M A K I N G YO U R E D U C AT I O N W O R K F O R YO U

EDUCATION PAYS!

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS (2010)

EVERYONE NEEDS TRAINING

• Not all careers require a 4-year college degree.• All careers require some type of training,

whether it is on-the-job, specialty school or technical school certification.

LEVELS OF EDUCATION

• Levels of Education include:• Certification or Diploma (a

few weeks or months)• Associate Degree (2-year

degree)• Bachelor’s Degree (4-year

degree)• Master’s or Professional

Degree (2-3 years beyond bachelors degree)

• Doctoral Degree (3-4 years beyond Bachelors or Masters degree)

TECHNICAL OR CAREER SCHOOLS

• Technical or Career schools train students to perform a specific set of skills.• Training can last from 6 weeks to 2 years.• Their emphasis is on job-specific skills, not

academic courses.

TECHNICAL OR CAREER SCHOOLS

• Community based• Need high school

diploma/GED • Some classes will

transfer to a four-year college.

• Training in highly specialized skills in high demand

• Welders can begin at 36k after 1yr of school

• A teacher will earn about $36,000 after four years of college.

SOME TECHNICAL SCHOOL OFFERINGS

• Air Conditioning Technician

• Medical Assistant• Medical Billing

Specialist• Automotive Engine

Technician• Prep Cook• Pharmacy Assistant• Diesel Service

Technician• Welding

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

• Four-year colleges and universities • prepare students for

entry level professional careers.

• requires 2 years of challenging academic courses

• followed by 2 years of courses concentrated in your chosen career field.

• College prepares students to be critical thinkers and problem solvers.

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

• 4-year college• start at a higher salary

because of the experiences they have in college:

• internships, leadership roles, opportunities to interact with students from different backgrounds.

• offer a wider variety of career concentrations.

• prepare for more advanced professional training (such as law school or medical school).

SOME COLLEGE OFFERINGS

• Education• Nursing• Business Management• Pre-Medicine• Pre-Law• Engineering• Journalism• Psychology

ADVANCED DEGREES

• Continuing education• Masters• Doctorates, Ph.D./Ed.D• Advancement opportunities• Leadership roles• higher degrees = higher pay.

DISCUSSION

• What are the different education levels?• What is the difference between hourly and salary

wages?• What are the social issues impacting jobs?

(economy, individuals living longer, increased use of technology)• What ideas are guiding your decisions about what

career to pursue? (parent input, money, personal interest, helping the world…)

DISCUSSION

• Refer to the chart on the first slide to look at the level of education you may want to pursue after high school.• What will be the best investment of your time and

money?• Will you have to go to a four-year college to

achieve your career goals?• Use gacollege411.org to continue your career

research.