Unique degree options emerge through technology
April 1, 2013
Grants for single parents can help provide a financial base for those starting higher education later in life. Choosing the right degree is the next step in the process. Dozens of standard programs of study make good options for future careers, but with new technologies, a few nontraditional fields of study are available.
Popular degree choices
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), business degrees have always been consistently popular among students. In 2009 and 2010, most people going for their bachelor's did so in business.
The NCES study also described a rise in technology degrees. Between the 2004-2005 class and the 2009-2010 class, the number of students getting their bachelor's in engineering and engineering technologies increased by 12 percent. This rise suggests that degree-seekers may be noticing the technological innovations of our age and choosing their degrees accordingly.
For those looking to use the money from college scholarships in the pursuit of a promising career, choosing one of these technical fields may lead them to success.
Introducing a new tech degree
A new technology degree has made its way into the higher education scene: drone education. According to Time Magazine, many schools now include the study of drones, or unmanned aircraft, as a part of their curricula.
Community colleges and large universities alike offer degrees on flying drones, according to the news source. With this education under their belts, students pursuing the field qualify themselves for a set of varying jobs.
Many associate the flying of unmanned aircraft with military maneuvers overseas. However, other areas, such as law enforcement, implement the devices. Time cites a Mississippi police station using this type of aircraft to take pictures of traffic accidents and search for missing people.
Those with the technical expertise to operate drones are essential to any institution that employs new technology.
"The disciplines of aeronautical, electrical, mechanical engineering and computer sciences must be brought to bear when developing [unmanned aircraft systems]," Ben Trapnell, aeronautics professor at the University of North Dakota, said, as quoted by the Fiscal Times.
If deciding on this career path, an individual may benefit from a college degree in the technical fields. Though it may be an undertaking, getting a tech-oriented degree, such as one in drone studies, likely results in a career.
According to a 2013 Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International report, in the next three years alone, the unmanned aircraft industry will make 70,000 jobs.
By deciding on a degree outside of the norm - even if not as hi-tech as drone studies - students can set themselves up for success.
