College Major Choices And Job Security Realities.

[LinaSt.Cecilia2772]

Okay so pretty much all of you know that I'm currently in the process of applying for colleges and what not, and It's about the time where I have to make choices in what I want to study in college. For a while now I really wanted to choose International Studies/relations/global studies, whatever you wanna call it, because I love learning about different cultures, economies, governments, and such. Plus I love to travel and I've been overseas a few times already which has formed that first choice of college major.

Well recently in my senior year I decided to take Anatomy and Physiology as my senior science credit, and let me say that I LOVE that class soooo much. It's seriously like my dream class where I geek out over labs, and I actually like doing homework for the class. When I was hospitalized last year I got to see hands on health related professions, and ever since I've really gotten interested in physical therapy and/or kinesiology.

The college that's my top choice right now, Mount St. Mary's University, has both routes of study. The physical therapy program is a six year dual degree program with Sacred Heart University, where I would receive a bachelors in Biology from the Mount and then a Doctorate in Physical therapy from Sacred Heart. If I choose the International studies route then I would receive a bachelors in four years.

What I'm having trouble with is the job security reality for after graduation. If I choose the health career route, I know that I will have a job somewhere after graduation due to the need of therapists and the ever growing healthcare field. With International related stuff I don't know if the opportunity for international or government jobs will exist. It's tough because I really love international studies, but at the same time I need a job after graduation.

I know I have plenty of time to decide, but I wanted to see what everyone's thoughts were.

Edited October 1, 2012 by LinaSt.Cecilia2772

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='LinaSt.Cecilia2772' timestamp='1349064587' post='2488669']
Okay so pretty all of you know that I'm currently in the process of applying for colleges and what not, and It's about the time where I have to make choices in what I want to study in college.
[/quote]
No it's not. Even if you have most of your gen eds out of the way, you've got plenty of time to decide, particularly if you're planning on spending four years on your degree. Take a couple basic classes in both, join whatever clubs or pre-professional societies are associated with the majors you're considering, see if you could shadow someone in the area, etc. Don't let them make you think that you have to decide for sure, as an 18 year old, what you're going to be doing for the next fifty years.

Edited October 1, 2012 by USAirwaysIHS

[Luigi]

I agree with USAirways - it might be too soon to make such a big decision, and to map out your whole educational pathway.

I do think you're right - the physical therapy degree will take longer, but probably be more secure and pay better.

But you can probably find some way to incorporate some global studies into it. There study-abroad semester, international professional organizations (especially for pholks with doctorates), international research opportunities (especially for pholks with doctorates... or close to), and probably more that I'm unaware of.

The world's getting smaller every day, and if it doesn't end when they turn on that big reactor, you should have lots of opportunities to go international in school and in your career.

[4588686]

Honestly, if you haven't decided on a major at this point you should probably just give up and drop out.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Luigi' timestamp='1349065466' post='2488671']international research opportunities (especially for pholks with doctorates... or close to)
[/quote]
A program that takes you from high school diploma to doctorate in 6 years is probably not a research-based degree.

Edited October 1, 2012 by USAirwaysIHS

[LinaSt.Cecilia2772]

See if I go into a physical therapy career path, then maybe there will be international options as far as going to underdeveloped countries who need healthcare, but that seems like a bit of a stretch considering that I won't be a legit MD, but a physical therapist.

[Nihil Obstat]

Did you look into nursing? Because nurses are awes[color=#000000]o[/color]me. I have enormous respect for what they do.
If you are looking for something you could apply to third-world countries, nursing is certainly going to be in high demand.

Edited October 1, 2012 by Nihil Obstat

[LinaSt.Cecilia2772]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1349067381' post='2488681']
Did you look into nursing? Because nurses are awes[color=#000000]o[/color]me. I have enormous respect for what they do.
If you are looking for something you could apply to third-world countries, nursing is certainly going to be in high demand.
[/quote]

Yeah I've thought about nursing too, but I don't know if it will be a good fit for me. I know it's another option, but since I'm more of an athletic type that's more interested in Kinesiology, I think Physical therapy would be better for me. Mount St. Mary's has a similar dual degree nursing program in nursing like they do in physical therapy, but the partner universities are The Johns Hopkins University and Shenandoah University. I'm not completely ruling out nursing though, but for now it's not something that I think would suit me and my personality well.

[Basilisa Marie]

At the Mount you don't have to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year, and even then you can change it whenever as long as you get your requirements done before you graduate. I've heard good things about both majors. If I were you right now I'd plan on taking one elective of each, or intro class, or whatever. You could even major in something and minor in the other, or double major depending on the workload. There are also some good study abroad programs, even two summer ones (France and Austria) which are better for tight-scheduled science majors. And really, at the end of the day having the core liberal arts degree will help you get a job no matter what you major in. Just take the time now to figure out what you like, and you'll be able to get a better idea of what you want to do once you've taken some classes.

Do you have any of your math or language requirements waved? That can help open up some potential electives, especially at the beginning. If not, it still looks like you've got room for 2 electives (or one 4-credit lab) your fall semester and one elective your spring semester, giving you plenty of opportunity to try out some courses really early on.

Also: The Mount is a big feeder school for the FBI. They come to campus every year and recruit, and some other government organizations do the same. So even if you do decide on International relations, you'll be pretty nicely set up for a career of some sort in a government organization, especially because it's only an hour and a half or so outside of DC.

Edited October 1, 2012 by Basilisa Marie

[LinaSt.Cecilia2772]

[quote name='Basilisa Marie' timestamp='1349070261' post='2488688']
At the Mount you don't have to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year, and even then you can change it whenever as long as you get your requirements done before you graduate. I've heard good things about both majors. If I were you right now I'd plan on taking one elective of each, or intro class, or whatever. You could even major in something and minor in the other, or double major depending on the workload. There are also some good study abroad programs, even two summer ones (France and Austria) which are better for tight-scheduled science majors. And really, at the end of the day having the core liberal arts degree will help you get a job no matter what you major in. Just take the time now to figure out what you like, and you'll be able to get a better idea of what you want to do once you've taken some classes.

Do you have any of your math or language requirements waved? That can help open up some potential electives, especially at the beginning. If not, it still looks like you've got room for 2 electives (or one 4-credit lab) your fall semester and one elective your spring semester, giving you plenty of opportunity to try out some courses really early on.

Also: The Mount is a big feeder school for the FBI. They come to campus every year and recruit, and some other government organizations do the same. So even if you do decide on International relations, you'll be pretty nicely set up for a career of some sort in a government organization, especially because it's only an hour and a half or so outside of DC.
[/quote]

Thank God you know more about the Mount than I do.

[jumpfrog]

Physical therapy and occupational therapy is a great choice; some countries even give extra 'points' to people in these professions for work visas, as they are so in-demand. Working as a volunteer overseas will also be possible in many places...

Also, you would be working as a helper and healer, in a very practical way. Doing international relations might put you into a paper-pushing business setting, or writing reports that no one will ever read for an NGO somewhere. Not to mention that is often contract work...

Finally, you like the schoolwork so far, and that is what will keep you going for the long years of study.

[Winchester]

Get into government. It's a growth industry.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='USAirwaysIHS' timestamp='1349066451' post='2488677']

A program that takes you from high school diploma to doctorate in 6 years is probably not a research-based degree.
[/quote]
It would be a clinical doctorate. There would be research involved, but it is not solely dedicated to research.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='LinaSt.Cecilia2772' timestamp='1349066645' post='2488679']
See if I go into a physical therapy career path, then maybe there will be international options as far as going to underdeveloped countries who need healthcare, but that seems like a bit of a stretch considering that I won't be a legit MD, but a physical therapist.
[/quote]
I have my DPT (though I never took the licensure exam) and I think with the right groups, you could do work in underdeveloped countries. It would just take more digging than for organizations that work with MDs. Also, if different cultures interest you, I know there is always a need for healthcare workers of all varieties to serve on Reservations.

[Archaeology cat]

My sister-in-law is an occupational therapist and worked on the Cherokee Reservation for a bit. [quote name='MissScripture' timestamp='1349099048' post='2488763']

I have my DPT (though I never took the licensure exam) and I think with the right groups, you could do work in underdeveloped countries. It would just take more digging than for organizations that work with MDs. Also, if different cultures interest you, I know there is always a need for healthcare workers of all varieties to serve on Reservations.
[/quote]