Graduate education became popular and led to exciting career opportunities. Some professions began to demand it. Some colleges saw it as a money-making opportunity and promoted it.
This morphed in the 1970s into an explosion of MBAs. They had a real run. Many employers paid the expenses.
Unfortunately, perfectly good Liberal Arts colleges distorted their mission by pasting MBA curricula onto their offerings. Many were woefully inadequate, but they were popular and very profitable. Sadly, many graduates did not benefit from their new degree. The network exerted itself and jobs and promotions went to prestigious university MBA graduates.
The bloom is off. Recently, many reports have indicated an overabundance of MBAs; further only those from distinguished universities can hope to secure appropriate employment. Be forewarned.
Successful Careers
Hispanics with graduate degrees have succeeded in education, K through post-Ph.D. They carved out careers in a wide variety of positions from classroom teachers to college professors to administrators, as well as librarians, counselors and admission officers.
Hispanics also earned graduate degrees in social work, accounting, business and engineering. They went on to significant careers.
I reviewed this profession, which requires three years of graduate education, in the December/January 2018/19 issue of The Hispanic Outlook on Education. In summary, the field is saturated, fifty percent of graduates never pass the Bar, suitable law appointments are scarce, schools have been sued for exaggerating the successes of their graduates, enrollments have plummeted. Not an encouraging picture for would be lawyers.
But there are niches of opportunity. One being that there is a growing need for Hispanic lawyers in a wide variety of specialties. Significant financial aid and mentoring opportunities, which lead to professional employment, are available.
Opportunities will continue to expand in existing health fields and among a multitude of new fields yet to be introduced.
Medical doctors will remain an exalted profession in America. Given the gigantic, all-inclusive health organizations, their practice may be different from present patterns. But they will remain a privileged profession. More Hispanics are sorely needed.
Nurses’ demand will rise. To secure higher paying and interesting positions, earn a master’s degree. Your options will explode.
America is aging. Gerontology fields will offer highly trained health professionals many rewarding opportunities. More people will seek improved medical assistance. Specialized programs to help them will be developed and directed by persons with graduate degrees.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor report “2016-26 Employment Projections” lists the fastest growing employment opportunities during that period. Employment is projected to increase by 11.5 million, an increase from 156.1 million to 167.6 million. Graduate education will command an increasingly important role in the burgeoning professions.
The fastest-growing jobs through 2026 have been dubbed The Big Three Cs: Care, Computers and Clean Energy. Securing a graduate degree in those fields will enhance one’s opportunities for meaningful employment.
No occupation is projected to add more workers than personal care, those who care for our aging population. I hope Hispanics are not relegated to become the maids and personal care aides of this country. It is imperative Hispanics train, so they can be leaders in meeting the need as professionals.
Since hands-on health care cannot be automated, of the 10 jobs projected to grow fastest by percent, five are in health care and elderly assistance. Those five occupations, personal care aides, home health aides, registered nurses, medical assistants and graduate nurses, will account for almost one-fifth of the net new jobs created by 2026.
Employment in the health care and social assistance sector is projected to add nearly 4.0 million jobs by 2026. Such employment is projected to increase from 12.2 percent in 2016 to 13.8 percent in 2026, becoming the largest major sector in 2026. About nine out of 10 new jobs are projected to be added in the service-providing sector from 2016 to 2026, resulting in more than 10.5 million new jobs. The best positions will require graduate education.
The second “C”—Computers—is hardly a surprise. With ever smaller and more powerful chips, computers will become an integral part of our lives at home, at work and at play. Graduate school trained engineers and administrators will be in demand.
Third, hordes of engineers and other highly-educated specialists will be needed for the burgeoning Clean Energy professions. Specifically, Clean Energy professionals, including scientists and administrators in the solar-panel and wind-turbine industries are the only occupations that are expected to double by 2026. In these specialized fields the best opportunities will go to those with graduate degrees.
There is an urgent need to train more people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The need for STEM professionals is so great that the federal government is providing millions of dollars yearly for facilities and scholarships to train hundreds of thousands.
If you already have a baccalaureate in one of these fields, seize the opportunity to earn a graduate degree.
In the future, graduate education will be necessary for the best jobs. In some professions it will be required as the entry degree and will be necessary for the best options and promotions.
Luckily there are a plethora of graduate schools one can select. Full-time and part-time study opportunities exist as do fellowships. Further, many enlightened employees subsidize graduate education.
Persons with baccalaureates should push on to graduate school. Invest in yourself!
Good news! Richard Garrett, chief research officer at Eduventures, has predicted that next year at least five more research-intensive universities will launch low-priced online master’s degrees, in the vein of the computer-science master’s program pioneered by Georgia Tech. Garrett commented, “The trend is clear: top brand, low price.”
So, is graduate education worthwhile? A resounding Yes! But select a field that you like, otherwise you’ll be unhappy. And select one that offers career opportunities. •
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