – and what better place to harness the power of the sun than the solar industry itself? Solar PV installers get to work with their hands in the great outdoors, enjoy the warm sunshine all day long, and know that the work they do is helping save the planet. Plus, they get to climb on roofs. What’s more summery than that?
Sign me up: A background in construction is valuable in this trade, as is roofing experience and knowledge of electricity. An associate degree in renewable energy technology can be especially helpful.
Summer lover salary: $33,980
Teacher Teaching is the ultimate career for summer lovers – because teachers don’t have to work in the summer! Don’t think you’re getting a free pass, though. As any teacher will attest, you will work your butt off for 10 months to get those precious two months of freedom. It’s a hard-earned reward, but if you love the summer (and teaching), it can be worth it. Sign me up: You need a bachelor’s degree in education and a state license to teach, though some states will let you work with a bachelor’s degree in another field. Summer lover salary: $54,330
Criminal justice careers aren’t as glamorous as they look on TV. In real life, crimes go unsolved, operations get botched, and there’s more paper getting pushed around than perps.
But sometimes the puzzle pieces fall perfectly into place and the outcome is even more exciting than an episode of “CSI” – like the recent bin Laden raid.
If watching the news these days makes you want to jump into the field of justice, you’re in luck. The successful operation in Pakistan and the years of hard work leading up to it reveal clues about what you need to succeed in a criminal justice career.
Patience. On TV, the cops get the bad guys and justice is served. Mission accomplished. In real life… not so much. Think about all the people involved in the hunt for bin Laden – the NSA, the CIA, the DOD, etc., etc. From intelligence officers to military strategists to ground combatants, this mission took more of a toll than anyone thought possible. Ten years is a long time to wait for justice to be served.
Critical thinking. Which brings us to an essential question, particularly if you’re considering a criminal justice career: What is justice? No, it’s not a trick question – and there’s no easy answer. A great deal of criminal justice work requires that you analyze a variety of scenarios and solutions, since dealing with naturally unpredictable human beings is not a black-and-white affair. While many Americans are celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden, for example, a friend of mine who works as a New York City police officer for counterterrorism doesn’t see the killing of bin Laden as a good thing, given the prospect of an al Qaeda retaliation. In real life, killing the bad guy doesn’t necessarily solve all the problems. How will you handle that reality?
Perseverance. In just about any career, you’ve got to start at the bottom, and criminal justice is no exception. So if you’ve got your heart set on becoming a detective or working undercover, plan on spending some time as a patrol officer first. You’ll need law enforcement experience as well as a degree in criminal justice or a related field if you want to advance to the coveted professions, particularly those at the federal level. I guarantee that those behind the final bin Laden operation were not rookies.
Technological know-how. As InformationWeek editor John Foley put it, “A bullet killed Osama bin Laden, but U.S. intelligence is what did him in.” You need to know your way around a computer in just about any criminal justice career, and the techie stakes are especially high when you’re working in intelligence or counterterrorism. New surveillance technologies and IT architectures facilitate information sharing, and you’ve got to be savvy enough to utilize the technology effectively. When you enroll in a criminal justice degree program, you can get hands-on training with relevant technology to help you stay competitive in the field.
If you’re just getting started in a criminal justice career, chances are you won’t be involved in such a high-profile operation as the Osama bin Laden mission. Still, you can be a pivotal player in safeguarding the freedom of your community and your country. Do you have what it takes to succeed in a criminal justice career?
Don’t you love when spring is in full bloom? The sun shines a little brighter, the grass grows a little greener, and our time enjoying the beautiful outdoors lasts a lot longer. This season, why not celebrate your love for our land by digging into a green career? Take a look at these up-and-coming eco-friendly careers, and get inspired.
Green career:Water Resource Specialist
Green job description: If you want to protect one of our most precious natural resources – H2O – this is the green job for you. This fast-growing career involves designing or implementing programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance.
Green degree requirements: There are quite a few master’s degree programs in water resources engineering coming down the pike, covering all aspects of fluid mechanics, hydrology, water quality management, and geomorphology. Why not jump into this environmental protection career with both feet?
Green career: Energy Engineer
Green job description: Energy engineering is all about designing, developing, and evaluating energy-related projects and programs to reduce energy costs and boost energy efficiency during the designing, building, and remodeling stages of construction. These green jobs run the gamut from HVAC and electrical systems to air quality and energy procurement.
Green degree requirements: Get into this green career with an engineering degree, which will give you a solid foundation in physics, chemistry, math, and electrical and mechanical engineering. Go a step further and specialize in renewable energy engineering, which includes courses such as photovoltaics, wind power, biofuels, green building, and more.
Green career:Forest and Conservation Technician
Green job description: If you want to get your hands dirty and crunch numbers at the same time, this green job could fit you like a glove. These green workers compile data on the size, content, and condition of natural lands, doing everything from measuring timber and tracking wildlife movement to assisting in road building operations and locating property lines and features.
Green degree requirements: Your best bet for becoming a forest tech is to get an associate degree or a certificate in applied science or science-related technology. In a good green program, you’ll learn how to gather data on water and soil quality, disease and insect damage to trees and other plants, and conditions that may pose a fire hazard.
Green career:Wind Turbine Service Technician
Green job description: The wind energy industry in the U.S. is relatively young, but sources are already reporting a shortage of trained wind techs. Wind techs inspect, maintain, and repair complex wind turbines, working on behalf of the original equipment manufacturer or an outside company that specializes in turbine maintenance.
Green degree requirements: Head to a community college or technical school to enroll in a certificate or associate degree program in wind turbine maintenance. You’ll learn basic turbine design, diagnostics, control and monitoring systems, and basic turbine repair. You can also get hands-on training with the school’s turbines and machinery.
Whether you’re working toward a career that directly benefits the environment and conserves natural resources or a career with just a touch of green, remember that all eco-minded efforts make a difference.
Donning that cap and gown soon? Here’s another reason to smile: Your chance of getting hired is greater than those who earned their degrees last year.
The good news comes from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, whose recent survey found that employers plan to hire 21 percent more recent college graduates this year than they did in spring 2010. That’s up from a 13.5 percent increase in college hiring that employers said back in August they expected.
Maybe you’re seeing more recruiters on campus, a sign of hiring activity. And if you get an offer, it might be more than your friends were being offered last year. Pay is rising, with the average salary for all 2011 graduates at $50,462, up 5.9 percent from last year, according to NACE’s Spring 2011 Salary Survey.
Engineering majors are going to have a better chance of finding a high-paying job upon graduation. The National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Spring 2011 Salary Survey reported that the 10 top-paid majors for the class of 2011 were:
Chemical engineering
Average salary offer: $66,886
Computer engineering
Average salary offer: $60,112
Industrial/manufacturing engineering
Average salary offer: $58,549
Systems engineering
Average salary offer: $57,497
Engineering technology
Average salary offer: $57,176
Information sciences & systems
Average salary offer: $56,868
Business systems networking/telecommunications
Average salary offer: $56,808
Now that you’ve gotten the encouraging news, do something about it! Pursue jobs and network with potential employees knowing that many are on the lookout for well-educated workers to help their companies grow.
Here’s the funny thing about the nursing profession: with three very different education paths to take, you’ll end up with the same job no matter which one you choose. Whether you earn a diploma in nursing, an associate degree in nursing (ADN), or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), once you pass the National Certification Licensing Examination (NCLEX), you can become an RN. Are all nursing education paths equal?
“The BSN is better.”
The American Nurses Association, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Organization of Nurse Executives, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching say no. In line with its latest nursing education study, the Carnegie Foundation recommends that the BSN become the entry-level qualification for nurses – no nursing diploma or ADN program options in sight. And, similar to teachers, RNs should be required to earn a master’s degree within 10 years of licensure.
With more than 60 percent of new nurses being educated at community colleges, pro-BSN professionals say this translates into the lion’s share of nurses being less qualified for advanced education opportunities. All of the advanced practice nursing specialties – clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners – require a master of science in nursing (MSN) for entry. And perhaps more to the point, without an MSN, a nurse cannot move into a faculty position – a key issue, given that nursing school applicants are being turned away because of the nursing faculty shortage, which in turn perpetuates the nursing shortage.
In addition, these nursing organizations cite research that shows that lower patient mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and positive care outcomes are linked to nurses trained at the BSN and MSN levels.
“The ADN is essential.” The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and the National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing take a decidedly different stance. In a recent policy brief, the AACC contends that both ADN and BSN programs teach students the competencies necessary to become an RN, as demonstrated by comparable pass rates on the NCLEX as well as hiring statistics. Plus, ADN programs educate the majority of RNs in rural settings, and they also provide the greatest number of minority RNs. Minorities in nursing are instrumental when it comes to understanding and addressing the care needs of our diverse population.
These nursing organizations also point out the lack of a valid correlation between nursing education level and patient outcomes. In other words, a bigger degree does not necessarily make a better nurse.
What’s a nurse to do?
Is advanced nursing education valuable for its own sake? Will you be a better nurse if you get a bachelor’s degree instead of an associate degree?
Obviously, there are no easy answers, but whichever nursing education program you’re leaning toward, there are a few key considerations to factor into your decision. Make sure the program is accredited, and that the NCLEX pass rate is high. If you choose an ADN program, look for a community college that has an articulation agreement with a four-year nursing school so that you can seamlessly transition into a BSN program if you choose. Look into RN-to-BSN programs… or bypass the BSN altogether by enrolling in an RN-to-MSN program. You might even be able to get tuition assistance if you continue your nursing education after you become an RN.
For now, you can still choose your own nursing education adventure – so choose wisely!
The CollegeSurfing Insider is here to tackle some common career education questions, debunk career school myths, and share unique insights about various professions. Consider us your bloggin’ classmate!
