To Be Employed, or Not To Be Employed?

Following your dreams may not be the most realistic piece of advice for young minds nowadays. Recently, The Wall Street Journal released a list of college majors with the highest and lowest unemployment rates over 10 percent. Many of these majors are what most students are passionate about, especially the students who attend Plymouth State University.

Four out of the 10 majors listed are under the Psychology field, ranking numbers one, five, eight, and nine.  Professor of Psychology Wendy Palmquist explained why these numbers for unemployment are so high.  "For most things you do in psych, you need more than a Bachelor's Degree. Clinical Psychology itself requires a doctorate."

The Psychology Department houses approximately nine professors and offers four separate options for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees: Mental Health, Developmental, Psychology and Law, which coexists with the Criminal Justice Department, and the Bachelor of Arts degree with no concentration. Palmquist says, "Psychology is not an easy job.  Bachelor level jobs such as direct care and resident staff in group homes are high burn-out jobs. Many students go to graduate school."

Also on the list are Fine Arts, ranking at number two, and Language and Literature, ranking at number 10. Both of these majors are prominent pieces of Plymouth State›s education system.  Senior and Teacher Certification major Becky Cressy says, "Our English department is what made me stay at Plymouth.  For me, it›s been about the learning experience. I never really thought about how difficult it would be for me to get a job in my concentration after college."

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the list of the ten college majors with the lowest unemployment rates includes Astronomy, Educational Administration, School Student Counseling, and Nursing. Most of these majors have a very small to nonexistent chance of becoming unemployed.

A survey of employers conducted for the Association of American Colleges and Universities ( AAC&U)  by Hart Research Associates showed a desire for colleges to "place more emphasis" on practical skills, personal and social responsibility, knowledge of human cultures, and applied learning. Ranking the highest percentages in each area were science and technology at 70 percent, written and oral communication at 89 percent, ethical decision making at 75 percent, and applied knowledge in real-world settings at 79 percent. Going along with this notion, Palmquist says, "Employers are looking for liberal arts. Our General Education program is the cream of the crop."

"I think our Gen Ed program gives us a well-rounded experience," says Cressy.  "Some students complain about how many classes you have to take, but it does help, having that many different areas on your transcript."

For students who still wish to follow their passions when it comes to their careers, Palmquist gives some advice as to how to better their chances of employment.

"There are practicum's and internships available with people in the field who can give references. Volunteer work should also be considered. Be flexible."