| With growing attention to the environment and | | | | Geoscientists and hydrologists: The BP oil spill in the |
| greater advancements in technology, students who | | | | Gulf of Mexico to some extent illustrates the type of |
| major in subjects such as science, technology, | | | | work these professionals do. Earning a science |
| engineering and math might expect to enter growing, | | | | degree in these disciplines can lead to professions |
| lucrative fields. They might work with hospitals and | | | | that involve searching for resources that the world |
| healthcare agencies and organizations on computer | | | | naturally supplies, such as ground water and |
| technologies that can improve efficiency and patient | | | | petroleum. Geoscientists and hydrologists might |
| care. Or, they might find ways to help prevent the | | | | otherwise work with environmentalists and other |
| nation's beaches from eroding in storms and rising | | | | scientists to clean up contaminated waters and soils |
| seas. | | | | or to preserve eroding beaches and shorelines. |
| United States officials and leading organizations and | | | | Opportunities in the fields are excellent for those with |
| agencies, such as NASA, have emphasized the | | | | master's degrees. Anticipated employment growth: |
| importance of the United States remaining a leader in | | | | About 18 percent. Environmental protection, land and |
| technology and innovation. They've been encouraging | | | | water management responsibilities and energy are at |
| students to consider science, technology, engineering | | | | the forefront. |
| and math degrees as a means of accomplishing that. | | | | Network Architects, Network Engineers, Web |
| New and expanded programs are being established | | | | Administrators and Web Developers: If you're reading |
| by the National Science Foundation, the Department | | | | this information, you have network architects and |
| of Education, and the Department of Energy. The | | | | engineers and web developers and administrators to |
| STEM fields are the recipient of the "America | | | | thank. Web developers create applications for the |
| Competes Act" issued by Congress in August, 2007. | | | | web, while web administrators - also known as |
| Students can work towards degrees in varied | | | | webmasters - maintain websites. Employment in |
| engineering, science, math and technology disciplines | | | | these fields are expected to grow in part as a result |
| through campus and online college, university and | | | | of Internet expansion, with administrators particularly |
| technical school offerings. With degrees in hand, they | | | | needed in healthcare, as the industry works to |
| might move into what's referred to as STEM-related | | | | enhance efficiency and patient care. Network |
| careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). | | | | architects and engineers, on the other hand, establish, |
| Some of these careers might require graduate level | | | | test and evaluate local area networks (LANs), wide |
| studies that might be conveniently obtained through | | | | area networks (WANs), Internet and intranet |
| online college programs while students gain some | | | | systems and more. They're expected to be needed |
| workplace experience. The Bureau of Labor provides | | | | as organizations continue to upgrade the amount of |
| information about STEM careers with anticipated | | | | information their computers can handle and add new |
| growth, as well as the education level that might be | | | | technologies to them. Anticipated growth for these |
| best suited to them. This information from the | | | | areas combined: 53 percent and, in addition to other |
| Bureau of Labor demonstrates a few STEM careers | | | | occupations in computer network, systems and |
| where employment between 2008 and 2018 is | | | | database administrator work, 286,000 new jobs, |
| expected to grow faster than the average for all | | | | according to the BLS. |
| occupations: | | | | |