Tax season may be over, but the need for qualified accountants continues to increase.  Accounting programs offer a comprehensive curriculum to help students achieve their accounting degrees and prepare for state accounting certification such as CPA examinations.  At an accredited accounting school, you can be sure that you will receive top-notch instruction to help you succeed in your accounting career after graduation.  Whether you are just starting out or wishing to advance in your career, online colleges and universities offer specialized accounting courses for the undergraduate student, as well as for students looking to earn an accounting MBA.

Learn more about universities and colleges that offer accouting programs and certifications in your area.

If you are looking to change careers or begin your career after college it is important to know which degrees yield the best salaries, especially during these uncertain economic times.

Overall, the average starting salary for graduates with Bachelor’s Degrees for 2009 is around $49,353. This figure is only slightly higher than the average for 2008 ($49,300).  When it comes to the highest paid Bachelor’s Degrees for 2009, starting salaries range from $46,655 (nursing) up to $65,466 (chemical engineering).

The top bachelor’s degrees in 2009 are:

• Pharmacist: $111,782
• Software Design & Development: $66,290
• Chemical Engineering: $65,466
• Mechanical Engineering: $58,648
• Computer Science: $58,419
• Electrical/Electronics & Communications Engineering: $57,404
• Construction Science/Management: $52,837
• Civil Engineering: $50,785
• Accounting (Public): $50,403
• Finance: $49,794
• Logistics/Materials Management: $49,398
• Nursing: $46,655

Learn more about bachelor’s degrees and other educational programs today.

As part of our continuing series, let’s take a look at the career and job opportunities on the east coast.  New York City is still the center of international business, finance, and insurance.   However, the financial sector alone does not account for the city’s stunning $952.6 billion gross product. New York is also “the media capital of the world,” home to more than 200 newspapers and 350 magazines, all the major book publishers, and a kinetic arts scene.  Some of the hot careers and jobs for the east coast are:

• Investment Banker: Salaries to make your head spin and fast-paced challenging work attract investment bankers to Manhattan. You’ll work an average seventy hours a week, but your paychecks will add up to six or seven figures. I-bankers typically have MBA degrees, though some entry-level analyst positions require only a bachelor’s degree.
• Fashion Designer: If you’re planning to make a splash in the fashion world, book your ticket for New York City. The city’s illustrious fashion design industry is on par with London, Paris, and Milan. Break into the field with an associate’s degree in fashion design. East coast schools not only offer technical training, but also exposure to the most influential design houses.

Learn more about finance and fashion programs avialable in your area of the country.

Are you interested in changing careers but want to ensure you choose correctly?  Here are the eight top jobs for graduates with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, based on recent job predictions for the next eight years.

Network Systems Analyst
All companies with email, Internet, or intranet use networking systems and need individuals who can design and run them. An online bachelor’s degree in computer science, information science, or management information systems can give you the career training you need for this fast growing, high-paying career, which, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, paid an annual wage of $70,760 on average in 2007.

Financial Analyst or Advisor
In large businesses, financial analysts research companies and make buy/sell decisions, while financial advisors help individuals make their financial investment decisions. Online coursework and a bachelor’s degree in finance or business administration can prepare you for this quickly growing, well-paid position. Financial specialists made an annual salary of $61,760 on average in 2007.

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
If animals are some of your best friends, consider becoming a veterinary technologist or technician. With an associate’s degree in veterinary science, you can work with animals, perform medical and laboratory tests, and give vaccines. Veterinary technologists and technician jobs paid an average yearly salary of $28,920 in 2007. The expected growth rate for this career is 41 percent over the next eight years.

Counselors
A growing need for counselors in the areas of substance abuse, mental health, and marriage and family make this well-paying career enticing. Good interpersonal and listening skills are a must. Depending on your state’s licensing requirements, a bachelor’s or master’s degree and career training in counseling is needed. In 2007, counselors, clinicians, and school psychologists made an average salary of $68,150 annually.

Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical therapist assistants work closely with physical therapists and their patients, helping patients improve mobility and strength. To become a physical therapist assistant, you need an associate’s degree in an accredited physical therapist assistant program. This rapidly growing profession paid an average annual wage of $24,080 in 2007.

Learn more about the progams and education available today.

Do you have a passion for movies and movie making?  Do you want to make your own movies.  Online film schools provide students with an incomparable and unmatched film education. Students have the opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge they need and showcase their creative talents throughout the film program.

Potential positions after graduation:

• Assistant Studio Manager
• Screenwriter
• Director
• Producer
• Camera Operator

Learn more about online film programs.

If you haven’t heard of the “New South,” you may not know the extent of your career prospects in this part of the country.   Atlanta, Miami, Houston, and Dallas are putting the region on the map of international commerce. Houston and Atlanta are second only to New York City in the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered there.  Some of the careers and jobs that are hot in the south right now are:

• Biomedical Researcher: Ranked among the nation’s fastest-growing careers, biomedical engineering has a bright future. That future is especially bright in Houston, home to two major medical research centers, a Human Genome Sequencing Center which has over $3.5 billion in research grants. A bachelor’s degree is sufficient for some positions, but a master’s or Ph.D. in bioengineering or a related field is standard for research positions.
• Telecommunications Specialist: It’s an exciting time for telecommunications specialists, who design voice and data communication systems. Atlanta, home to telecom giants Cingular Wireless and BellSouth, is a hot spot for telecommunications specialists. Designers will need an engineering degree, but system installers need only complete a certificate training program.

Learn more about the education programs available to get you started in research and telecommunications.

As people struggle to find and keep their jobs, there are careers and career paths that can supply you with job security.  The top five best jobs to ensure job security are:

1. Medical assistant–With the increasing demand for health services, the health care industry is sailing through the economic downturn. Many allied health training programs offer a path into this high-demand sector in a year or less.
2. A one-year medical assistant certificate qualifies graduates to do administrative work in hospitals and medical clinics.   Medical assistants also perform light patient care, such as managing patient records and taking blood pressure readings. The Department of Labor predicts a stunning 35 percent growth in employment through 2016, making this one of the top ten fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. Average 2008 salary: $29,000
3. Electrical engineering technician certificate or associate degree Technicians can give their career a shot of life with a targeted career training program.An engineering technician associate degree or certificate combines courses in math and science fundamentals with hands-on training. The two-year associate degree features a broader college education, which can lead to more advancement opportunities and higher pay. Electrical engineering technicians earned an average salary of $53,990 in 2008.
4. IT project manager professional (PMP) certificate– IT and computer support specialists can take their career to the next level with project management training. The project management certification program equips you with the skills to lead a team and manage complex projects. The program, which may be completed in a matter of months, offers real-world training in everything from budget forecasting to risk management. You’ll also build expertise using Microsoft Project and other advanced project management tools. PMP certification training prepares you to take the Project Management Institutes’s professional certification exam.Moving into a management role offers more than a solid foothold in the IT department. Project managers also command a significantly higher salary. Computer and information systems managers earned $118,710 in 2008.
5. Paralegal certificate or associate degree– Paralegals are steadily ascending in the legal profession, assuming many of the responsibilities traditionally reserved for attorneys. As a result, demand for qualified paralegals is rising. According to the Bureau of Labor, this occupation is poised to grow 22 percent through 2016.
   Formal training for paralegals means either an associate degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor’s degree in any field combined with a paralegal certificate. The certificate, which may be completed in under a year, is well-suited to career changers who already have a college degree in another field. If you are starting out fresh, choose a two-year associate degree which combines core academic courses with applied legal training. Paralegals earned $48,790 in 2008.
6. Associate degree in interactive media design– Artists don’t need to abandon their creative vocation during economic tough times — for career opportunity, look no further than the digital arts. An online program in interactive media design can help you bridge the gap between artistic talent and gainful employment. You’ll develop technical skills in today’s interactive multimedia applications, including 3-D modeling, animation and video production programs.Multimedia artists can expect better job prospects than nearly any other artistic specialist, with 26 percent employment growth projected through 2016. Industries fueling the demand for digital artists include entertainment, advertising, and even scientific research and design services. Three-dimensional design and animation skills have applications in video game and Web development, as well as architectural and design modeling. Multimedia artists earned $62,380 in 2008.

Learn more about the certificate and degree programs that are available through online and campus based schools.

Even in the ever change economic times, many students are looking to online colleges and universities to learn how to succeed in business and business administration.  A business administration degree should prepare you for more than just a desk job.   Many accredited business administration institutions offer  classes that will help you advance in your future career.  Online colleges and universities offer a great opportunity to learn while  giving you the flexibility to study online, or at campus locations and at your own pace.

Some of the courses available in business and business administration are:

Bachelor of Business Administration

• Acquisition and Contract Management
• Banking
• E-Business
• Finance
• Hospitality and Tourism Management
• Human Resource Management
• Legal Studies
• Management
• Marketing
• Retail Management

Undergraduate Certificate

• Business Administration
  • Acquisition and Contract Management
  • E-Business
  • Management
  • Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship

Master of Business Administration

• Accounting
• Acquisition
• Finance
• Health Services Administration
• Hospitality and Tourism Management
• Human Resource Management
• Information Systems Management
• International Business
• Management
• Marketing
• Professional Studies
• Project Management
• Public Administration

Executive Graduate Certificate

• Business Administration
  • Acquisition
  • Human Resource Management
  • Management
  • Marketing

With over two million jobs lost, it seems miraculous that job growth is happening at all. The numbers don’t lie, though. What can you do to hop on the growth train? Focus on education and career training, and keep an eye on these fields.

Health Care: The Right Medicine

The health care field employs more than just doctors and nurses. The dramatic increase in technology  has led to jobs in  information technology.   There are now many options in career training that allow you to be part of the job growth.

• Medical Records and Health Information Technicians: This is one of the fastest growing areas of the health care industry with job growth expected to exceed nearly all other jobs in the health care industry. An associate’s degree and a willingness to work are all you’re going to need to get into this field, which pays about $30,000 annually.
• Personal and Home Health Aides: Even the most current numbers show job growth in the personal and home health aide sector of the health care industry. These service careers are expected to add  50 percent more jobs by 2016.   With necessary training and pay varying depending on location, opportunities abound with everything from vocational certificates to bachelor’s degrees.

Making the jump today in the health care industry can provide financial security in your future.

Deciding to seek one or more graduate degrees is a major commitment of time and money; a decision not to take lightly. You will face several years of intense work and research — a much more demanding course load than in your undergraduate program.  Online universities and college offer a flexible and cost effective option for achieving your master’s degree.

There are major debates on when is the best time to get your master’s degree. The reasons for going straight to graduate school after earning your bachelor’s degree:

• you are accustomed to being a student — and have momentum;
• your study skills are sharp;
• you have few obligations;
• some occupations require an advanced degree even for “entry-level” positions.

The reasons for working for a few years before going to graduate school:

• you can better know your career goals by working in the field for a few years
• some graduate programs require work experience
• you bring a broader world view to your studies
• you have a more mature outlook on school and work
• many employers will pay some or all of your graduate school expenses
• you can gain solid financial footing
• you can improve your chances for acceptance to graduate

Online colleges and Universities offer student flexibility and affordability at every level of educations including master’s degree.  Check out the master’s degree programs at accredited online colleges and universities.