A quick glance at education-related news today will yield numerous stories about debt-laden students not having the networks, skills, or experience needed to find a job. As a result of a sluggish labor market, students today are looking for innovative ways to market themselves to potential employers. Historically, having a degree was enough to guarantee a job upon graduation, but many education experts today believe that the master’s degree is becoming the norm in today’s society. Some have flocked to “skill-based” fields such as engineering or business while others have pursued freelance positions, but a less-commonly taken path to prosperity is to supplement one’s master’s degree with a foreign language. Not only does adopting multiple languages open up career opportunities, but studies have shown that having this skill also improves physical and mental health in the future.

Career Advantages of Foreign Language Study

Foreign language study is a given for aspiring translators or interpreters, foreign language instructors, or students who intend to study abroad in a program conducted in the language of the host country.  However, studying a foreign language during school enhances degrees even when there is no obvious connection to the subject matter.  Studying a foreign language during an MBA program, for example, can be the determining factor in landing a plum assignment with an international corporation, or gaining a prestige international client as an independent consultant.

In other cases, bypassing the opportunity to learn French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic or some other language is often a short-sighted decision that has detrimental effect on a student’s future career.  For instance, some ability in speaking, reading or understanding a foreign language is almost essential for professionals such as attorneys, physicians, educators and scientists  whose work means interacting  with a multicultural population of colleagues and clients.

Foreign Language Study and Career Enhancement

Aspiring classical musicians, art historians and diplomats often complete advanced foreign language study as part of their program curriculums. Even when foreign language instruction is not required, many students gain a working knowledge of at least one foreign language either along with their studies or as part of their undergraduate studies.  Knowledge of a foreign language enables students in these professions to read source documents in their original languages and communicate with colleagues on work teams comprised of individuals worldwide.

Classical Music

Although young talents like Chinese pianist Lang Lang have renewed interest in classical music, its roots are planted firmly in 17^th and 18^th Century Europe.  Much of the body of classical music, whether the medium is opera, chamber music or symphonies, is available only in German, Italian or French.  Studying classical music as a performer, conductor or music historian is greatly enhanced if you have a working knowledge of at least one European language. At the Julliard School, students studying Piano in the Doctor of Musical Arts program are required to study musical history and critique along with performance instruction. A first-year doctoral course, History and Practice: Renaissance and Baroque Periods, examines composers, culture and repertoires of music during this period.  A second year course, Studies in Style Criticism Topic: The Songs and Symphonies of Brahms and Mahler, examines the social forces that influenced the music of these two composers along with addressing the mechanics of text, meter and instrumentation of each composer’s works.

Art History

Museums, libraries, historical sites, zoos, universities and governmental units at the local, state and national level employ art historians and archivists to catalogue and present works of art, historical papers, audio and video recordings, photos, archeological artifacts and antiquities. Curators and historians who know at least one foreign language are at a distinct advantage in the job market, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While students in the Master of Arts in Modern and Contemporary Art History, Theory, and Criticism program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago are not required to study a foreign language, they are strongly encouraged to do so to support their academic research, especially if they later enroll in the doctoral program.

Diplomacy

The United States government dispatches ambassadors and diplomats to nearly every country on Earth, including posts in the developing world and in hostile hot spots.  The State Department employs Foreign Service Officers to fill these important posts. One of the absolute requirements of a Foreign Service assignment is to know or be willing to learn one or more foreign languages .  Students enrolled in the Lauder Program at the Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania) combine in-depth language study along with courses addressing the culture, business climate and politics of a single region to earn a joint MBA and a Master of Arts in International Studies degree.

Health Benefits of Foreign Language Study

Separately, for students beginning a master’s degree program, age-related cognitive decline may seem like a distant worry, if they consider the issue at all. Even so, studying a foreign language in school can provide immediate benefits that endure even into old age. Bilingualism seems to be an especially potent weapon against the onset of dementia.  Specifically, knowing a second language seems to significantly slow the progression of the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

According to a study conducted at York University in Toronto, Canada; within a group of approximately 100 patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the bilingual patients had been diagnosed an average of four years later than patients who only spoke one language.  Further, CT scans of patients who were the same age and functioning at the same cognitive effects showed that the physical damage to the bilingual patients’ brains was greater. The study seems to indicate that knowing a second language slows the progression of the disease.  This benefit seems to stem from the fact that learning a second language improves analytic functioning, which is especially valuable in completing graduate level subjects.

For Further Reading:

• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
• Council of American Ambassadors: Frequently Asked Questions
• Entrepreneur: How to Start a Consulting Business
• North Carolina State University: What Can I Do With a Major in Foreign Languages?
• Operamusique: Vocabulaire de l’Opéra
• UKP—Arts:  Know the Score – Training and Careers In Classical Music
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Interpreters and Translators
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Musicians, Singers and Related Workers
• U.S. Department of State: Foreign Service Officer Career Tracks
• The Wharton MBA at the University of Pennsylvania:  Lauder Program

A master’s degree is earned through completion of a graduate program beyond a bachelor’s degree. Through work to earn a master’s degree, students gain expertise in an academic discipline through intensive coursework and the preparation of a culminating project or thesis. Master’s degrees are awarded in most disciplines and at a variety of institutions, including public, private and online schools. Those pursuing a master’s degree should have strong commitment, a specific academic direction they wish to pursue for their degree, and an understanding of how the degree will benefit their future.

What degrees must a student have to pursue a master’s degree?

In order to pursue a master’s degree, a student must complete an undergraduate Bachelor degree. Some universities offer a Bachelor/Master combination degree, which is typically a 5-6 year program.

How long does it take to complete a master’s degree?

Traditional master’s degrees take 2 years to complete, with the first year focused on classwork and the second working on advanced research and a final project. Nontraditional programs offer flexible schedules, longer or shorter completion times, and a variety of culmination requirements, including testing and creative projects. Students should carefully determine the program that fits both their schedule as well as their future career prospects when choosing a master’s degree program.

How much does a master’s degree cost?

Master’s degree programs come in a wide variety of formats, which carry different costs. Experts suggest that students should take less money in student loans than they will earn in their first year of working post-degree. Students should have a strong understanding of what jobs their master’s degree will produce and how much total cost they will incur, including living expenses. Public and online institutions can offer cost-effective programs for most master’s degrees. While private schools retain higher costs, they may offer a variety of programs particular to a student’s needs, smaller class sizes, or other amenities.

Those pursuing a master’s degree who can afford to attend school full-time and take out loans to pay for tuition and supplies should consider a smaller private institution or a public school with a full time program. For those who cannot afford both school and living expenses should consider online schools or a program with flexibility. Most online programs allow students to work concurrently with coursework, allowing them to advance careers and not take out loans for living expenses.

What are some popular master’s degrees?

Some of the most popular master’s degree programs include:

Master of Business Administration: The MBA is a versatile degree that gives a student a strong basis in all areas of business, while allowing them to focus their studies in a particular area of interest. While most MBA degrees offer lucrative career advances, finance concentrations offer particularly good potential. Some concentrations include:

• Finance
• Human Resources
• Management
• Accounting
• Health Care
• Entrepreneurship

Master of Engineering: Most engineering careers require the knowledge obtained in a master’s degree in order to continue advancement. A variety of concentrations exist, with computer and software being the most popular and having the best long-term job prospects. Other master’s in engineering focuses include:

• Aeronautics
• Geotechnical
• Structural
• Civil
• Biomedical
• Electronic
• Mechanical

Master of Education: Earning a master’s in education or a master’s in teaching is required by most states to earn a permanent teaching credential. To sway costs, many school districts assist teachers with tuition, or offer programming locally. Some concentrations include:

• Elementary Education (K-5)
• Middle School Education (5-8)
• High School Education (9-12)
• ESL
• Math
• Science

Master of Nursing: Nurses require constant continuing education credits to keep active licenses, so many earn a master’s degree in the process. Graduates of nursing master’s degrees can hold positions with great autonomy and far higher pay ranges. Master’s degrees in nursing include:

• Nursing Management
• Health Systems Leadership
• Nursing Education
• Nurse Practitioner
• Nursing Informatics

Master in Finance: Job prospects in this field are expected to grow significantly over the next decade, and positions are generally stable. Popular concentrations for master’s in finance include:

• Actuarial Services
• Investment
• Banking
• Finance Education
• Statistics

What are some things a student should look for in a master’s degree program?

Students should take many different factors into consideration when choosing a master’s degree program, including:

• Cost
• Program Goals: What is the mission statement? Does the program focus on academic work or real-life applications?
• Faculty: Who teaches the courses? What kind of contacts will you make in the program?
• Accreditation: Where is the school/program accredited through?

As Public Allies, you are required to:

1. Serve four days per week at your placement, and train on the fifth day.
2. Create, improve and expand services that address diverse issues such as youth development, education, healthy futures, economic opportunity, and environmental stewardship.
3. Attend intensive weekly skill training and leadership development seminars.
4. Work in community building and team projects with a diverse cohort of peers.
5. Perform presentations of learning at the end of the year to demonstrate how each Ally met the learning outcomes of the program.

Public Allies receive as benefits for their service:

1. Critical feedback, reflection, and personal coaching toward individual performance and professional goals.
2. Earn a monthly stipend of $1,400.
3. Health care, child care, student loan deferment, and a post-service education award of $5,550.

The minimum requirements to be a Public Ally are:

Interested in making a significant impact on your community? Public Allies Pittsburgh is seeking dedicated, service minded Allies to be part of this ten-month apprenticeship in nonprofit organizations in the Pittsburgh area. You must be passionate about social issues, interested in working with a diverse group of people, and ardent about developing your full leadership potential.  Click here to apply online - applications are due April 6th!

Please contact Laura Pollanen at lpollanen@coropittsburgh.org or 412-259-3024 to find out more about Public Allies Pittsburgh.

Young professionals seeking to jump-start their career in the Pittsburgh region through a leadership program are competing to participate in the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs. Fellows of this unique leadership program are given numerous six-week-long placements in local businesses, non-profits and government organizations in Pittsburgh. Additional centers are located in New York City, St. Louis, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Participants build their leadership skills through weekly seminars and group projects, and become intimately connected to the many community issues and leaders in the greater Pittsburgh area, through focus weeks and leadership interviews. Coro Fellows can expect to develop the ability to:

ƒ 1. Analyze the resources, needs and goals of different institutions and
organizations
ƒ 2. Communicate effectively with members of diverse communities
ƒ 3. Build consensus among individuals with differing viewpoints and agendas
ƒ 4. Envision, plan, implement, and evaluate team projects
ƒ 5. Build and maintain a career network

Moreover, at the end of the program, Coro Fellows accumulate work experience in a variety of sectors, strong professional connections, and a deep understanding of the community as a whole.

Future prospects are another benefit of being part of this Coro leadership program. Due to Coro’s relationship with local universities like the Heinz School for Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, Coro graduates may get:

1. Waived application fees;
2. Joint enrollment opportunities;
3. Minimum scholarship awards ($6000 per semester);
4. Preferred acceptance.

Applicants must hold a bachelors degree or have equivalent work experience to be considered. Those interested in pursuing this opportunity, are encouraged to participate in national informational webinars currently being offered by Coro. Go to www.coro.org/fellowsprogram, to see the dates/time and click on the links to register for the one that better fits their schedule.

You may be asking yourself this question as you prepare to graduate. Most freshmen, sophomores, and juniors once in a while will wonder what to do after graduation. The most obvious option is to get a job (or go to college, if you are graduating high-school) however, especially in this economy, I’m happy to inform you that there are other options.

Fellowships, apprenticeships, and leadership programs are an excellent opportunity for developing skills that will lead to your career advancement. Southwestern Pennsylvania is filled with options for those searching alternative opportunities after graduation as Pittsburgh is home for two amazing programs: the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs and Public Allies Pittsburgh, a program of Americorps.

Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs

The Coro Fellows Program is a full-time, nine month, graduate-level experiential leadership training program that prepares participants for effective and ethical leadership in public affairs.

Through placements in government agencies, nonprofits, and for profit entities, Coro Fellows learn how to translate their ideas into action.  The goal of the program is to develop leaders that will later be motivated to improve their own communities and “who can skillfully bridge the competing concerns of an increasingly diverse constituency in a world of constant change,” as stated on the program web-page.

This program entails field placements, group interviews, seminars, focus weeks, individual and group projects. The Fellows Program is offered in Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and St. Louis.

As program participants support community projects in partnership with local nonprofit organizations, they also participate in intensive skills training, active community-building projects, personalized coaching, and critical reflection. Public Allies recruits talented young adults from diverse and under-represented backgrounds who have a passion to make a difference.To learn more about Public Allies Pittsburgh and apply, click here.

So, don’t just wonder what to do after graduation. Look into these opportunities and expand your options!

The event is held each year at Heinz Field, and celebrates outstanding individuals and organizations in Southwestern Pennsylvania who are leading by example, and working to transform the region. The Martin Luther King Jr. Awards reinforces Coro’s mission to develop ethical and effective leaders that share a commitment to civic engagement.

The Leadership Award is given to an individual who exemplifies outstanding leadership results in the business, non-profit, or government sector. Through the Diversity Awards, the Martin Luther King Jr. Awards also acclaims two organizations that demonstrate superior achievements in creating an inclusive workplace, and that utilize diversity to drive productivity and performance.

The following are the 2012 Nominees for the MLK Leadership and Diversity Awards:

Leadership Award

Tom Baker, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh

Al Condeluci, United Cerebral Palsy

Deborah Fidel, Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee

Heather Mediate, Girls Coalition of Southwestern PA

William R. Neal Jr., Five Starr Champions

Zineb Outnouna, Atlas Dreams Languages, LLC

Doug Shields, Pittsburgh City Council

Bernadette Turner, Addison Behavioral Care, Inc.

Mary Esther Van Shura, Allegheny County Office of the Chief Executive

Dwan Walker, Fedex

Diversity Award – Organizations of more than 50 employees

Every Child, Inc.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Urban Pathways Charter School

Diversity Award – Organizations of 50 or fewer employees

Pittsburgh Social Exchange

Urban League Young Professionals of Greater Pittsburgh

Women and Girls Foundation

The award recipients will not be announced until the event itself, which will be held on Friday, January 13, 2012 from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm at Heinz Field.  Tickets can be purchased at www.CoroMLKAwards.org

I was raised in a Marine Corps family.  The two people closest to me are my step-father, a WWII veteran and my brother, a retired Gunnery Sgt.  I grew up in awe of the Marines and always wanted to become one.  Due to hemophilia, this never happened.  Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder that causes me to bleed spontaneously, usually into my joints.  It’s also extremely painful.

Another “problem” of my youth is that I never really felt comfortable in my own skin.  From my earliest memories, I thought I was a girl.  I remember around the age of 5, I thought that this feeling was “wrong” and I needed to make it go away.  I pushed these feelings so deep inside that I didn’t know who I was.  In my teens, I was a quiet, introverted loner and an awful student.  I just hated everything about school. Looking back, I might have done better if I was true to myself. It was another 25 years before I put all of this together.  But that’s a different story…

When I graduated high school, reality hit me hard.  Around this time, I rebelled and had a pretty wild youth.  I ended up gaining responsibility when I became part of the management team at my local drug store.  With the added responsibility, I calmed down quite a bit.  But overall, I hated my job.  I felt trapped in that store day after day.  I longed to have a job that “mattered”, where I wasn’t stuck indoors all day.  Stocking shelves and developing pictures just wasn’t fulfilling for me.

One night, I went to the movies and saw “Bringing Out the Dead”.  This night at the movies changed my life.  This is a very dark movie about a burned out paramedic and I knew it wasn’t entirely accurate.  However, it gave me the idea that being an EMT is an important job that doesn’t require me to be in a store everyday of my life.  Within two months of seeing this movie, I was volunteering at my local EMS agency and enrolled in EMT school.  In March of 2001, I was hired full time at my local EMS agency and I felt like I fulfilled part of my dream.  I would never wear those fancy Marine Corps dress blues, but I got my own uniform to be proud of.  I made it.

Within two months of seeing [Bringing Out the Dead], I was volunteering at my local EMS agency and enrolled in EMT school.

The first year of full time EMS work was probably the most memorable of my career.  I remember my supervisor telling me, “We’re throwing you to the wolves”.  To top it off, my first partner was Josh, a man known as “The Grim Reaper”.  Every EMS agency has somebody they refer to as a “black cloud”.  This means that bad things follow them everywhere.  I swear that the wildest calls I ever had was when I was still learning how to run calls.

I like to say that learning in these “trial by fire” conditions felt like I was drowning.  I was desperately trying to keep my head above water.  Josh gave me a piece of advise that stuck with me for my entire career, he said “Learn to relax and have fun with it, this can be a very fun job if you let it be”.  He was right.  Eventually, I caught on to all of the details of my job and I think I became a good EMT.  I think it took me about two years to feel that I earned being an EMT.  It was now time to relax and enjoy my job.

At the end of the day, EMS really shows you how fragile life is and it’s always in the back of our minds.

I have learned that EMS providers are very unique people to say the least.  Most of us become very good at separating ourselves from any situation. We are able to sit in the truck and close the door like the past hour never happened.  While families are barely starting the grieving process, we are en route to Wendy’s and talking about a TV show.  It’s not that we don’t care or we are made of stone.  Each one of us has to deal in our own way but none of us want to dwell on anything.  I assure you, thinking too hard about some things will drive you crazy.  I assure you that if you take things too hard, you will not last long in the field.  Over time, we all become cynical about our jobs.  People need to understand that this is our 40 hour workweek.  We all clock out and go home to our lives and our loved ones.  At the end of the day, EMS really shows you how fragile life is and it’s always in the back of our minds.

If you are in school or have just finished school (and you haven’t already) you should definitely do an internship. If you don’t you’re a dork. You’re a dork because, if you don’t do an internship, you’re missing a huge opportunity.

But here’s the thing, a lot of students spend tons of time and energy to get situated to do an internship – but then show up on the first day of their internship totally unprepared. Why? Because of lot of schools don’t teach students anything about the working world.

Don’t get me wrong, I love school. It’s just that often very well-meaning teachers and professors don’t teach their students squat about the working world. Why? Well, I’m sorry to say, many folks in academia don’t have a lot firsthand working world experience themselves.

So what happens? Instead of gaining the specialized knowledge they expect to learn, students go into an internship and spend the majority of their time learning basic work/office skills. By the time the master the basics of work, the internship is over.

Don’t let this happen to you. Before you go into an internship, learn the basics. The only difference between a seasoned professional and a student straight out of college is that the seasoned professional just knows some things the newbie hasn’t learned yet. But becoming a seasoned worker need not be some sort of mystical process; all knowledge is teachable and therefore learnable.

So, if you feel moisture behind your ears and are one of those newbies about to start an internship, find a seasoned professional (the grumpier and caffeinated, the better) and ask them what they know .

Ask them something like, “what is the most annoying things you see when it comes to work habits of people just out of school?” Trust me, it’ll get them going. Write down what they say and take it to heart. Do some thinking about how you can be a slightly more mature worker, even though you’re brand new to the working world.

If you do, you will stand out as a rock star among all your other intern colleagues on your first day. Instead of getting bogged down with learning Work 101, you’ll be ready to dive into the good stuff.

I had heard about World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) before and ordered a U.S. directory from their website. WWOOF connects folks looking to live and work on farms with farmers throughout the world. Most farms offer room and board, some farms offer a stipend or wage. Workers stay for a couple weeks or a whole season.

I was looking for a farming internship in the middle of the winter–the right time for farmers to pay attention to anything other than farming. I contacted a few farms in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, but ultimately decided to post an inquiry on the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) website. I received a handful of responses from farmers searching for helpers, including one from Jen Montgomery at Blackberry Meadows Farm in Natrona Heights, PA.

Blackberry Meadows is an 85-acre organic farm not far from Pittsburgh and 2009 was the first year completely under new management/ownership of a group of Slippery Rock University graduates. For my farming internship I worked the whole season (April to November) and lived in the basement “apartment” of the farm house. I lived there for free, ate the best food on the daily, learned all new skills, made great friends, and got connected to the local sustainability movement in Pittsburgh. I wasn’t making any money directly, but my basic needs were taken care of, and living on a farm removed me from most pressures to spend money.

Rayden Sorock poses with a giant ball of row cover, Blackberry Meadows Farm, 2009

Some weeks I worked more hours, some less. The work is physically hard, sometimes it is highly challenging mentally, as the frustrations brought on by bugs, weeds and weather are tough to get over. But I got to work outside, which in my opinion is lovely even when the weather is bad. The work varied every day–always something new to seed, or plant, or harvest, or prepare for the next round of growing. And as someone interested in communities, sustainability, food security, and the environment, I was able to see what it’s like on the ground (in the dirt) in the whole “green movement”. I have a completely new appreciation for farmers, for the land, for the weather and for animals. I had been some variation of vegetarian for 10 years, and yet I helped our poultry farmer-friends process (a.k.a kill and gut) chickens. I wonder how many people would still eat meat if they had to raise, kill and process an animal for every ham sandwich. Having such a direct connection to food is a luxury not many of us have, being isolated in suburbs or cities and equating food with sterile supermarkets and impersonal global companies.

I would do another farming internship for sure. I am still friends with Jen and the folks at Blackberry Meadows. I get such a strong feeling of appreciation from them for the work that I did. The connections I made there have led to nearly every other job I’ve taken in Pittsburgh since 2009. Occasionally I still get the chance to volunteer for them. My whole relationship to food and land and work is different. I encourage you, if you haven’t considered it already, to try a farming internship, live somewhere new, live small, live simply and take the time to figure out what comes next.

Links:
Blackberry Meadows Farm http://blackberrymeadows.wordpress.com/
WWOOF http://wwoof.org/
PASA http://www.pasafarming.org/

The following graphics illustrate the importance of social media for universities and provides data that shows which are the best schools on the web when it comes to social media for universities:

Created by: Best Education Sites