OPTIONS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

Topic A: Careers

Options after High School

On average, you will earn almost twice as much in your lifetime with a college degree than with only a high school diploma. Well-prepared high school graduates will make almost twice as much in their life as a high school dropout.

Think about it. It’s your life.

Options after High School

Work Attend a Vocational or Trade Program Earn a 2-year Degree at a Community

College Attend a 4-year College or University Enlist in the U.S. Military

Work

While there are some high-paying jobs available with just a high school education, this is not the norm. Most available jobs will be found in the service industry. According to the US Census Bureau, the average annual earnings for a worker with a high school diploma are $30,400 per year. These earnings may be higher or lower depending on your location and personal situation.

Vocational or Trade Program

The primary goal of vocational education is to prepare one for employment. Vocational education is typically provided by a local community college or an institute of technology. Vocational education is much more diverse now than in the past. You will find programs in retail, funeral services, information technology, and tourism, to name a few.

Vocational or Trade Program

Some vocational programs prepare students for manufacturing jobs. There are also trade and industry programs, such as construction, mechanics and repair, precision production, and transportation and material moving. Vocational programs that prepare students for jobs in the services and information industries include health care and technology and communications. Vocational programs vary in length depending on the course of study.

College

Associate’s Degree (2 years)Bachelor’s Degree (4 years) UndergradMaster’s Degree (Bachelor’s + 2 years)

GraduatePh.D (Master’s Degree +)

College - Associate

An associate degree is an academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, and business colleges. Your studies usually last two years or through the completion of 60 credit hours. There are two main types of Associate Degrees. The Associate Degree of Arts is a degree that focuses on individual studies, social sciences, or the humanities. The Associate Degree of Science focuses on studies in math, science or technology.

College - Associate

There are two types of associate degrees – transfer degrees and career or professional degrees. The transfer degree is the foundation of a bachelor’s degree. The student completes all of the general education requirements before transferring to a four year college or university. The career or professional degree is awarded as an Associate of Applied Science degree. The general education requirements are relaxed and the course work in their program is increased. This degree is for those who want to enter the work force right after graduating.

College - Associate

Certificates can earned for specific studies. Most certificate programs can be completed

in one year or less.Many students choose to attend a 2-year

college part time. This means your associate degree will take more than two years to complete. To accommodate all lifestyles, most community colleges offer courses during evenings, weekends, and online.

College - Associate

Attending a community college is far less expensive than attending a 4-year college or university.

Those earning an associates degree have average annual earnings of $38,200, according to the US Census Bureau.

College - Bachelor

Bachelors’ degrees typically require four years of full-time study. Some programs (such as Engineering) can take five years. The most common undergraduate degrees are the Bachelor of Arts (B.A., A.B.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.S., B.Sc.). The Bachelor of Arts usually requires the majority of your courses to be in the arts – humanities, social sciences, music, or fine arts. The Bachelor of Science requires the majority of your courses to be in the sciences – life sciences, physical sciences, or mathematics.

College - Bachelor

A bachelor’s degree is granted after earning 120-128 credits. Most universities will allow the transfer of up to 60 credits from a community college.

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must select a major. Students will complete a required number of courses within their major in order to graduate with a degree in that major. They may also have to complete a number of courses in related fields to satisfy other requirements. Students must also complete general education requirements.

College - Bachelor

Those earning a bachelor’s degree have average annual earnings of $52,200, according to the US Census Bureau.

College – Masters

Earning a master’s degree can help you advance in your career, change your career or move up on your career's pay scale. Programs are available at colleges and universities. It is possible to earn a master's degree entirely online, entirely on a campus or through a combination of both formats.

College - Masters

There are master's degrees in every subject. The basic division is between Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS), just as a bachelor's come in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. The name depends more on the program and the university then on subject matter. The MA and MS degrees cover arts and sciences topics like chemistry, English, biology and anthropology. There are also Masters of Education, Divinity, Criminal Justice, Architecture, Engineering, Business Administration and Library and Information Sciences.

College - Masters

Master's degree programs typically take around two years to complete. Factors that influence the length of the program include whether the program has a year-round or nine-month calendar, if the program has special research (for the sciences) or practicum (for education and social work) requirements and whether students go full or part time.

College - Masters

For anyone who wants to get a doctoral degree and to be qualified to teach at the university level, a master's degree is required. Master's degrees are also helpful in most other fields, either for advancement to supervisor positions or for earning more pay, or both. Teachers, for example, automatically move up several pay scales upon receiving their master's degrees and can be (depending on the specific master's degree conferred) eligible to become principals.

College – Doctoral

A doctorate degree is one of the highest levels of formal education anyone can achieve. The types of degrees, as well as the titles and benefits that come with them, differ depending on the university, program and subject.

College - Doctoral

To obtain a doctorate degree, students typically must have a both a bachelor's and master's degree in the desired subject. According to the University of Texas, a doctorate degree "is generally a five- to eight-year program designed to build upon the comprehensive knowledge achieved at the master's level."

Professors at the university level with tenure are usually required to hold a doctorate degree in the subject they teach.

College - Doctoral

The M.D., or doctor of medicine, is one of the most well-known types of doctorate degrees. Others include the Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy), J.S.D. (doctor of the science of law), and D.M.A. (doctor of musical arts).

College - Doctoral

Most career fields offer a higher salary to an individual that holds a relevant doctorate degree. According to the Census Bureau, workers with a master's degree earned an average salary of $70,559 in 2007, while workers with a doctoral degree received an average of $95,785--a 35 percent difference.

A doctorate degree indicates a level of expertise that frequently opens more doors for workers to advance in their field.

Military

Branches Air Force Army Coast Guard Marines Navy

Military – Air Force

The Air Force has the most sophisticated and advanced aircraft in the world. They have the best-trained pilots, ground crews, and support personnel. The Air Force ensures air superiority and support for missions undertaken by the U.S. Military.

Military - Army

The Army is the most powerful ground force in the entire world. The United States Army supports the interests of the United State and upholds the U.S. Constitution.

Military – Coast Guard

The Coast Guard protects our coasts and waterways. The Coast Guard performs a variety of critical missions. These include Maritime Safety, Mobility and Security, National Defense, and the Protection of Natural Resources.

Military - Marines

The Marine Corps is the smallest, most dynamic force in the military.It is also the only forward-deployed force with operations by air, land, and sea.

Military - Navy

The Navy is the largest and most powerful naval force in the world. It is handles operations both on and under the sea, in the air, and on the ground, anywhere around the world.

Military

There are thousands of Military jobs available in 142 different career occupations. 88% of Military jobs have direct civilian counterparts. Along with the training received in the Military, there are additional educational opportunities available. These opportunities include Tuition Support Programs, Credit Programs, Military Colleges, Reserve Officer Training Corps, Service Academies, and Officer Candidate Schools.

Military - Options

Active Duty (Full-time) All Branches

National Guard (Part-time, State) Air National Guard Army National Guard Coast Guard

National Reserves (Part-Time, Federal government) All Branches