The transition from high school to college is one full of decisions to be made. Students must choose between community college or university, online or brick and mortar campuses. The list goes on and on as students begin navigating through many schools and majors, deciding which is the right path for them.

Arts Degrees

Arts degrees, sometimes called liberal arts degrees, or BA, allow a student to build their skills and knowledge through reasoning and critical thinking skills. Students who choose this path emphasize their studies on;

• Humanities (eg. religion, political science)
• Language (eg. communication, writing)
• Social Sciences (eg. psychology, sociology)

Bachelor of arts degrees allow you as a student the freedom to choose if you want to attend a brick and mortar school, or obtain their online bachelor of arts degree through a virtual campus. These arts degrees offer college graduates the knowledge and skillset to find careers in a variety of different fields including;

• Paralegal – average salary $48,810
• Technical Writer- average salary $70,240
• Software Developer – average salary $100,690

More information about potential careers available to graduates with a BA is available here.

Science Degrees

Much like the arts degree path described above, a bachelor of science degree, or BS allows students the flexibility of general knowledge and skill building and choose whether to obtain an online bachelor of science degree or a brick and mortar environment. Students who choose this path may be required more specialization than an arts degree to obtain the skills necessary in the workforce. Because of this, the required classes may be different for students depending on their career aspirations. Some subjects and courses that are considered core curricula and are required of all students include;

• Math (eg. algebra, calculus)
• Culture (eg. Native American culture, study abroad courses)
• Computers (eg. web programming, computer science)

There is a multitude of specialization options for students pursuing a BS degree. These areas of specialization should coincide with your career choices. Because of these specializations, the list of possible careers that fall into the ‘bachelors of science’ category is virtually endless. Just a few of these include;

• Accountant – average salary $67,190
• Nursing- average salary $67,490
• Engineer – average salary varies based on subcategory of engineering, $50k-$100,000+

As you can see, even in these few examples there are several subgroups of career paths to follow. Thebestschools.org is a wonderful resource to find out more about the many careers this degree can offer.

So, how do you choose?

The first step in any expedition to earning a college degree is to explore different careers and find what you want to use your degree for. The Myers-Briggs type indicator is a free test that can help you find a career that you will find rewarding. There is also the Keirsey temperament scorer that requires a small fee. Both options are discussed in further detail here.

The decision to further your education or change careers can seem like a daunting task if you don’t set clear career goals for yourself first. Once you have determined what those goals are, you can begin planning your education to fit your career.