By: Sam Cole
Staff Writer
The path students take in college doesn’t always dictate the path they will take after graduation. A degree is an important asset to obtain for future aspirations, but it shouldn’t restrict anyone’s freedom of job choice. Often times students fear they’ll end up trapped in a career that doesn’t pay enough or doesn’t bring them enough joy.
According to a report published by Best Colleges, “Despite 82% of respondents reporting that college was a ‘good financial investment,’ 61% said they would change their undergraduate studies if they could go back.”
A common cause of this anxiety is simply a result of many students being unaware of the true variety of jobs that correspond with the major they have chosen to pursue.
Dominican currently has over 80 majors listed on their website, all of them possessing great potential for obtaining a job after graduation. In fact, according to Niche, one of the world’s leading college ranking and review sites, 94% of students are employed two years after graduation.
With the school producing such a high success rate in graduate employment, hopefully students will feel more at ease about their future. To calm the nerves even more, here is a list of some of the most commonly chosen majors at Dominican this year, what students can do with them, and what current students plan on using their diplomas for:
Accounting
There are currently 79 students who plan on graduating with a degree in accounting. Students can use this degree to potentially become an accounts clerk, auditor, bookkeeper, chief financial officer, financial planner, forensic accountant, or a tax accountant. According to Salary, an American employment and salary software/website, the average accountant salary in the United States is $79,060 a year.
Carlos Gomez, a junior at Dominican University, said he plans on using his accounting degree to get a job as a tax consultant in order to help people with their financial situations in the future.
Biology
There are currently 134 students who plan on graduating with a degree in biology. Students can use this degree to potentially become a biologist, microbiologist, biological technician, genetic counselors, health communications specialist, park ranger, health educator, or a forensic scientist. According to Salary, the average biologist salary in the United States is $53,472 a year.
Senior Jessica Spaulding, said she plans on using her degree to “get into the field of physical therapy.” She continues by saying, “I have already sent in my application to doctor of physical therapy programs, so it’s not exactly pertaining to my major – but it covered a lot of the prerequisites I need for physical therapy.”
Biology/Chemistry
There are currently 62 students who plan on graduating with a degree in biology/chemistry or ‘biochemistry.’ Students can use this degree to potentially become a biochemist, agricultural scientist, biochemical engineer, cosmetics developer, fermentation scientist, petroleum engineer, or a pharmaceutical researcher. According to Salary, the average biochemist salary in the United States is $69,101 a year.
Senior Lucas Eggers said he plans on using his biology/chemistry degree to “provide a foundation of chemistry, physics, biology, and all the other essentials the biochemistry curriculum offers in order to prepare for the medical school entrance exam.” He also wanted to “add a level of rigor capable of making a competitive application when rounded out by humanity coursework in a liberal arts education.”
Computer Science
There are currently 76 students who plan on graduating with a degree in computer science. Students can use this degree to potentially become a computer scientist, data scientist, software tester, web developer, systems analyst, product manager, network architect, software engineer, software developer, user interface designer, database administrator, cloud computing engineer, or an information security analyst. According to Salary, the average computer scientist salary in the United States is $118,476 a year.
Senior Mathew Molloy said that although he is currently working in databases, he plans on using his computer science degree to obtain a job in “some form of software development.” He continues by saying, “I hope that I can graduate in May and get an entry level, full stack development job specializing in front end, back end, databases, etc.”
Criminology
There are currently 94 students who plan on graduating with a degree in criminology. Students can use this degree to potentially become a criminal investigator, criminal profiler, criminologist, city administrator, correctional officer, detective, police officer, paralegal, private investigator, or a social worker. According to Salary, the average criminal investigator salary in the United States is $70,718 a year.
Clarissa Cruz, a junior at Dominican University, said she plans on using her criminology degree to become a police officer. She then said, “after two years as a police officer, I want to become an FBI agent.”
English
There are currently 50 students who plan on graduating with a degree in English. Students can use this degree to potentially become an instructor, professor, international instructor, public relations manager, social media manager, technical writer, copywriter, author, editor, or a speech writer. According to Salary, the average English instructor salary in the United States is $48,538 a year.
Sofia Olvera-Sandoval, a student at Dominican University, said she plans on using her English degree to “work in publishing in the future.” She continued by saying, “Although I am not sure what area of publishing I want to work in, I know I want to be involved in the process of bringing a book in to the world.”
Finance
There are currently 64 students who plan on graduating with a degree in finance. Students can use this degree to potentially become a financial analyst, financial associate, financial planner, investment analyst, budget analyst, corporate planner, portfolio manager, financial manager, or a chief financial officer. According to Salary, the average financial analyst salary in the United States is $60,716 a year.
George Kougan, a student at Dominican University, said he plans on using his finance degree to “go into the wealth management field.” He continues by saying he wants to work as a wealth analyst in Chicago while attempting to obtain his CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation. “That would lead me to my long-term goal of being a Private Wealth Advisor.”
Management
There are currently 108 students who plan on graduating with a degree in management. Students can use this degree to potentially become a banker, business analyst, compensation specialist, executive, financial director, human resources manager, management consultant, marketing analyst, venture capitalist, or a talent acquisition specialist. According to Salary, the average management analyst salary in the United States is $78,303 a year.
Sarah Lychock, a student at Dominican University, said she plans on using her management degree to get an MBA (Master of Business Administration). She continues saying, “After that I would love to move forward in the sports management field of work. My ultimate goal is to work in a management role for a collegiate or professional sports team!”
Marketing
There are currently 72 students who plan on graduating with a degree in marketing. Students can use this degree to potentially become an advertising manager, content strategist, copywriter, data scientist, digital marketer, market research analyst, public relations manager, sales manager, search engine optimization specialist, or a social media manager. According to Salary, the average digital marketer salary in the United States is $71,880 a year.
Senior Hunter Faurbo said he plans on using his knowledge not only from both his marketing and management degrees, but also by being a part of the men’s soccer team to structure his own workload and complete it with perfection. He continues by saying, “I will also use my experience to be a helping hand to those in need and to strive to become a leader in my field of work.”
Mathematics
There are currently 58 students who plan on graduating with a degree in mathematics. Students can use this degree to potentially become an actuary, algorithmic engineer, math professor, data scientist, investment banking analyst, mathematician, operations research analyst, process engineer, software developer, or a statistician. According to Salary, the average mathematician salary in the United States is $104,461 a year.
Senior Isai Hipolito said that although he is currently student teaching at a middle school in Oak Park for eighth grade math, he plans on using his degrees in mathematics and secondary education to teach at a high school, preferably pre-calculus. He continued by saying, “My goal after graduation is to make students not afraid of math and believe that they are capable of doing it, however, being able to inspire future generations of leaders is truly what I plan to do.”
Natural Sciences
There are currently 67 students who plan on graduating with a degree in natural sciences. Students can use this degree to potentially become a natural scientist, biological technician, environmental economist, environmental restoration planner, environmental conservationist, farm and home management advisor, forestry technician, geographer, industrial ecologist, park naturalist, or a sustainability specialist. According to Salary, the average natural scientist salary in the United States is $61,296 a year.
Bryana Ramos, a senior at Dominican University, said she plans on using her natural science degree to “pursue a career in conservation and attempt to get a job either as a marine biologist or aquatic scientist.”
Neuroscience
There are currently 61 students who plan on graduating with a degree in neuroscience. Students can use this degree to potentially become a neuroscientist, neurologist, research scientist, laboratory technician, health educator, clinical psychologist, medical writer, physician assistant, biostatistician, or a neurosurgeon. According to Salary, the average neuroscientist salary in the United States is $84,000 a year.
Christian Guymon, a student at Dominican University, said he plans on using his neuroscience degree to “hopefully become a neurologist and do research towards Alzheimer’s.” One of his goals revolving around his research will be to help his grandfather in the future.
Nursing
There are currently 87 students who plan on graduating with a degree in nursing. Students can use this degree to potentially become a nurse, physician, laboratory research analyst, pharmaceutical research analyst, health instructor, nurse informatics specialist, school nurse, health writer, or a legal health consultant. According to Salary, the average nurse salary in the United States is $80,100 a year.
Maddie Sniegolski, a student at Dominican University, said she plans on using her nursing degree to “take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), hopefully pass it, and then the goal would be to get into a nurse residency program or be accepted as a new grad into a specialty unit like the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or labor and delivery!”
Nutrition & Dietetics
There are currently 63 students who plan on graduating with a degree in nutrition & dietetics. Students can use this degree to potentially become a nutritionist, dietitian, nutrition technician, food scientist, healthcare advisor, or a disease prevention specialist. According to Salary, the average nutritionist salary in the United States is $64,600 a year.
Nicole, a student at Dominican University, said she plans on using her nutrition & dietetics degree to “be a community nutritionist and be able to help out those in less developed neighborhoods.” She also plans on teaching others how to lead a healthy lifestyle and how to adjust their current diet to make it more nutritious and well balanced.
Psychology
There are currently 176 students who plan on graduating with a degree in psychology. Students can use this degree to potentially become a clinical psychologist, cognitive and perceptual psychologist, community psychologist, counselor, developmental psychologist, educational psychologist, experimental psychologist, forensic psychologist, rehabilitation psychologist, or a sports psychologist. According to Salary, the average psychologist salary in the United States is $77,550 a year.
Senior Tyler Kara said he plans on using his psychology degree to “go to graduate school in a sports psychology program and eventually work at a university as a sports psychologist.”
Sociology
There are currently 96 students who plan on graduating with a degree in sociology. Students can use this degree to potentially become a guidance counselor, human resource representative, lawyer, management consultant, market research analyst, media planner, policy analyst, public relation specialist, social worker, or a survey researcher. According to Salary, the average sociologist salary in the United States is $47,585 a year.
Andrea Martinez, a student at Dominican University, said that although she plans on going to med school after graduation, she wants to use her degree to advance her education. She stated, “I want to use my sociology degree to get my masters and eventually teach at university!”
All of the majors offered at Dominican can be found on the school’s website with the following link: https://www.dom.edu/academics/majors-programs/majors
The data for the list was provided by a Dominican enrollment report titled “Traditional Undergraduate Combined Majors Spring 2017 and Spring 2021 Majors.” The majors selected for this article were chosen based on how many students are currently pursuing said major at Dominican University. If 50 or more students were listed as pursuing a major, it was included in the article. If your major was not listed, that does not mean your major isn’t worth pursuing – rather, it simply reflects the amount of people pursuing the same major.
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