Most of us were told as children that we could be whatever we wanted to be when we grew up. As time goes on, most of us tend to realize that the truth is slightly more complicated.
We’re all free to follow our dreams and passions, but our trajectory in life, particularly where college is concerned, can have a great deal more to do with pragmatism than with the far-off dreams of our childhood. Quite simply, our choice of college major should take a number of factors into account, including the state of the job market.
Economic conditions can change rapidly, so before you narrow down your choice of major, you’ll want to take a look at some career paths that are sure to be popular in 2014.
Video Game Design
Like it or not, video games are more popular than ever. In fact, the games industry could even top $100 billion in the next few years. What this means is that if you feel a calling to break into the industry, there’s never been a better time.
Even better: video games are hugely ambitious and demanding productions, and as a result they tend to require large teams of people with a wide variety of backgrounds, including programming, animation, sound design, creative writing, and more.
If you’re interested in getting into the video game design world, there are a number of popular online degree programs that could help you realize your dreams.
Biomedical Engineering
Anybody who watches the news regularly knows how quickly the world of medical technology can move. It seems that scientists are making new breakthroughs every week, whether it’s in the field of disease treatment or medical technology. Biomedical engineering represents an exciting and dynamic world that combines medicine, life science, and traditional engineering.
Biomedical engineering students are sure to be in demand in the coming years; the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that this field will grow by about 27% by the year 2020.
Robotics
If you’re interested in studying robotics, you’ll have to enroll in a number of specific courses including mechanical and electrical engineering as well as 3D modeling.
It might seem strange, given the fact that robots are increasingly capable of replacing human beings, but the field of robots could create as many as 3.5 million new jobs by 2020, according to a London-based research firm.
While it’s pretty likely that some of these robots will go on to find a home in manufacturing plants, many of them will also be put to work in research- and medical-based fields, including surgery and even oceanography.
Cybersecurity
If you want an idea of how important cybersecurity is going to be in the coming years, you don’t need to look any further than the national headlines. It seems nearly every week another high-profile company or institution is compromised, indicating that the world of cybersecurity needs to adapt more quickly than ever.
Of course, the private sector isn’t the only area demanding more cybersecurity experts; the federal government is also looking to improve its security measures as its energy and health care intitiatives become ever more dependent on Internet technology.
A Major For Everybody
Whether you’re planning on attending a traditional college or an accredited online school, you’re sure to find exciting opportunities to pursue each of these majors.