As part of the larger fields of building inspection and construction, the primary purpose of a home inspector is to ensure that building codes and ordinances, contract specifications, and zoning regulations are being followed and that the buildings are safe for people who will dwell or work in them as well as for the environment. Building inspectors also inspect sewer and water systems, bridges, dams, and streets and highways.

Home inspectors are hired by individuals who wish to purchase a new home but want to be assured of its structural elements. As a home inspector, you will check the foundation, roofing, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, electrical system, ventilation, and interior of a home. You will be relied on by the prospective buyers to help them ascertain whether or not the home is up to safety and durability standards. This has become a standard practice in the process of buying a home, so you will play a vital role.

Depending on the state in which you live, you may be required to be licensed or certified; this means you may need to pursue your education, gain experience, possess liability insurance, and/or pass an exam. Though many train on the job, home inspectors must learn record keeping, contract specifications, and building codes and regulations. You can learn all these by studying to earn your degree online; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those with career training in home inspection will have the best career opportunities.

The BLS has predicted an 18 percent increase in employment for building and construction inspectors between 2006 and 2016. They have also predicted a rapid increase in jobs for home inspectors; those who become certified and have a high level of experience, education, and skill will have the greatest opportunities. The BLS shows that median salaries for inspectors were approximately $48,000 in 2007.

Earning your online college degree in the field will help you to gain the necessary knowledge needed to have credibility.

Photo Credit: Stéphane Magnenat, GNU Free Documentation License

Art History Degree

Do you have a deep appreciation for art, but studio classes just aren’t for you? Perhaps earning an art history degree is right for you. With a degree in this field, you will begin to understand the influences and motivations behind the world’s great masterpieces as well as trends in contemporary art. Regardless of what area of art you choose to study, your knowledge of art’s rich history will provide you with solid career training.

A degree in art history will provide and enhance your skills in observation, research, communication, and teamwork as well as expose you to the artifacts and artwork of other time periods and cultures.

Art historians have a wide variety of career choices available to them, including:

• Teacher
• Art critic/reporter
• Buyer and archivist for public and private collections
• Collector and seller of art and antiques
• Scholarly researcher and grant writer

Working in this field involves researching, observing, and writing about a wide variety of types of art; you might also choose to study cultural influences and social and historical conditions that have contributed to specific works of art.

History student interested in the humanities will benefit greatly by studying art history; artifacts associated with specific periods throughout history provide insight and various points of view about events and cultural practices within particular time periods in history.

When earning your degree, you will take classes in language, writing, math, humanities, and sciences; courses related to your major in art history might include design, seminars, and art appreciation. Through your core courses, you will also gain an understanding of how all aspects of culture and history influence one another and are connected.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that careers for curators, archivists, and museum technicians will grow by approximately 18% through 2016. Competition is expected due to cutbacks in art funding; however, entry level positions in museums and galleries should be available to those who obtain a bachelor’s degree in the field. Archivist and curator positions will require a master’s degree. Based on data from May 2007, $46,000 was the median salary for museum curators.

Due in large part to its flexibility, adaptability, and large vocabulary, English has become the universal language for entertainment, communication, business, and policy. Approximately 20 – 25% of the world speaks English (about 750 million people); therefore, those who master the language, particularly in writing, have a distinct advantage in the workplace as most business takes place via print media, written correspondence, and Web copy.

While earning your degree in English, you will focus on critical writing, critical thinking, literature, public speaking, and the like. Some of the careers you might pursue after graduation include those in publishing, law, politics, business, education, writing, and journalism; you can, however, find a position in nearly any industry and field imaginable – manufacturing, science, and even Hollywood to name a few.

An online English degree program will offer you the ability to master the crucial critical writing and thinking skills you will need to succeed in today’s business world while providing you the flexibility to continue fulfilling your current work and personal obligations. You won’t need to leave your home to take part in lectures or classroom discussions; you’ll be able to do it all online.

Earning an online associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in English leads many graduates to pursue careers in journalism; whether you become a reporter, correspondent, or news analyst, as a professional in this field, you will work in broadcast, print, and online media to write features, editorials, news, weather, sports, entertainment, business stories, and more. You might also become an editor, scriptwriter, or manuscript analyst.

Some graduates utilize their acquired English language skills to work as public relations specialists helping businesses and non-profit organizations establish and maintain a positive public image by crafting effective company publications, broadcast scripts, and press releases.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a strong 14% increase in jobs in the advertising and public relations sectors during the 2006 – 2016 decade; 20% of these will be in New York and California.

Help Others Resolve Conflicts

Whether they hold the title ‘mediator’, ‘conciliator’, or ‘arbitrator’, it is the job of a conflict resolution and mediation specialist to help individuals resolve disputes outside of court, in a hearing that typically has less formality than a judicial court does. A mediator serves simply as a neutral party, generally only making suggestions, not giving binding orders; in other words, either party can reject the mediator’s suggestions as they deem fit and proper.

When two disagreeing parties agree to mediation, they have decided to resolve their conflict themselves; if they are unable to do so, they then move on to a more formal hearing. The less formal process, however, because it offers a less expensive way to reach an agreement without all the attention taking the feud public brings, is usually more attractive than a long, drawn out, expensive courtroom trial.

As a prospective mediator, you have a broad level of career training options to choose from – from a certificate to a master’s degree. The American Arbitration Association, among other state agencies, offers certification in conflict resolution. You can find training in this field through independent mediation programs, post-secondary schools, and local and national mediation membership organizations.

While earning a degree in conflict resolution and mediation, you will learn the following skills:

• Conflict analysis: stepping outside of a conflict in order to analyze it objectively.
• Negotiation: leading people to compromise, utilizing skills such as questioning, agreement writing, and neutral language.
• Mediation theory: studying and learning the common ethical issues that arise during mediation and conflict resolution (i.e. informed consent, impartiality, and confidentiality).
• Handling cultural diversity: approaching conflict with an understanding of a culturally diverse setting.

You will find that the licensing requirements for each state varies widely – some require arbitrators to have experience in law, while others have no certification programs; check with your state to determine whether or not the degree and training you are looking into will qualify you to work in your state.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has determined that in 2008, mediators, arbitrators, and conciliators earned a median annual salary of $48,840.

Some of the top paying industries in this field include:

• State government ($60,080)
• Medical and surgical hospitals ($66,290)
• Universities ($68,350)
• Legal services ($69,010)
• Federal executive branch ($109,490)

The BLS expects conflict mediators to experience steady job growth of approximately 11% through 2016.

Earn Your Degree in Public Relations

When you become a public relations specialist, your work will involve advocating for various businesses, universities, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations in order to maintain their positive reputations. You will do this by handling organizational messages that involve media and consumer, industry, community and governmental communications. You will likely draft press releases and interact with various forms of media, be they broadcast or print, as well as establish speaking engagements. You might need to prepare speeches and talking points for the officials of the organizations for which you work. Essentially, you will be acting as the intermediary between your employer and the public and act as the “face” of the company.

To succeed in the field of public relations, you must possess excellent oral and written communication skills. When working toward your degree, you will focus on courses such as marketing, journalism, writing, and communications strategies. You may also take specific courses in marketing principles, public speaking, consumer behavior, social media, business, and technical writing.

Elective courses should be chosen with your ultimate career goal in mind; do you prefer a nonprofit, business, or public (i.e. hospitals, clinics, etc.) arena? Carefully choosing a focus for your degree will better equip you for a position in your desired sector when you graduate.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs in the field of public relations will increase by 18 percent from 2006 to 2016; however, the competition for entry-level positions is expected to be high. Graduates with higher degrees and greater experience will have the greatest opportunities and earn higher salaries. The median annual salary for a public relations specialist in 2007 was $49,800 (the top 10 percent earned $94,620).

Become a Legal Services Professional

Many law firms and businesses have begun to rely more and more heavily on paralegals and other legal assistants to provide basic legal services to clients due to the ever-increasing costs of offering legal representation. Because there is such a need for affordable legal services, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment opportunities to continue growing for legal assistants and paralegals.

Legal assistants and paralegals assist attorneys in preparing documents and cases and provide the research necessary to do so. Social services agencies and legal clinics will often employ legal services professionals in order to provide low-cost general legal support for their low-income clients. This type of work involves meeting with clients, making notes about their case, preparing documents, and providing some basic legal advice.

To succeed as a legal service professional, you need strong communication and interpersonal skills, and adequate computer skills for keeping records, documenting case files, and conducting legal research. It is essential to be able to conduct accurate research and to have impeccable organizational skills as well.

In order to become a paralegal, you must obtain a minimum of an associate’s degree; earning your degree online through an accredited college allows you to work around your current schedule and lifestyle.

If you have a strong interest in the law and love working with people of all types, working as a paralegal or legal assistant would likely be a very rewarding career for you. Generally, legal professionals enjoy a lucrative salary as well; as of 2007, paralegals and assistants earned a median annual salary of approximately $48,000. Individuals in this field also may receive bonuses and/or tuition reimbursement from their employers as well.

Public safety managers, unlike public safety or law enforcement officials, who walk the streets to keep us safe, work behind the scenes to ensure that specific plans are in place to keep the public safe.

Earning your degree in public safety management will prepare you to work in a number of different industries – coordinating events so they will run safely, inspecting buildings to ensure their safe occupation, and implementing safety personnel in various positions in large arenas, just to name a few.

Public safety is a broad field, making it possible to easily match your interests to a degree program. When you have achieved your public safety management degree, you will be prepared to work in a large corporation, fire or police department, or public safety organization.

With the public becoming more and more aware of the need for national security, individuals with degrees in public safety management are now in higher demand than ever, so those who have advanced degrees are more likely to be hired in this competitive industry.

When you study for a degree in this field, you will learn how to create a budget for the organization you work for, communicate effectively, manage a team of experts, and meet the demands of an organization’s mission statement. Essentially, a degree in public safety combines a business degree with one in law enforcement, thus you will develop your skills in business, finance, communications, management, law, and criminal justice, and the like, preparing you to take on whatever challenges you will face when you become employed with a particular organization.

If you are highly organized, have strong attention to detail and have genuine concern for the welfare of those around you, a degree in public safety management may be right for you.

An ideal public safety manager will also usually possess the following characteristics and skills:

• Excellent computer skills
• Strong leadership abilities
• Strong communication skills
• Budget management skills
• Multitasking skills
• Ability to plan ahead
• Ability to foresee problems
• Troubleshooting skills
• Creative problem solving abilities

Some of the career specializations you might choose include:

• Chief of Police
• Fire Chief
• Corporate Security Managers
• Public Events Security Coordinator
• Emergency Response Specialist
• Anti-Terrorism Task Force Coordinator

Becoming a Manager in the Food Industry

For those who are interested in becoming a culinary or restaurant manager, they must first consider their skill set. A successful culinary professional must be in good health and have great stamina, be self-disciplined, have drive and leadership capabilities, be open to a wide variety of personalities, possess strong attention to detail, be able to follow procedures, and have experience in the industry. To work in the better hotels, restaurants, and catering companies, career training in restaurant management can be very helpful in giving you the tools you need.

As a food service manager, one of your most important tasks is helping the chef select menu items and weekly/daily specials. Managers are responsible for analyzing the recipes of the chef’s choosing to determine the costs of food, labor, and overhead costs so a price can be appropriately assigned to each item on the menu. Because supplies need to be ordered and received prior to putting specific dishes on the menu, menus must be created well in advance.

If you are able to motivate your employees, are a good communicator, can maintain rigorous health and safety standards by ensuring a high level of service and quality foods, and pay close attention to what needs to be done to run a business legally, you will likely become a very successful restaurant manager.

If you choose to earn an online degree in restaurant management, you will learn how to utilize the Internet to stay up-to-date on industry trends, advertise, and find great recipe ideas. You will also be taught how to control inventory, track orders, enter patron orders through a point-of-service (POS) system, and keep track of employee payroll and schedules.

By obtaining a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in food service management, you will be much more likely to be selected to work in a management position than those who have work experience, but no degree.

While certification is not required for those seeking employment or advancement opportunities in the food industry, voluntary certification provides a tool that can show potential employers your professional competency.

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation offers two types of individual credentials.

1. Foodservice Management Professional (FMP) designation – requires you to complete exams and evaluates your education and/or experience.
2. Certificate of Course Completion – verifies that you have successfully completed courses related to food service management.

Learning is a Lifelong Process

Those interested in pursuing a career as an adult educator usually have education and/or work experience in a particular field. Earning a degree in adult education will build upon that education and/or work experience to qualify them to teach the skills of their profession to others.

Adult educators enable adults to further their educations by offering them the encouragement and knowledge they need to do so. Those who are considering furthering their education by earning a degree in this field should:

• Be able to work with a wide variety of people
• Love to teach
• Have strong interpersonal skills

Courses you will take when studying for a degree in adult education will include adult psychology, program planning and development, and adult growth and development. When you are earning your bachelor’s, you will also take courses in curriculum development, communication, and theories and practices of adult education.

Typically, adult educators will teach in post-secondary schools such as colleges and universities, or vocational schools. To teach in these settings, it is usually necessary to have a college degree along with strong knowledge of the subject you will be teaching.

In addition to teaching at post-secondary schools, you may want to pursue a career as a corporate trainer; many companies have begun to employ corporate trainers to provide professional development programs that encompass a wide array of job-related topics.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, adult educators will earn approximately $42,000 if they teach adult literacy or remedial education. Teaching at a college or university, you may, as an instructor, earn an annual salary of $36,000, depending on the school and location. Professors earn quite a bit more – on average they earn approximately $75,000 annually.

A Graduate Degree in Poly Sci Will Take You Far

As a student of a political science graduate program, you will be examining the function and development of government; additionally, you be looking at the behaviors of rulers throughout history. When you understand the evolution of current democracy, you will be able to integrate best practices of the past into new ideas and policies.

When you’ve graduated, you may choose to pursue a career in public service or government by becoming a consulting analyst, support staffer, or an elected politician. You might also choose to become a professor in order to influence policies of the current government by writing essays for political journals, conducting research on the effects of proposed laws, or engaging in political debates.

Political science majors often concentrate on specific areas of politics, such as local government or international relations. Politicians rely on teams of consultants and experts, as it would be next to impossible to be versed in all aspects of government.

As a graduate student, you will use your life experiences as well as your previous undergraduate studies to explore the deeper issues of politics and what its influences are. Master’s degree programs in political science can offer you the chance to delve deeper into a chosen area of expertise and choose a niche field such as nonprofit law, administrative theory, regulatory policy, and public policy.

Some Career Paths of Political Science Graduates:

• High School Teacher
• College Professor
• Campaign Manager
• Legislative Aid
• Agency Specialist
• State Legislator
• Legislative Attorney
• District Attorney
• Judge
• Consultant
• Press Secretary
• Lobbyist

Skills of a Successful Political Science Graduate:

• Efficiency in Oral Presentation
• Effective Interview Techniques/Skills
• Strong Written Communication Skills
• Accurate, Comprehensive Research Skills
• A Thorough Understanding of International Policies and Politics
• A Thorough Understanding of American Policies and Politics

Professional Associations:

• American Political Science Association
• International Political Science Association