Careers for Economics, Education, and Public Health Majors

This week’s CAS Careers post provides career planning resources for students majoring in Economics, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Public Health. After the break, you’ll find some brief information on what you can do with your major after graduation, along with statistics on salary ranges and links to other helpful resources.

Careers in Economics

I’ve you’ve been keeping up with the news (at any point in the last few years), you know that economics are at the forefront of public consciousness. Your Economics degree provides you with extremely relevant experience in analyzing economic trends, and the invaluable ability to communicate complex concepts in understandable ways. Other professional skills you offer to potential employers include:

  • Strong written, oral, numerical, and graphic communication skills
  • Knowledge of quantitative tools and instruments
  • Experience with advanced statistics, computer models, and data analysis
  • Research design experience
  • The ability to analyze numerical data, identify trends, and make calculated forecasts
  • Experience predicting the social and financial impacts of proposed legislation

Here is a brief list of some popular careers in Economics, along with their national median salary*:

Actuary

$58,300
Risk Analyst

$52,000
Corporate Economist

$115,200
Market Research Analyst (Entry Level)

$51,000
Financial Analyst (Entry Level)

$49,300

*Data collected from salary.com

Visit our Career Resource Library and check out some of our books on careers in Economics:

Here are a few websites with information on careers in Economics:

For a full list of relevant websites, other career options, and books in our Career Resource Library related to Economics, visit our website.

 

If you’re an Economics major, and would like some more personalized information on your career options, schedule an appointment with one of our CAS Career Advisors: Anna Litman or Marie Spaulding.

 

Careers in Education

Though the skill sets and knowledge base for secondary and elementary education are extremely distinct, the experience you gain through your education degree at AU (regardless of which level you focus on) prepares you for success in a variety of teaching positions. Your degree enhances your critical thinking and leadership skills, and provides you with a strong experience in planning and organizing academic and extracurricular courses and activities. Other professional skills you offer to potential employers include:

  • Experience adapting content and facilitating conversations for a variety of audiences
  • Experience maintaining order and resolving differences
  • Comfort delegating responsibility to members of a work team and encouraging cooperation
  • The ability to anticipate, prevent, and resolve disputes and inefficiencies
  • Experience selecting and effectively using textual, interactive, audiovisual, and other educational materials
  • The ability to assess individual and programmatic success

Here is a brief list of some popular careers Education majors have found success in, along with their national median salary*:

Adult Education Teacher

$36,800
Elementary School Teacher

$52,100
Special Education Teacher

$47,600
Day Care Center Teacher

$27,800
High School Teacher

$54,400

*Data collected from salary.com

 

Visit our Career Resource Library and check out some of our books on careers in Education:

Here are a few websites with information on careers in Education:

For a full list of relevant websites, other career options, and books in our Career Resource Library related to Education, visit our website.

If you’re an Education major, and would like some more personalized information on your career options, schedule an appointment with one of our CAS Career Advisors: Anna Litman or Marie Spaulding.

 

Careers in Public Health

A degree in Public Health from American University provides you with theoretical grounding and opportunities for practical application of public health strategies, programs, and policies. The skills you learn in your regular coursework, paired with your specific experience through a cluster of electives, prepare you for a variety of professional positions. Other skills you offer to potential employers include:

  • Experience gathering and interpreting data
  • The ability to assess and improve the effectiveness of health programs and services
  • The ability to think critically about complex issues in public health
  • Leadership skills and experience working collaboratively
  • The ability to cogently express complex health and medical information

Here is a brief list of some popular careers Public Health majors have found success in, along with their national median salary*:

Health Educator

$52,400
Pharmaceuticals Sales Representative

$60,300
Community Outreach Specialist

$50,400
Wellness Program Manager

  $56,000
Community Relations Manager

$84,500

*Data collected from salary.com

 

Visit our Career Resource Library and check out some of our books on careers in Public Health:

 

Here are a few websites with information on careers in Public Health:

 

For a full list of relevant websites, other career options, and books in our Career Resource Library related to Public Health, visit our website.

 

If you’re a Public Health major, and would like some more personalized information on your career options, schedule an appointment with Sue Gordon, our CAS Career Advisor for Public Health.