Five Degrees for a Recessionary Economy
Higher Education Articles November 26, 2012What type of degrees can protect you during a recession? There are terrific news for you – there are careers that boom during a recession. In this article, we will take a look at five degrees you could pursue during a scary recession.
Associate Degree in IT and Information Systems
With Information technology (IT) an integral part of our life, an associate degree in IT and information systems will hone the skills that can assist a tech-savvy professional future. It typically requires about two years to complete an associate degree program in IT and information systems. Coursework includes networking, computer science, engineering and statistics among others. A career path you could potentially pursue is computer support specialist with an average annual salary of $49,930 and a projected job growth rate of fourteen percent between 2008 and 2018.
Associate Degree in Accounting
This degree is in high demand by recruiters and you could pave your career path in several positions that would require you to record and report financial transactions. You would normally need around two years to complete an associate degree program in accounting. Coursework includes auditing, tax regulations, fraud investigation and accounting systems. A career path you could potentially pursue is bookkeeping with an average annual salary of $35,340 and a projected job growth rate of ten percent between 2008 and 2018.
Pharmacy Technician Certification Program
This is a career-specific program you can choose if you look forward to a career as a pharmacist technician. This is a great return on investment as it doesn’t take as much time to complete as an associate or bachelor degree program. It normally takes about a year to complete a pharmacy technician certification program. Coursework includes inventory management, drug interactions and pharmaceutical terminology. This is a lucrative career to pursue attracting an average annual salary of $29,330 and a projected job growth rate of thirty-one percent between 2008 and 2018.
Certification in Dental Assisting
This is an attractive career option as it is a rapidly growing field. This is particularly attractive because it doesn’t take as much time to complete compared to an associate or bachelor degree program. The certification in dental assisting generally takes around one year to complete. A career as a dental assistant is extremely lucrative and attracts an average annual salary of $34,140 along with a projected job growth rate of thirty-six percent between 2008 and 2018.
Certificate in Medical Assisting
Health care is among the hottest fields with the demand for medical assistants, nurses and doctors showing no sign of abating. A certificate in medical assisting has great value and does not take much time to complete compared to an associate or bachelor degree program. It normally takes a year to complete a certification in medical assisting. Coursework includes insurance processing, medical transcription, physiology and anatomy. A career in medical assistant is immensely satisfying and can earn you an average annual salary of $29,760 and has a projected job growth rate of thirty-four percent between 2008 and 2018.
(Source of average earnings and job growth statistics: U.S. Department of Labor, May 2010).