Most Popular College Majors

Deciding on a major is one of those tough choices college students face. Mainly because it is an important one, as changing majors can cost lots of time and money.

Many newer students are unsure about their futures, making the most popular major for incoming freshmen being “undecided”.

degree

This is mainly because many College students do not have any idea of what they want to do after college. This is why you will see some students take general recommended classes and other prerequisites first, to get them out of the way.

The most popular majors fall into the categories of business, social science and education.

Top 10 Majors:

  1. Business – Business Administration and Management is the most popular selected major. Business also includes finance, marketing, and accounting, which has a high demand right out of college. This can get you good paying job right from the start, especially with a business degree from a top business school.
  2. Social Sciences and History – This includes anthropology, economics, geography, sociology and political science.
  3. Education – Elementary Education is the most popular, as many of these majors go on to be K-12 classroom teachers.
  4. Psychology – There seems to be two types of Psych majors. Those who are really into psych and those who see psych as an easy major and therefore an easy way to graduation. Many psych majors don’t technically go on to work in the psych field, but other related careers where the skills of such major can come in handy (ex: human resources, public relations, market research and sales).
  5. Nursing – The nursing field is competitive, and some programs may have wait lists. However, you are pretty much guaranteed a job when majoring in nursing due to the severe shortage of nurses.
  6. Communications – also includes journalism, communications is one of the fastest growing majors in College.
  7. Biology – Biology majors do a lot of research and development and work in a laboratory or the field. Common employers of biology majors include: hospitals, national & state parks, universities, pharmaceutical companies, research firms, aquariums and zoos.
  8. Engineering – A major that usually produces a high salaried job from the start. But, plan on taking very aggressive math and science courses with this major.
  9. English – An English major can be involved in copywriting, editing and teaching, but not just limited to that. Also a good gateway degree to graduate school, or law school.
  10. Computer Science – A highly technical field involving a lot of advanced math and computer courses. Though, many universities have seen sharp drops in their computer science majors.

One thing to remember is your career will not always be related to your college major, but it can help prepare you for a career.

source: campusgrotto.com

click here for more salary information

Career of the week: Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical Engineers: Career, Salary and Education Information

Career Profile: What do Biomedical Engineers do?
Biomedical engineers combine biology, medicine, and engineering and use advanced knowledge of engineering and science to solve medical and health-related problems. Biomedical engineers design massive MRI machines along with the microscopic machines used in surgery. They research and develop prostheses, evaluate the use of artificial organs, and improve instrumentation used in hospitals and clinics.

An increasing demand for cost-effective medical products should boost the demand for biomedical engineers, particularly those working in pharmaceutical manufacturing and research. The best job prospects are expected for biomedical engineers with master’s degrees in the field.

A Day in the Life of a Biomedical Engineer
Working in teams, either with other engineers or with research or manufacturing professionals, biomedical engineers create the specialized products that save lives and make patients safer and more comfortable. Many biomedical engineers are in research, assisting life scientists, chemists, and other scientists to develop and evaluate medical systems and products.

A sophisticated level of scientific and technical knowledge is required for biomedical engineers, who bridge the gap between medicine and engineering. Attention to detail is another important skill, along with communication and team ability.

Biomedical Engineer Training and Education
A bachelor’s degree is the first step for engineers because most careers in the field require the degree as an entry level requirement. Biomedical engineers often combine formal training in mechanical and electronics engineering with focused biomedical training to operate confidently in the field. Unlike many engineering fields, many entry-level biomedical engineers hold a master’s degree.

Some schools provide undergraduate degrees in biomedical engineering and ypical coursework includes instruction in neuroengineering fundamentals; biofluid mechanics; engineering electrophysiology; diagnostic imaging physics; and drug design, development, and delivery. In addition to core courses, students can take electives related to their ultimate career goals.

Biomedical Engineer Employment & Outlook
Of the 14,000 biomedical engineers employed nationwide, most are employed in medical equipment and supplies manufacturing. Other large employing groups include pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, scientific and research development services, and general medical and surgical hospitals.

Although some engineering specialties are expected to rise slowly or even decline in the coming years, biomedical engineers should see growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 21 percent growth for biomedical engineers, with an estimated 3,000 new careers created in the industry through 2016. The demand for increasingly sophisticated medical devices is behind the predicted employment increase.

Biomedical Engineer Salary
Biomedical engineers saw mean annual earnings of $79,610 in 2007, according to the BLS. Those working in medical equipment and supplies manufacturing saw slightly higher salaries, at $81,950, while those working in scientific research and development earned $92,870. Careers with the most competition often require applicants to have a master’s degree.

source: collegegrad.com

click here for more salary information

Inaccuracies in Numbers of New Jobs Created

a

Two more Census workers blow the whistle by John Crudele

You know the old saying: “Everyone loves a charade.” Well, it seems that the Census Bureau may be playing games.

Last week, one of the millions of workers hired by Census 2010 to parade around the country counting Americans blew the whistle on some statistical tricks.

The worker, Naomi Cohn, told The Post that she was hired and fired a number of times by Census. Each time she was hired back, it seems, Census was able to report the creation of a new job to the Labor Department.

Below, I have a couple more readers who worked for Census 2010 and have tales to tell.

But first, this much we know.

Each month Census gives Labor a figure on the number of workers it has hired. That figure goes into the closely followed monthly employment report Labor provides. For the past two months the hiring by Census has made up a good portion of the new jobs.

Labor doesn’t check the Census hiring figure or whether the jobs are actually new or recycled. It considers a new job to have been created if someone is hired to work at least one hour a month.

One hour! A month! So, if a worker is terminated after only one hour and another is hired in her place, then a second new job can apparently be reported to Labor . (I’ve been unable to get Census to explain this to me.)

Here’s a note from a Census worker — this one from Manhattan:

“John: I am on my fourth rehire with the 2010 Census.

“I have been hired, trained for a week, given a few hours of work, then laid off. So my unemployed self now counts for four new jobs.

“I have been paid more to train all four times than I have been paid to actually produce results. These are my tax dollars and your tax dollars at work.

“A few months ago I was trained for three days and offered five hours of work counting the homeless. Now, I am knocking (on) doors trying to find the people that have not returned their Census forms. I worked the 2000 Census. It was a far more organized venture.

“Have to run and meet my crew leader, even though with this rain I did not work today. So I can put in a pay sheet for the hour or hour and a half this meeting will take. Sincerely, C.M.”

And here’s another:

“John: I worked for (Census) and I was paid $18.75 (an hour) just like Ms. Naomi Cohn from your article.

“I worked for about six weeks or so and I picked the hours I wanted to work. I was checking the work of others. While I was classifying addresses, another junior supervisor was checking my work.

“In short, we had a “checkers checking checkers” quality control. I was eventually let go and was told all the work was finished when, in fact, other people were being trained for the same assignment(s).

“I was re-hired about eight months later and was informed that I would have to go through one week of additional training.

“On the third day of training, I got sick and visited my doctor. I called my supervisor and asked how I can make up the class. She informed me that I was ‘terminated.’ She elaborated that she had to terminate three other people for being five minutes late to class.

“I did get two days’ pay and I am sure the ‘late people’ got paid also. I think you would concur that this is an expensive way to attempt to control sickness plus lateness. I am totally convinced that the Census work could be very easily done by the US Postal Service.

“When I was trying to look for an address or had a question about a building, I would ask the postman on the beat. They knew the history of the route and can expand in detail who moved in or out etc. I have found it interesting that if someone works one hour, they are included in the labor statistics as a new job being full.

“I am not surprised that you can’t get any answers from Census staff; I found there were very few people who knew the big picture. M.G.”

When I received my Census form in the mail, I filled it out. Nobody had to knock on my door.

I answered truthfully about the number of people living in my household. But I could have just as easily dou bled the number. Why not? Didn’t Census ad vertisements imply that my community would get more federal money if the popula tion were larger?

I’m glad people are finding work with the Census. For some it’s the only work they have had this year and the chump change they are making for a few hours’ work is a godsend.

But wasting taxpayers’ money on busywork isn’t going to do much for the economy.

source: nypost

click here for more salary information