Certain employee benefits make a business more attractive than others. And while good pay and health benefits usually rank highest among the perks most desired by employees, other benefits have gained popularity in recent years. NetSuite looked at the top employee perks and benefits of 2021 and found that online learning and educational assistance were rated among the most popular. Bright Horizons also found that tuition reimbursement programs now outrank paid sick leave and retirement benefits as a perk.
Employers can also benefit from a more educated workforce. By investing in upskilling and reskilling, companies gain knowledge that benefits their operations and keeps them competitive over the long-term. A two-year study by the Lumina Foundation showed that education reimbursement programs have a 129% return on investment. That means for every dollar a company invests, it generates an additional $1.29. Furthermore, employers that offer educational assistance also benefit from easier talent acquisition, better employee productivity and hefty tax breaks. Section 127 of the US tax code allows employers to deduct over $5,000 per employee per year in tuition reimbursement.
While education perks aren’t new to employee benefits packages, the offerings are becoming more robust and increasingly targeted to a wider audience. Instead of just focusing on employees who want to pursue advanced degrees, many tuition programs are now targeting workers who never went to college in the first place. For frontline or disadvantaged workers, that means not choosing between earning a living vs. earning a degree. They can do both and avoid going into heavy debt.
This kind of win-win advantage is driving more job seekers to pursue companies that offer the best education benefits. Younger job seekers, in particular, are purposefully seeking out employers who will help pay for college tuition. Plenty of online content, message boards and other resources have been created to help them research companies with great education benefits. Blogs like “Taking Advantage of Your Employer’s Education Benefits”, “36 Companies That Pay For College” and “50 Companies with Amazing Tuition Reimbursement Programs” are a sure-fire sign that education as a benefit is not just a passing fad.
Want to step up your company’s education benefits package to be more competitive in the marketplace? We have just the solution! Pearson Accelerated Pathways works as a partner with your organization—from inception to design—to implement educational strategies that meet the needs of your unique workforce. We administer the right programs that appeal to employees by focusing on their specific needs and best pathways to success. Learn more about our employee-approved education benefits programs today!
Did you know that helping your employees understand and navigate career advancement pathways within your organization is critical to retaining a talented workforce? Studies have shown that employers who don’t offer advancement opportunities for workers, particularly in low-wage jobs, will find difficulty in hiring and retaining talent—not to mention in maintaining a happy staff and positive work culture.
This opportunity gap in the workplace has been amplified during the pandemic, as many workers are not returning to work as expected due to wage stagnation and lack of advancement opportunities. In June 2021, the job opening rate was 6.5%—the highest it’s been since the U.S. Department of Labor began tracking the number in 2001.
A recent study by SPR found that organizations with higher retention rates tend to set clear career pathways and help employees navigate them. Top organizations typically set specific internal goals for advancement (for example, 50% of managers will be promoted from within), and they also implement coaching or mentoring programs to nurture and encourage career development from within.
To ensure your business retains its top talent, here are four best practices (and examples) you can use to help workers navigate internal career pathways:
1. Clearly document career advancement pathways
Businesses should develop clear information about pathways to advancement within the organization. Human resources can look for measures and controls for career advancement and then develop documentation with standards that are fair and transparent across the board. Criteria used to assess employee promotion to the next level should be easily accessible to staff at all levels.
For example: One manufacturer developed a career navigation application for employees that provides a line of sight into career pathways and allows employees to focus on skills they want to develop. Information specific to their position and skill set is also mapped to possible career advancement opportunities.
2. Prioritize and communicate internal advancement
Organizations should work to prioritize promotion from within by clearly communicating the availability of advancement pathways and new job opportunities. This can be done through email, in one-on-one conversations, by putting up flyers or using other internal communication methods. Employees feel valued and prioritized if they know new job openings are posted internally before being advertised outside of the company. Supervisors can also reach out directly to workers who may be targeted for promotion or be a good fit for a specific position. Overall, employees should be well-informed and fully aware of advancement options open to them.
For example: One retailer hosted an open-house fair where management from different departments met with frontline workers to talk about their skills and interests and discuss which career pathways were available based on their specific goals.
3. Create opportunities for career advancement via training programs
Educational program curricula should make clear the connection between training and the company’s internal career advancement pathways. Workers should know what to expect after completing the training (for example, how the training is linked to a raise or a promotion). In some cases, training programs can be clearly connected to promotions or pay increases at predetermined levels. This not only helps the employee; employers can significantly lower costs of recruiting and gain positive long-term outcomes by educating and training their workforce.
For example: A hospital was having trouble hiring lab technicians, so it designed a training program to upskill incumbent employees to fill those positions. Doing so created a new career advancement pathway, cut recruiting costs and established an internal talent pipeline for the hospital.
4. Employ staff whose specific function is to support career advancement
Direct supervisors play an important role in encouraging advancement within an organization. However, many companies have found that employing staff dedicated to helping workers achieve their career goals can be far more beneficial. A point person, such as a career navigator or mentor, can focus solely on assisting workers to determine what training is most appropriate for their career goals. They can also help to find funding (whether employer contribution, loans or grants) to pay for that training. This dedicated staff can be part of internal human resources or employed by outside vendors hired by the company.
For example: At one insurance company, workers can seek mentorship outside their department if they have an interest in exploring other areas. This employee mentoring program provides them with guidance and support about how to advance within the company and helps them to meet with teams in other departments or units who may have openings.
As The Great Resignation persists, employee retention remains a top priority for many businesses. By helping employees navigate clearly mapped career pathways—through documentation, communication, training and other supports—organizations can gain an advantage in the war on talent.
At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we understand that best-in-class organizations do not adopt and implement these strategies one at a time or in isolation. That’s why we work to align with your company culture and capacity to provide a holistic approach to employee retention and advancement. We have a proven track record of upskilling workforces and helping organizations build an internal talent pipeline for the future of work. Learn more about how we can offer your employees advancement opportunities and custom career pathways through learning and education.
Frontline workers are the first point of contact for your customer. Their knowledge and performance have a pivotal impact on your business and how it represents its values and mission. As such, there’s no question about the importance of keeping your frontline staff happy. Not only are happier employees more productive, but they also offer better service and improved customer loyalty.
Simply put, happy frontline workers make happy customers.
Employees who feel motivated and engaged add more value than employees who feel demotivated and disengaged. So, how do you keep your workers happy, particularly at a time when turnover is at an all-time high? We’ve examined approaches from best-in-class employers and believe there are three secrets to success.
1. Invest in employee health and wellbeing
Did you know that workplace health and wellbeing is one of the main drivers of workforce productivity? According to the American Psychological Association, the top components to workplace wellbeing are work-life balance, health and safety and employee growth and development. Effective employers understand these components and view their employees in a more holistic sense—as opposed to just laborers who perform necessary tasks. They see their staff as part of a wider system of communities, cultures and systems that affect their overall health and wellbeing.
Workplace wellbeing considers both the physical and mental states of employees. Physical wellbeing at work includes things like temperature, ergonomics and safety, whereas mental wellbeing regards areas like stress, negativity and anxiety. The more an employee’s physical and mental wellbeing is compromised, the worse their output. As such, many employers actively promote workplace wellbeing programs that build community and improve environmental conditions.
To improve physical wellbeing, employers can improve facilities or design spaces for employees to gather socially, like a ping pong table, a walking path outside the office or an informal seating area. But just as important as the environmental space is the workplace culture. No one will want to use a communal space if they know it’s frowned upon by management. There’s a multitude of do’s and don’ts for building a positive workplace culture, but here’s a basic rule of thumb: think of ways to make workers at all levels of the organization feel valued and heard. Brainstorming with staff can be a great way to decide on what type of benefits or activities make your team feel most valued.
2. Invest in supportive leadership
Another way to keep frontline workers happy is to invest in leadership that’s both supportive and responsive to their team’s needs. According to Indeed, “Supportive leadership is an important and valuable leadership style for businesses. Not only does it foster positive relationships between employees, but it also ultimately empowers team members to develop their professional skills and work well autonomously or with little active management and guidance.” In fact, a shift in leadership roles is evolving across industries as companies find that people-focused leaders can obtain better results than profit-focused leaders.
For most workers, feeling appreciated, compensated and supported goes a long way. People-focused leaders and supervisors have the first-hand capacity to encourage, inspire and teach others on their team. They also play significant roles as champions (or gatekeepers) in the promotion and advancement process. By considering opportunities for promoting those on their team, supervisors can nurture growth and encourage advancement within an organization. These leaders can also affirm and express their support of employees by educating them about career pathways, encouraging them to participate in educational opportunities and helping them develop leadership skills.
By recruiting and investing in supportive leaders, businesses can reduce stress and frustration in the workplace while also increasing productivity. To identify leaders who fit with your company’s mission, look for candidates with self-awareness and emotional intelligence who can understand when to offer care, attention and guidance to their team. With most employees wanting to experience a sense of belonging in the workplace, finding supportive leaders who create a space where others want to spend their time can be one of your most valuable assets – particularly in frontline, customer-facing environments.
3. Invest in training and education
While premium benefits packages can help employers attract and retain talent, they can also be costly to implement and administer. However, with educational benefits—like tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement—the results can often outweigh the initial costs of providing learning assistance. Research from the Lumina Foundation suggests that providing learning benefits not only reduces turnover, it helps to boost the national goal for Americans with college educations, which is currently lagging.
With increasing automation in the workplace, more remote working, higher demand for vocational skills and the huge disruption and acceleration caused by COVID, the need for lifelong education and upskilling has never been more pressing. According to the CDC, this ultimately ties into a worker’s wellbeing as a more broadly prepared field of workers is less stressed and better positioned to pivot to new solutions or quickly adapt to technological changes.
Employees are aware of changing job market pressures and increasingly desire the training needed to advance in their careers. By offering educational benefits to frontline workers, companies can see more engagement, optimized productivity, improved customer satisfaction and the ability to stay competitive in their market. Many business leaders have identified talent-driven innovation as the primary determinant of competitiveness.
As businesses across industries look for ways to keep their workers happy, they’ll find that investments in employee health and wellbeing, supportive leadership and training and education programs will better equip them to retain a positive, productive, future-proof workforce. At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we’re uniquely positioned to help businesses invest in their frontline workers by providing flexible degree plans and post-secondary options as strategic educational benefits. Our learning programs are online, flexible, completely personalized and cost effective. Find out how we can enable your staff to drive their success and enrich their lives through learning.
Does your workforce have the job skills needed to keep you competitive in your industry?
In a recent West Monroe survey of HR professionals, 56% of respondents said their organization’s skills gap is moderate to severe. This is especially true for organizations undergoing digital transformation and adapting to future trends. As automation grows, it’s becoming increasingly important to ensure workers can handle higher-value work. In fact, a ManpowerGroup survey found that by 2022, 54% of workers will need significant reskilling or upskilling as their current job skills become outdated.
With a tightening talent market and higher demand for emerging skills sets, companies are finding it more advantageous to reskill their workforce rather than rehire. According to Mike Howell, Chief Strategy Officer at Pearson, “The world of work is changing faster than most workers are evolving. With increasing automation in the workplace, more remote working, higher demand for vocational skills and the huge disruption and acceleration caused by COVID, the need for lifelong reskilling and upskilling has never been more pressing.”
Industries such as healthcare, hospitality and retail also stand to benefit from upskilling frontline workers. According to Kevin Oakes, CEO of i4cp, “The opportunity for positive bottom-line impact through frontline worker development is significant as it impacts those who often work most closely with an organization's customers.” Retail is a critical sector of the economy, with 16 million workers, yet this sector also faces some of the highest turnover rates. The result is millions of Americans missing out on opportunities for career advancement and income growth. By building talent from within, retail employers are finding that they can lower costs up to six times compared with recruiting while also gaining positive long-term outcomes, such as improved employee and customer experience.
As work across industry sectors continues to evolve, employers who invest in training and education will become more qualified to handle the future of work, which can yield higher earnings for both the individual and the organization. Providing educational programs to frontline workers can also boost a company’s status as an employer of choice - one that values learning and investment in human capital. While premium benefits packages can be costly to implement and administer, educational benefits—like tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement—have become increasingly popular as the results can outweigh the initial costs of providing upskilling assistance.
At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we help companies maximize their learning and development funds to train and retrain their global workforce with skills gaps they urgently need to fill. We work with HR leadership to provide academic options for everyone on the organization chart—from frontline employees to executives. Through our advanced network of academic partners, we offer low tuition rates and customized program offerings that meet your talent development needs. Learn how we can future-proof your workforce.
There’s a new term being coined for the job era we’re in: The Great Resignation. Unlike normal times when people quit their jobs because of a healthy economy and plentiful opportunities in the market, an interesting shift has occurred during the pandemic. As the worst recession in U.S. history set in and millions lost work, those still employed began quitting their jobs in record numbers. Since then, employers have been complaining about acute labor shortages and difficulties retaining employees, particularly those in frontline positions.
Between stagnant wages, skyrocketing costs of living and increasingly dangerous health risks in the workplace, many workers, particularly those in low wage jobs, have been resigning in search of better pay and improved working conditions. Workers have reported feeling exasperation and burnout, and many have stated they’re leaving because they don’t feel a sense of belonging at their workplace.
For most workers, feeling appreciated, compensated and supported goes a long way. So, what can be done to improve workplace conditions to retain employees? Pearson Accelerated Pathways recently sponsored a study conducted by the Social Policy Research Associates to identify successful approaches used by companies to support the advancement of underrepresented frontline workers. Based on interviews and research of best-in-class employers, the study found that a big portion of the answer lies in having supportive leadership. In fact, six of the seven employers interviewed identified supportive supervisors—and in some cases coaches or mentors—as a critical factor in helping frontline workers advance and stay with the business.
What makes supportive supervisors so important?
Supervisors have the first-hand capacity to encourage, inspire and teach others on their team. They also play significant roles as champions (or gatekeepers) in the promotion and advancement process. By considering opportunities for promoting those on their team, supervisors can nurture growth and encourage advancement within an organization. They can also affirm and express their support of employees by educating them about career pathways, encouraging them to participate in education and training opportunities and helping them develop leadership skills.
In fact, workplaces that develop upskilling strategies and foster a culture of learning can also counter implicit bias and create a friendlier workplace, especially for underrepresented workers. By developing opportunities for education and growth, supportive leaders build a sense of community and foster a culture that can acknowledge the struggles frontline workers face and the events that impact marginalized communities. This type of community building is important across an organization, and leaders who foster supportive business environments not only increase productivity, but they also give workers the sense of belonging they desire.
How can I be a supportive supervisor?
There couldn’t be a better time to improve your management skills, especially with supportive leaders in short supply. As Forbes puts it, ‘When you begin to think of a management position as the ultimate supporting role instead of just another rung on the leadership ladder, you’ll begin to find the ways to become the manager your company — and your employees — deserve.’
While there are many approaches to effective leadership, here are a few things we’ve found most supportive leaders strive to do:
1. Promote mentorship
Supportive supervisors can help foster mentorships in the workplace through networking, personal connections and even mentorship programs. According to Biz Library, ‘A mentoring program can improve employee retention, create more diversity, help plan for the future, and save on costs for other forms of training.’ By acting as an advisor or pairing those less experienced with those more experienced, mentors can help others to grow, set goals and develop in the workplace.
One approach is to choose staff with more seniority to mentor newer team members. Senior members feel valued for their knowledge and experience, plus they have a chance to bond with newer teammates. This type of mentorship also allows knowledge to transfer in a way that builds a more successful, productive and collaborative environment. In addition, mentors can offer encouragement to mentees as they work through challenges of the job. Overall, promoting mentorship is a win-win for an organization and a great way to show support as a supervisor – either by participating in or pairing others in mentorships.
3. Connect others with resources and opportunities
Part of your focus as a supportive supervisor is to connect people to resources that help them gain skills and succeed in the future. Supervisors are frequently asked, ‘What do I need to do to get to the next level?’ In addition to helping set up workplace supports like healthcare and childcare, offering educational opportunities as a benefit is an excellent way to invest in employees, especially frontline workers who may have struggled to complete high school or college.
According to the Working Learners Index, 90% of employees say they would stay with their employer if education was offered as a benefit. Supportive leaders understand that most employees want to continue learning and growing to keep up with job market demand. Making employee growth and learning part of your strategic plan can result in your entire organizational culture valuing employee development and learning. By providing frontline workers with opportunities to learn, supportive leaders can deliver improved results not just for the organization but for the community as a whole.
4. Continue learning
A degree in management or business may prepare you to understand business operations, financial analysis and other technical aspects of business, but it’s also important to work at developing soft skills that will benefit your role as a leader, like communication, approachability, empathy and adaptability. An effective leader seeks out feedback and looks for ways to grow both personally and professionally. To sharpen your soft skills, you can practice by engaging and socializing with people in various scenarios or by taking supplementary management training courses.
It also helps to network with peers in the leadership community either in-person or online. There are book groups for leaders to share great reads as well as support groups to share problems encountered by those in leadership roles and receive sound first-hand advice. Asking for help and seeking input is valid even when you think you’re expected to have all the answers. To support others, it always helps to have your own support system in place.
Good news for psychology majors! The U.S. Department of Labor says the job outlook for psychologists shows steady growth over the next decade. While a Ph.D. can get you far in the mental health field, those with a B.A. or B.S. in psychology can still find excellent opportunities working in hospitals, schools, private businesses, non-profit organizations, social service agencies, mental health centers and more. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also sees job growth potential for psychology majors as assistants in rehabilitation centers and in other occupations involving data collection and analysis.
If you’re pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology and wondering what job opportunities exist for you right out of college, here are some careers to consider.
Psychiatric Technician
Do you like helping those experiencing mental disorders or developmental disabilities? If so, you can work as a psychiatric technician providing care to patients in a variety of settings including group homes, residential treatment centers, hospitals and nursing homes. Your duties would involve observing patient behavior, monitoring vital health signs, teaching life skills, conducting applied therapy sessions and helping with basic needs. You’d need a solid background in abnormal psychology, clinical psychology and psychology of personality to understand the various conditions afflicting psychiatric patients. You’d also need to be able to carefully follow instructions for patient care provided by psychiatrists, so good comprehension and communication skills will also be important as you establish rapport with both patients and doctors.
Psychiatric technicians play a pivotal role in helping patients cope with their mental health conditions as they are often the first in line to encounter issues as they arise. Psychology majors who hope to work as psychiatric technicians or aides should try to get internships working with patients in a clinical setting prior to graduation to see if this type of role is right for them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for psychiatric technicians is predicted to grow 12% through 2028. In fact, there are indications that this trend will increase even more as our growing older population will require more psychiatric assistance. Growth is also forecast for psychiatric technicians in residential settings, especially in substance abuse treatment. Residential and community-based treatment centers are becoming increasingly popular as effective options for addiction rehabilitation. A bachelor’s in psychology qualifies most candidates for work as psychiatric technicians, however some employers may also require a postsecondary certificate.
Counselor
Do you like helping others work through difficult problems in a personal one-on-one setting? Counseling could be right for you. Counselors help people suffering from an array of difficulties – from addiction to behavioral disorders – by offering guidance, treatment and advice. Specialties include drug abuse counselors (who work with clients struggling with substance abuse and addiction), youth counselors (who work with troubled youth on personal growth and development), rehabilitation counselors (who help to promote healing and wellness in rehabilitation facilities), in-home behavioral counselors (who provide behavioral planning and support to families in crisis) and mental health counselors (who treat clients with a variety of conditions, like anxiety and depression).
Do you like planning, directing and coordinating healthcare services? If so, you may find satisfaction working as a medical and health services manager. In this role, you’d be responsible for managing anything from an entire care facility to a specific clinical area, department or medical practice. Medical and health services managers focus on improving efficiency and quality of patient services while also ensuring that operations are compliant with applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. Your duties may also include preparing budgets and spending, representing the facility at meetings or on governing boards and keeping organized records of the facility’s services.
As a medical and health services manager, you will likely work with a range of professionals in the medical care setting, including medical providers, patients and support providers, so interpersonal skills are a plus. Most employers want you to have at least a bachelor’s degree as well as prior experience in health care. Some may require a master’s degree depending on the type of facility, but a bachelor’s in psychology is a great way to get started in this role at smaller facility if you’re vying for this typically well-compensated position. The median annual wage for medical and health services managers was $104,280 in May 2020. Employment for medical and health services managers is projected to grow a significant 32 percent this decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Correctional Treatment Specialist
Interested in helping people get back on their feet after they’ve served time in correctional facilities? You might enjoy a career as a correctional treatment specialist (also known as parole officer, case manager or correctional counselor). Your role would involve evaluating inmates using questionnaires and psychological tests as well as advising and developing rehabilitation plans for probationers and parolees. In addition to developing release plans, correctional treatment specialists also help facilitate job training programs, counseling services, substance abuse or mental health treatment and adequate housing for former inmates.
Correctional treatment specialists’ release plans and reports can greatly impact the future outcome for parolees, so candidates hoping to work in this field need to be highly ethical and are often required to pass competency exams, drug tests and criminal background checks. Keep in mind that this job can also be stressful and dangerous, as you may be assigned to fieldwork in high-crime areas or in correctional institutions. A bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, like criminal justice, can help to prepare you for this role and its demands. Employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is lower than average, with projected growth at just 4 percent from 2020 to 2030, however, this will vary significantly depending on your location.
Teacher
Do you like to educate and inspire others? Want to be a role model? You may love teaching. According to Teach.com, “A great teacher should love educating students, and one of the principal goals many teachers set for themselves is to be the best educator they can be. There is something extremely gratifying about imparting information to your students and working with them to ensure they understand, not only concepts, but practical applications as well.” Keep in mind that teaching can also be demanding, as many teachers work during school hours as well as evenings and weekends preparing lessons and grading papers. Still, many find the work rewarding, plus many parents find teaching a great career because it allows them to have work breaks that coincide with their children’s school calendar.
While a bachelor’s in education is the go-to path for many aspiring teachers, some feel a bachelor’s in psychology can complement their work as a teacher in different ways, as they apply their psychology knowledge indirectly to the classroom environment. Whether you’d prefer to teach at the elementary or high school level, a bachelor’s degree will help you gain the right qualifications to enter the teaching field. You’ll also need to earn a teaching certificate along with your degree, so be sure to check your state’s teaching guidelines and requirements. Overall employment of grade-school teachers is projected to grow 7 percent this decade, about average for all occupations.
Social Worker
Do you like helping others manage deep societal issues such as poverty, abuse, unemployment and addiction? You may find social work rewarding. A social worker helps others improve their lives through counseling, advocacy and referrals to other agencies and professionals. As a social worker, you would help struggling families and individuals improve the quality of their lives by making sure they have access to basic needs. You’d also be responsible for examining their environment, relationships, community and even the government policies that affect their lives. Your role may involve finding solutions for your clients such as physical relocation, counseling, medical treatment, government programs, legal resources and employment. Social workers often help guide those in need through a matrix of complex problems, including the legal system.
Social workers operate in a variety of settings such as governmental organizations, schools, hospitals, private and non-profit organizations, community centers and elder care homes. Employment for social workers is expected to grow 11%, and employment for social services managers is expected to grow 13%. These managers direct and coordinate programs that provide services related to residential care, youth and family support, rehabilitation and other important areas of social support. Typically, you only need a bachelor's degree to qualify as a social worker or social services manager, but it's a good idea to look into the licensing for your particular state to better understand any additional requirements.
While we’ve focused on jobs you can get with a bachelor’s in psychology, there are many more to consider as you develop your career and educational goals. Just check out this thorough list of over 80 psychology-related careers from VeryWellMind. And if you’ve just begun to consider majoring in psychology, be sure to also check out our blog, What Every Prospective Psychology Student Should Know. Interested in earning or finishing your psychology degree completely online? At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we find degree options with the same curriculum as more traditional on-campus programs but with greater scheduling flexibility and lower tuition. Check out how we can match you with the perfect degree plan!
You’re thinking about majoring in Criminal Justice. Many students pursuing criminal justice degrees are already in the field. They could be public safety officers, police force staff, civilian employees with the government, or other similar fields. Often, these students decide to get a criminal justice degree because they love their jobs but realize that they could get further with a degree in criminal justice.
But, even if you aren’t already in the field, a degree in criminal justice or a similar sub-specialty is a great move. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many jobs in criminal justice fields are expected to grow in the next 10 years.
What exactly are those jobs?
The types of jobs you can get with a criminal justice degree primarily focus on areas of law or law enforcement and the justice system. Some areas of focus for criminal justice majors are:
Law enforcement
Corrections
Pre-law or court professional
Social work
Criminology
Criminal & forensic psychology
Police science
Obviously, there are other paths towards the career areas listed above. It ultimately depends on your strengths and your opportunities if you want to pursue criminal justice or a similar major. Criminal justice can be a wonderful way to get a broad base of skills that could transfer into all sorts of areas like the ones listed above. So, it’s a great choice if you are not 100 percent sure where your career will take you. It’s also a great choice for law enforcement administration (and often required to advance in that career field).
Let’s look at some of the job areas of expertise and their degree requirements in more detail.
Law Enforcement Administration
For many entry-level jobs in law enforcement, a high school education is all you need. However, law enforcement agencies prefer candidates with an associate degree or higher. And, to advance to the administrative level, a degree is often required. Many police or law enforcement organizations prefer candidates for their management or administrative functions to have a deeper and broader understanding of criminal justice. A criminal justice degree can prepare current law enforcement personnel with tools for leadership plus an understanding of how policework fits within the broader society and within the justice system.
Corrections Officer
Similar to those who serve in law enforcement, many entry-level corrections officers are hired with a high school education. However, a correctional officer wanting to advance in their career or work in a federal penitentiary will often need a college education. There are schools that provide a sub-specialty of criminal justice just for those looking to serve in correctional institutions.
Pre-Law or Court Professional
There are many majors that can be helpful for those planning to go on to law school, and surprisingly, many law schools don’t favor particular undergraduate majors. Majors specifically labeled as pre-law aren’t offered everywhere and while they are designed to provide a mix of subjects that could provide a solid foundation for future law school studies, they certainly aren’t the only way to go. According to U.S. News & World Report, “There are other concentrations that can provide a solid foundation for legal education.”
Some other pre-law pathways may be more suitable depending on your end goal. For example, someone specializing in tax law may choose to do an undergraduate degree in finance and someone specializing in medical malpractice may take a more medical-friendly route towards their law degree. There is no one perfect path and there is flexibility in the end outcome for those who decide to pursue law or careers within the justice system.
For those pursuing other aspects of the legal system (besides pre-law) there is a diverse set of careers available. From paralegals who help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, and corporate meetings to pre-trial and trial services like interpreters and other support services.
Social Work
There are many kinds of social workers and so there are also a few degree options that work for social work. Criminal justice may be a good fit if one plans to go into social work within some aspect of the legal or justice system. Within criminal justice, future social workers will find lots of opportunities like working with victims (forensic social work), working with those within the justice system or incarcerated individuals, case management, home visits, life skills or coping strategies for individuals at elevated risk of committing crimes or offenses. Social workers within these and other systems often deal heavily with the court systems so a working knowledge of criminal justice can be an advantage in this area.
Criminology
Criminology takes a more sociological approach to criminal justice. Sometimes criminology degrees fall under sociology, but they can also often fall under criminal justice. According to The Balance Careers, “Even though it may not hold the same glamour and excitement of other jobs in criminal justice, a career as a criminologist is no less important. In fact, for those of an academic mind, it may present the best opportunity to contribute to the prevention and treatment of crime.”
A criminologist takes a more holistic view of crime in much the same way that an epidemiologist takes a 1,000 view of disease. They look at things like demographics and trends that may be tied to increases in crime and they look for ways to reduce crime before it happens by improving access to things like afterschool care for troubled youth or drug treatment programs in areas where drug abuse leads to higher levels of crime. An important aspect of criminology is also the ability to collaborate with communities and law enforcement, so criminologists need to be able to take in and digest multiple (potentially opposing) viewpoints.
Many criminologists pursue advanced degrees, most often a master’s degree or higher. Job roles for criminologists often include working for state, local or federal government entities to pursue their work.
Criminal & Forensic Psychology
Made popular by TV shows like Mindhunter and Criminal Minds, criminal psychology is a branch of psychology specifically devoted to studying the minds of criminals. Many criminal psychologists start out with an undergraduate degree in psychology or forensic psychology, but criminal justice can also be a gateway to this professional path.
Criminal psychologists often pursue advanced degrees, and you must have a doctorate to be a licensed psychologist in many states. Similar to criminology, many criminal psychologists work for government-run institutions like prison systems or psychiatric hospitals. Another option for criminal psychology majors is to work in an academic setting as a researcher.
Police science is an umbrella term referring to any science related to the investigation of crimes or the prosecution of criminals. So, police science includes the previously discussed criminal psychology, forensic psychology, criminology, and it can include other sciences when performed in relation to police work.
An Evolving Field
While this is by no means an exhaustive list, it should give you a general idea of the wide array of careers available for criminal justice majors. Criminal justice is an ever-evolving field and there are new ways to utilize these skills all the time. For instance, criminology is a relatively new field that was only recently identified as a subspecialty dealing with both criminal justice and sociology. Criminal justice is a great choice if you know you want to work in the field but don’t have a set idea yet of where you want to go. It provides a good general education in many areas related to police work, the study of criminals and criminal behavior and the justice system. Plus, starting out in a broader target major is a great way to gain exposure and experience with all these areas, which should help you narrow down your focus as you go. Good luck!
Did you know that Pearson Accelerated Pathways can help you down the path to a criminal justice degree? Find out how we can help you get started on your educational journey and learn more about our degree planning tools by speaking with our academic advising team.
Ready to go back to college? Excellent decision! If you’ve already earned previous college credit, you’ll want to make sure your hard work counts toward your new degree. To find out how much of your prior credit you can transfer, you’ll need to obtain your college transcript. But how? And what if it’s been years since your last college attendance? No worries! We’ll answer your questions and walk you through all the steps to obtain your college transcript.
What is a college transcript?
A college transcript is a list your courses, grades, major/minor (if you had one), credit hours and GPA you’ve earned at a college.
How do I get my transcript?
The school you last attended is always the best place to start when looking for your transcript. Your transcript can be requested in person, by mail or online.
We suggest ordering it online by following these steps:
Go your previous college's website.
Either enter "order transcript" in the search box on the main page or look for a link to the Enrollment, Admissions or Registrar page.
From there, you should be able to find instructions on the various ways to order your transcripts. (You may be required to go to the college’s online student portal. If this is the case, you’ll likely need to enter your former student ID and password. If you forgot it, click on the applicable "forgot my student ID" or "forgot my password" buttons and follow any steps listed.)
Follow the instructions to order your transcripts, fill out any information required and pay any fees that might be requested. Typically, there are no fees for unofficial transcripts. If you’re not sure if you need an official or unofficial transcript, see below.
How do I know if I need an official or unofficial transcript?
Official transcripts are certified by the college and mailed to the receiving institution in a sealed envelope. This ensures that the transcript is unaltered and assures the receiving institution of its validity from the originating source. Official transcripts are usually only needed for formal college or job applications.
Unofficial transcripts can be downloaded and/or printed out by you or the college. An unofficial transcript is typically not accepted when formally applying to a college or job, but it allows you to review your transcript and work with an academic counselor to better understand how to transfer that credit.
For your call with our academic counselor, all you need is an unofficial transcript. This will allow us to see what prior credit you’ve earned and research where it can be transferred. The following documents are also acceptable if they’re easier for you to access: degree audits, degree evaluations, academic advising reports and even screenshots as long as the institution and student name are visible. Be sure to include all pages!
How long does it take to get your transcript?
Unofficial transcripts can usually be emailed, downloaded and/or printed right away once you follow the college’s online instructions. For official transcripts, most universities require two to three working days to process after receiving the request in the transcript or records office.
Can I get a free copy of my transcript?
Some universities offer a certain number of transcripts for free, and most offer unofficial transcripts at no charge. Official transcripts may have a fee ranging from $10-50 depending on the college.
I haven’t attended college in years. Will my transcript still be available?
Luckily, transcripts are available years after you attended or graduated from a college. If, by chance, the college you attended has closed, try to find out if it was part of a larger educational organization. The CDE recommends that you try to contact the parent organization first.
If you’re still unable to find the college or a branch of the college, try contacting any of the following organizations for help:
Department of Higher Education in the state in which the school you attended was located. There should be a link to request transcripts from closed schools.
Parchment is a private company that offers transcript recovery services.
At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we love to help students find degree plans that accept as much of their prior credit as possible. In fact, we do your college research for you… for free! Once you provide our academic counselor with your college transcripts, they'll conduct an intensive college research process based specifically on your goals and transferrable credit. Then you’ll get a custom College Options Report of the best colleges we found to fit your degree plan, schedule, budget, credit transfer and more. You’ll be able to make side-by-side college comparisons based on the most important factors to you. If you haven’t set up an appointment with one of our expert academic counselors yet, be sure to reach out today to get your free College Options Report!
Considering a degree in business? You probably already know that a business degree gives you a head start when applying for jobs compared to applicants with less marketable degrees. Business is one of the more popular majors due to its many real-world advantages, including attractive salaries and good jobs right out of school. And while most degrees in business ensure you understand the foundations of accounting, management, financial analysis and business operations, there are many majors and concentrations to choose from, including:
Accounting
Business Administration & Management
Economics
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Financial Planning
General Management
Green and Sustainable Management
Healthcare Management
Human Resources Management
International Business
Leadership
Marketing
Project Management
Public Administration
How do you choose a business major?
Well, the most popular choice among students is Business Administration. In fact, it’s not just the most popular among business majors, Business Administration & Management is among the most popular majors in the United States with over 410,000 degrees and certificates handed out per year. But does that mean it’s the best business major? While a Business Administration degree offers a broad foundation in the world of commerce, some research shows that students who major in general business and marketing are more likely to be underemployed or earn less than those in more math-focused business majors, such as accounting or financial planning.
So how do you make a decision with so many business major options? Eyeing the job market outlook for business degrees of the future is a good place to start, but your decision should also take into consideration your preferences, goals and motivations. In this blog, we’ll help you narrow down your choice by looking at three motivating factors: Do you want to earn the most money, gain a sense of fulfillment or be your own boss?
Let’s take a look at five of the highest paying jobs for business graduates according to UoPeople:
VP Sales and Marketing: MBA in Sales, Marketing
Chief Executive Officer: MBA in Management, Operations, Entrepreneurship, Sales
Finance Manager: MBA in Management, Operations, Entrepreneurship
Director of Marketing: BA/MBA in Marketing, International Business, Sales
Budget Director: BA/MBA in Finance, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Operations, Economics
Notice how most of these upper management high earners have education at the MBA (Master’s in Business Administration) level. If your goal is the make the most money by advancing to executive management, you’ll probably want to obtain your bachelor’s degree and then join the workforce for a few years before applying to an MBA program. For this path, it may seem like an undergraduate degree in Business Administration would be your best option; however, that may not necessarily be the case. TopMBA looked at the undergraduate backgrounds of those accepted into MBA programs at three of the most prestigious business schools in the United States. Results showed that the majority of candidates accepted were not from business backgrounds.
Here’s a breakdown of the undergraduate majors accepted to these MBA programs:
A good deal of students accepted to MBA programs actually come from STEM backgrounds. This may be partly attributed to higher rankings on the GMAT or GRE, which you’ll be required to take to get accepted into a reputable MBA program. If getting a high GMAT or GRE score is important to the MBA program you’re applying, then you may want to consider a major that will help you prepare for it. GMAC analyzed scores from different majors and found the top performers on the GMAT had bachelor’s degrees in Physics (608), Mathematics (605) and Engineering (595) while graduates in Marketing (493) and Education (485) were near the bottom of the list.
In sum, if your goal is to make the most money by striving to become a top corporate executive, your best course is to set your sights on eventually earning an MBA. Instead of just focusing on a generic business undergrad degree, your education plan should align with the type of industry you’d like to work in. If your goal is to someday become the VP of a financial institution, then you might do well to study finance as your undergrad major. If you’d rather be a high-level director or manager in the tech industry, then studying an IT-related major could get you further in your educational goals, career and earnings than a general business major.
I want to be fulfilled in my work life
Some jobs pay well, some have flexible schedules and others are reported to give workers a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. While making lots of money is a good goal for some, others are looking for a job that makes them feel rewarded and engaged. If you cherish your mental health and a good work-life balance, pay attention to these factors that The Balance Careers say make a job fulfilling:
Something you excel at
Limited stress
Good company culture and reputation
Opportunities for advancement
Fair compensation
Lack of major negatives
Caring for others
Positive relationships
While there are a variety of jobs that offer these types of benefits and advantages, it’s best to know your particular personality and values before deciding what might be most satisfying in your work life. Perhaps you have an accounting brain or maybe you’re passionate about non-profit management and social causes. There’s also Green and Sustainable Management for those with a passion for protecting the environment. According to msn.com, here are some of the most-fulfilling roles identified by business professionals:
As you can see, these positions can be held in a range of industries and organizations. If you’d like a job that gives you a sense of fulfillment, it might be a good idea to figure out what makes you feel motivated and engaged. You can also take some general business classes before declaring your business major. This will help you decide if you prefer the math side (accounting, finance, tax) or the people side (human resources, marketing, public administration) of business. Luckily, most business degrees are versatile. So even if you end up in an entry-level role that doesn’t bring you joy, there’s still opportunity for advancement, company change or even career change.
I want to be my own boss
Is your goal to someday run your own company? A business degree is a great start. While anyone can come up with a business idea, how successful that business becomes depends heavily on the individual and their education. It’s true that some successful business owners have never completed college, but this tends to be more of an exception than the rule. A degree will only help your business become more successful, even if you’re able to get a good head start on your own. Knowing how to take your business to the next level is key to being an effective entrepreneur.
There are several business majors that work well for budding entrepreneurs. Here are four we’ve identified as most effective:
Entrepreneurship – A business major in entrepreneurship is a great choice for anyone wanting to start a business, as it teaches you how to pursue business opportunities and provide for the needs of the market. According to CVN, you’ll also learn how to get creative, learn management, be a leader, tackle uncertainty, identify problems, expand demand and dream big.
Finance – Majoring in finance can also give you a great advantage over other entrepreneurs as it teaches you about working with money and investments. According to Investopedia, ‘Finance students may drill deeper into topics such as corporate and global finance, and a finance degree program may address hard skills such as financial analysis and accounting.’
Marketing – Another great choice for those wanting to learn how to start their own business is marketing, as marketing campaigns are pivotal to the success of any new business endeavor. A marketing major will help you explore the fundamentals of consumer behavior while also learning how to conduct market research and develop advertising to promote your products or services and increase your brand awareness.
Economics – An economics major is also useful for entrepreneurs for several reasons. You’ll learn how markets work, be able to identify true costs, know how to collect in-depth market analysis and make long-term business forecasts.
New businesses can fail for many reasons, from poor location choice and inadequate cash flow to poor management practices and ineffective advertising. If your goal is to become your own boss, you’ll want to learn everything you can before starting your business to avoid the pitfalls of inexperienced entrepreneurs. By first obtaining a business degree in entrepreneurship, finance, marketing or economics, you’ll learn how to both identify and implement best business practices so that you can be your own boss – and stay that way!
No matter your motivation for getting a business degree, you’re on the right track! A degree in business is the door to the world of commerce where you’ll get the opportunity to network with professionals, expand your career opportunities, learn useful skills and obtain valuable experience. Whether you’re just starting your education or wanting to finish your business degree to get ahead at your job, we’ve got you covered. At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we give you the freedom to earn or finish your bachelor’s degree through a non-traditional, online college experience that saves you both time and money. See how it works!
