After completing high school, young adults have several paths they could follow, each of which can lead to varied career opportunities. One option is to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers seven Bachelor of Science degree programs that can help students become well-positioned to pursue a lucrative and rewarding career after graduation.
Increase career opportunities
Earning a bachelor’s degree is generally regarded as a smart way to improve your career opportunities. More than four in five 20- to 24-year-olds who have a bachelor’s or higher degree were employed in 2016, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Meanwhile, just 72 percent of people in the same age group who had a high school diploma and 57 percent of those who didn’t complete high school were employed.
Employers may view job candidates with bachelor’s degrees as more qualified for a particular position because they’ve proven that they can learn new concepts and have focused on learning specific skills needed for a particular industry.
In some cases, bachelor’s degrees are becoming more important for job candidates, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Professionals working as network and computer systems administrators have seen this trend develop in recent years. In 2015-2016, the majority of administrators aged 25 years or older didn’t have a bachelor’s degree. Today, most employers say they’re looking for job candidates who have reached this education level.
Business is the most popular field of study for bachelor’s degree holders, with 371,694 conferred in the 2015-2016 school year, according to the NCES. Business offers many lucrative opportunities to graduates with this degree, according to the BLS. Some fields with large percentages of professionals who have a bachelor’s degree in business include:
- Accounting and auditing
- Customer service
- Financial management
- Marketing and sales management
- Manufacturing and sales
Earning an undergraduate degree online through the Collat School of Business at the University of Alabama at Birmingham can help future professionals start their careers in these fields and many more. Bachelor of Science career pathways can also include human resources, industrial distribution, information systems, and more. The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers online Bachelor of Science degrees in each of these fields.
Access helpful career services
In addition to offering high-quality degree programs, the University of Alabama at Birmingham provides valuable services to help students position themselves in the job market.
The HireABlazer network gives students the ability to seek out internships, part-time jobs, on-campus jobs, and full-time, career-related opportunities. Students can create profiles detailing their education, expertise, and interests. A completed profile makes it easy for users to connect with potential employers and apply to positions. Online students have the same access to HireABlazer as on-campus students.
HireABlazer encourages employers to build out profiles, too. When they do, their profile will be reviewed and approved before students can see job postings. Approved employers can connect with students, post jobs, or attend job fairs or other campus recruiting events.
Career Services also provides helpful resources, like assistance with building a resume, practice interviews, and career consulting. Online students can reach out to consultants or advisors via email or phone, and are also welcome on campus.
Peer Career Advisors are another helpful resource. These fellow students are trained and supervised paraprofessionals who want to assist their peers in preparing for their careers. They will review resumes and offer critiques, help develop job searching strategies, and conduct practice interviews. They’ll also talk about other options, like graduate school and seeking out internships.
Prepare for continuing education
Though there are plenty of Bachelor of Science career opportunities, some graduates choose to pursue further education before entering the job market full time. A bachelor’s degree can give you a solid foundation to support you in graduate school. In addition to the seven online Bachelor of Science degree programs offered through the University of Alabama at Birmingham, there are also three valuable master’s degree programs available through the Collat School of Business:
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Accounting
- Master of Science in Management Information Systems
Students who complete their online Bachelor of Science degree may consider any of these programs. After completing a bachelor’s degree through the Collat School of Business, students will be well-prepared to begin a master’s degree program, not only in terms of what they’ve learned, but also because they’ll have familiarity with how their online courses will be held.
It’s not required to earn a bachelor’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to begin working toward one of these master’s degrees. In fact, the master’s degree programs offered online through the Collat School of Business appeal to many people throughout the country and around the world.
Earning an online Bachelor of Science degree at the Collat School of Business
Graduates of the University of Alabama at Birmingham often find they have access to plenty of Bachelor of Science career opportunities after they finish their degree. There are many benefits of a bachelor’s degree, such as increased job opportunities, the ability to take advantage of career services offered through the university, and preparation to pursue a master’s degree.
To learn more about how an online Bachelor of Science degree can benefit your future, reach out to an enrollment advisor today.
Recommended Readings:
What is accreditation and why does it matter for you?
Sources:
University of Alabama at Birmingham Student Affairs Career & Professional Development HireABlazer
University of Alabama at Birmingham Student Affairs Career & Professional Development Students
National Center for Education Statistics Fast Facts
Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Outlook
National Center for Education Statistics Bachelor’s degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions