Wednesday, February 26, 2014

4 College Degrees for Employment

As the business world changes and becomes more global, colleges have to be on the forefront of the most innovated trends. Graduates need to be equipped with the skills necessary for the current work environment. Here are some of the hottest majors.

Supply Chain Management

Students who major in this field learn how to organize a network of interconnected businesses which help move products from supplier to consumer. They help manage the entire life cycle of a product, from procurement of raw materials, to allocation of product, creation, distribution then delivery of finished product. The concept is to have the entire process run efficiently, effectively while reducing cost along the cycle.

The most common positions for supply chain management majors are Logistician (analyzing and coordinating a company's supply chain), Supply Chain Analyst (improving a company's supply chain) and Transportation Manager (oversees a company's transportation costs of goods).

This field is rapidly growing and expanding. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics this field is projected to grow 22 percent over the next ten years.

Hospitality and Tourism Management

The hospitality industry is large and ever growing field. A student who majors in this diverse and dynamic field has an opportunity to work everywhere from restaurants, resorts, cruise lines, casinos and professional sporting arenas. Students who study these courses are educated in coordinating all aspects of professional meetings, events and conventions. This includes choosing locations, arranging transportation and everything in between.

As globalization increases and businesses continue to recognize the value of professionally planned meetings. According to the Department of Labor, this field is rapidly expanding and is projected to grow 33% over the next ten years.

Forensic Science

With the rise of technology to help prevent and investigate crimes, many law enforcement agencies are turning to specialists with this particular degree. In addition, television shows such as NCIS, Bones, Without A Trace and Cold Case Files have risen to popularize majoring in Forensic Science.

A student studying forensic science will learn how to operate and use new, sophisticated technology to collect and analyze physical evidence. Be aware though, students of this discipline should expect not only a plethora of math and science courses, but need to possess the ability to write well. Technicians spend a bulk of their time generating written reports.

Even though this major is popular, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs will grow only 6 percent over the next ten years, or slower than other occupations because of the popularity of this field.

Biomedical Engineering

The fields of medicine and engineering have combined to create this popular major. Biomedical Engineering (BME) is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes.

Students in this field learn how to improve the quality and effectiveness of patient medical care. Examples of this would be developing biocompatible prostheses, working on regenerative tissue growth and improving imaging equipment such as MRI and EEG machine.

According to the Department of Labor, graduates of these programs will see a growing job market as the biomedical engineering field is estimated to see a 27% growth rate in the next 10 years due to the aging population and their need for more medical care.

To learn which schools offer these majors or to learn of other popular majors, contact us!

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Monday, February 24, 2014

Sic 'Em...Bears!

Baylor University is the leading private Christian school of higher education. It was founded in 1845 in Independence with a $5,000 donation from Texas revolutionary Sam Houston, in what was the newly independent country of the Republic of Texas. In 1886, the school founded by the Union Baptist Association, combined with Waco University, relocating the campus to its current location along the banks of the Brazos River. The oldest continually operating university in Texas boosts an undergraduate student body of over 13,000 students.

Chapel

During the 1846 school year, the founders of Baylor decided that chapel service should be included as part of the educational experience at Baylor. This tradition has progressed to its current form of two required chapel courses to go along with twice weekly chapel service. Students must attend at least three-fourths of the chapel services a semester. One meeting is for guest speakers to present on a variety of topics, while the other meeting is a worship service.

Baylor Line

This tradition, started in 1970 as a way to integrate freshmen into the core of Baylor spirit and tradition, begins at "Line Camp." Summer camp prepares every new Baylor student for the Baylor Line and home football games. Here, students will wear a special "Line Jersey" with individual nickname and year of graduation on the back. Freshmen arrive prior to game time to 'rush the field' and assemble into a tunnel to welcome the players and coaches onto the field. The tunnel then disbands to take their seats behind the opponent's bench. They will stand and cheer until they sing That Good Old Baylor Line after the game is complete.

Baylor Science Building (BSB)

In 2004, Baylor officially opened a $103 million dollar, state of the art building with 31 acoustically designed lecture halls and classrooms. Though there are few classrooms, there are over 200 teaching and research laboratories to foster a hands on learning experience among students and faculty. This unique concept was also designed to promote multidisciplinary teaching and research stimulated by the science department.

Joy and Lady

Judge Joy and Judge Lady are perhaps the two most famous residents of this Waco campus. They reside not in dorm rooms, but rather in the Bill and Evan Williams Bear Habitat. Yes, they are two adult American Black Bears that live in a natural habitat enclosure. The tradition of a live bear on campus dates back to World War I when 'Ted' was gifted by the 107th Engineer Battalion stationed at Camp MacArthur. Since 1974, each bear has been named Judge to honor a former mascot then a second name to honor of a wife of a former university president. The bears were part of the spirit of athletic contests until 2010 when a federal code was established to regulate the safety of the animals and public. Click here to view more photos of Joy and Lady.

To learn more about this leading Christian university, or about any possible school that would fit your academic, social and financial needs, contact us.

Friday, February 21, 2014

What Does a Horned Frog and College Have in Common?


The horned frog is the official state reptile of Texas while also serving as the mascot for all Texas Christian University (TCU) athletic teams. The term derives from the popular name for a lizard that has a frog-like body and snout. The nickname was selected by the TCU student body in 1897 when the school was located in Waco, Texas. Originally founded as AddRan Christian University in 1873, the 8,500 plus undergraduates of TCU are known for other things besides the horned frog mascot.

CHANGED CAMPUS

When arriving on TCU's 325 acre campus in Fort Worth, Texas, the first thing one will notice are the numerous construction projects. According to the school's website, the school has spent nearly $500 million in renovations in the past five years. The school will build one new dorm building for the next ten years and there are currently seven ongoing 'major projects.' The campus has changed drastically too in the last 10 years. The school's website boasts that TCU is 'not the place your parents went to.'


SCHOOL SPIRIT

The student body and faculty are extremely proud of the purple and white of TCU. Ten years ago, students migrated off campus to live and socialize. With campus renovations, there is a large demand for upperclassman to remain on campus. This rekindled school spirit is easily noticeable as students and faculty walk around in purple, white and black to make for a warm and friendly campus environment. As I took the campus tour, then continuing to explore on my own, I failed to find an article of college clothing that was not TCU.

BOB SCHIEFFER COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION

This newly renamed college honors CBS news journalist Bob Schieffer (TCU Class of '59), offers courses in Journalism and Strategic Communication. The nationally recognized School of Journalism is one of the oldest in the nation, started in 1927. The TCU Daily Skiff, the student newspaper, has been published continuously since 1902. The college boasts a state of the art news room (Convergence Center), TCU 360 and 24/7 online news center both used to train students as professional reporters while preparing them for all future forms of journalism.

It was announced recently that the CBS Evening News will broadcast live on the TCU Campus.

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS

Housed in this college are the schools of Music, Art, Dance (classical and contemporary), Theatre, and Interior Design & Merchandising. The school is nationally renowned in many areas, including the 2012 national champion drum line. Perhaps the hidden gem at TCU, the College of Fine Arts is often overshadowed in the press by the School of Communications and even athletics. The College of Fine Arts boasts working relationships with many of the major cultural events of the 5th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. Along with these opportunities, the arts programs offers numerous learning possibilities in numerous European nations.

If you would like to know more about Texas Christian University, or other colleges, contact us.