A School Counseling and Guidance Degree is a graduate degree that allows students to work in education as guidance counselors or pursue other avenues in counseling, psychology, social work, or related fields. Student coursework focuses on mental health and educational systems. According to Alliant University, some states allow students to hold Bachelor’s Degrees with additional graduate-level credits to work in school counseling, but most states require a Master’s Degree specifically for school counseling and guidance. Counselors must be licensed to practice in their specific state and school. Because requirements can vary, check with the school of your choice for more information.
When seeking a School Counseling and Guidance Degree, military spouse tuition assistance programs help military spouses (and sometimes dependent children) pay for their education, whether they are in the U.S. or stationed elsewhere in the world.
All military branches once offered programs following Spouse Tuition Assistance (STAP) guidelines or created something similar. Today, individuals and organizations use the term STAP interchangeably to describe various offerings by military relief organizations, but the programs can differ.
STAP now refers to the education benefits offered by military aid societies, many of which the U.S. military branches and the federal government do not run. Instead, they are private, nonprofit organizations, and what they provide varies.
These organizations include:
The workforce development program MyCAA, formally known as the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship, provides financial assistance of up to $4,000 ($2,000 over two years) to eligible military spouses pursuing or maintaining a Science Teacher Degree, certification, or license.
As long as an individual meets the requirements, MyCAA will pay for spouses pursuing any occupation or career.
Neuroscience is the scientific study of nervous systems. A Degree in Neuroscience is interdisciplinary and includes studies in fields including:
A Degree in Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary education that focuses on understanding cities, towns, urban life, economics, and all the related social complexities.
If you’re interested in becoming an art teacher, you’ll need to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education, a Bachelor’s in Art, or a Bachelor’s in Education with a major in art appreciation or history, drawing, ceramics, graphic, or visual arts. Different states have different requirements for Art Teacher Degrees, but they all require that graduates take certification or licensing exams to teach in public schools. Private schools have no such requirements but may prefer their teachers to have certification regardless. Master's and PhD Degree holders may teach at the university level or work in other high-level art-related careers.
A student earning a Financial Crime Degree learns about the various aspects of financial wrongdoing. This program usually covers fraud examination, forensic accounting, and regulatory compliance through data analysis and investigative research. Financial crime (“white collar crime”) involves fraudulent or dishonest behavior for personal financial gain. Crimes that fall under this category include:
According to Florida State University, a Management Information Systems (MIS) Degree gives students an education in business and technology, allowing them to find jobs where they manage the design and development of systems for various organizations. While Information Science Degrees also blend business and technology, they place emphasis on technology. MIS coursework is also a mix of these topics but with more of a business focus. Students learn business processes and functions relating to information systems and how to use technology to create organizational solutions and growth.
An IT Management Degree allows students to bridge the gap between business and tech, blending core IT subjects like networking and cybersecurity with business administration elements like project management and finance. IT professionals of all kinds are in demand as businesses rely more and more on technology for everyday operations and strategic growth. An IT management degree prepares students with the know-how to manage complex IT systems and meet an organization's needs and challenges.
A speech and communication degree is obtained by studying verbal and written communication. Depending on the university, rhetoric and speech are often paired as majors, as are communications and speech and speech and writing. Rhetoric adds the study of visuals, such as images and film, to this major. According to Duquesne University, students majoring in speech learn argumentation and persuasion and their effect on areas like free speech, pop culture, religion, and politics, among others. Speech programs attempt to entertain, inform, motivate, and/or persuade the listener. Students who graduate with this degree can find jobs in many industries, such as law, advertising, public policy, business, and corporate affairs.
The academic field of statistics focuses on the analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data collection. Students seeking a Statistics Degree learn to design experiments, gather data, and apply various techniques to draw conclusions on their collected data. According to the University of Michigan, coursework typically covers topics like applied statistics, statistical theory, and computational statistics. Students also have the choice of elective courses that cover certain statistical techniques or focus on research areas where statistical analysis is frequently used. Statistics majors then apply the skills they’ve learned for careers in many industries, including finance, government, public policy, and healthcare. They may also go on to earn Master’s or Doctoral Degrees.
A degree in veterinary technology can open doors to a career helping animals and their people. Job opportunities in both the public and private sectors can be found across all 50 states and overseas in organizations such as:
Occupational therapists (OTs) treat injured, ill, and disabled patients from infancy through older age. OTs help patients develop, recover, improve, and maintain skills needed for daily living and working. This is accomplished through the therapeutic use of everyday activities, adaptive skills, and supportive devices. A long-term career as an OT may require a graduate-level education. Students may choose occupational therapy as a major from the start of their education, enter it during their graduate-level study, or take a bridge program from their current career as certified occupational therapy assistants.
| Nursing care facilities | $91,000 |
| Home healthcare services | $89,000 |
| Medical offices | $87,000 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $86,000 |
| Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | $75,000 |
Medical assistant jobs span a variety of opportunities including private sector jobs, government employment, and even opportunities with nonprofits and outreach programs. A medical assistant degree can be found as an associate or bachelor’s program. There are also medical assistant postsecondary certificates that can get students and job seekers working in the medical field almost immediately. As with most jobs, pay will be commensurate with experience and education.
Physical therapy jobs span a variety of opportunities, from public service to private sector jobs. There are also non-traditional opportunities, such as non-profits and self-employment.
An associate's degree and an education as an occupational therapy assistant can open doors to a new career. Occupational therapy assistant jobs span a variety of opportunities including private sector jobs, government employment, and even opportunities with non-profits and outreach programs. To become an occupational therapy assistant, students start off in an approved associate or bachelor’s degree program. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates employment opportunities for occupational therapy assistant will grow 31 percent over the next decade! This is much faster than the average for all occupations. This career growth is due in part to the aging of the Baby Boomer generation and occupational therapy becoming an integral part of treatment for various illnesses and disabilities. A career as an occupational therapy assistant is especially great career path for military spouses, as they are certain to secure excellent job opportunities across their many moves. Don’t forget about the MyCAA Program for military spouses; for more info click here.
Looking for an altruistic job helping people? A degree and career in psychology may be right for you. Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Most clinical, counseling, and research psychologists need a doctoral degree. Psychologists in clinical practice need a license. A master’s degree may be sufficient for school and industrial organizational positions.
