Popular College Majors

Choosing a college major is perhaps one of the mostpatients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary
crucial decisions we make in our life – a decisiondisorders. According to the American Association for
that shapes our future as professionals. However, itRespiratory Care, an RT's day to day work includes
is also amongst the most difficult decisions whichinterviewing patients and conducting physical
usually depend on a variety of factors that changeexaminations to determine the best course of
from time to time.treatment, managing ventilators and artificial airway
If you are at a stage in life when the decision isdevices for patients, educating patients and their
looming large over you, then help is just around thefamilies about lung diseases, etc.
corner. We have short-listed a few college majorsEmployment Opportunities: The majority of
that offer promising job prospects and growthrespiratory therapists work in the anesthesiology,
opportunities in the coming years.respiratory care, or pulmonary departments; newborn
These college majors are handpicked from a rangeand pediatric division; emergency room; and intensive
of healthcare, information technology, and businesscare units of big hospitals. Some RTs work at
degree programs, based on the U.S. Department ofdoctors' offices, home healthcare services, nursing
Labor's projection of much faster than averagecare facilities, rehabilitation centers, respiratory
growth for these occupations.equipment rental firms, etc.
So, here are some of the popular college majors thatEarning Potential: $52,200 per annum**
are likely to offer the best career prospects in theCollege Major: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science
next few years.Profession: Software Engineer
College Major: Bachelor's Degree in AccountingCareer Path: One of the most popular computer
Profession: Accountantdegree programs, a bachelor's degree in computer
Career Path: Accountants are the custodians of anscience is the preferred education qualification for
individual or a company's financial health. Depending onsoftware engineering positions. Software engineers
their job profile, they are responsible for preparinguse their extensive knowledge of computing theory
financial records, perform internal audits, tax planning,to design, develop, test, and evaluate different types
etc. The role of an accountant has now becomeof software applications per users' needs. They
much wider in scope than mere bookkeeping orcreate algorithms, which are later converted into a
auditing. They have the all important job of givingseries of logical instructions or code by programmers
financial and investment advice to individuals andwho make computers perform specific tasks.
companies. In fact, accountants are among the firstEmployment Opportunities: Computer software
people companies consult when making importantengineers work in a variety of industries ranging from
financial decisions.IT firms, telecommunications, and electronic
Employment Opportunities: Accountants may beequipment manufacturers to media, financial
employed with public accounting firms, smallinstitutions, and federal agencies. Some software
businesses, large multinational corporations, banks,engineers also work as consultants.
nonprofit organizations, or federal agencies. A lot ofEarning Potential: $85,430 per annum***
accountants choose to work independently and are*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of
self-employed.Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11
Earning Potential: $59,430 per annum*Edition, Accountants and Auditors
College Major: Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of
TherapyLabor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11
Profession: Respiratory TherapistEdition, Respiratory Therapists
Career Path: The core job of a respiratory therapist***Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
(RT) involves diagnosing, treating, and caring for