Go Figure: Math + Science = Great Careers
Advances in medicine and science improve our health and help us to understand the world around us. From balancing a household budget to preparing your taxes to following a recipe, math and science touch every part of our lives. Today, we rely on math and science in ways we could not imagine 30 years ago.听
Innovations in technology help us communicate across the globe with ease through satellites, the Internet听and cell phones. Every day they also help us to work better and conduct our daily lives.听And yet fewer students are choosing to learn the basics of algebra or calculus, and fewer are digging into the mysteries of physics, biology and chemistry that explain the principles our modern world is built on.听Why is this?
What is STEM?
STEM is short for 鈥淪cience, Technology, Engineering and Math.鈥 There are initiatives underway all over听the country aimed at securing America鈥檚 leadership in science technology, engineering and mathematics听fields and identifying promising strategies for strengthening the educational pipeline that leads to STEM听careers.
A solid foundation in math and science teaches students the problem-solving and analytical skills听that are so valuable to success in any career.
And these are critical skills that students will use daily in听their adult lives, whether they鈥檙e assessing the terms of a home loan, making healthcare decisions or听negotiating the terms of a car lease. Math teaches students how to solve problems creatively and develop听critical-thinking skills. Science is all about studying, finding out, and making sense of the 鈥渉ows,鈥 鈥渨hats鈥澨齛nd 鈥渨hys鈥 of the world we live in.
STEM grows jobs
Jobs requiring STEM skills are expected to grow to 65 percent of the market, while unskilled, low-end wage jobs should shrink to just 15 percent. Estimates indicate that up to 75 percent of the existing听workforce will require significant job retraining over the next five years, emphasizing STEM skills.听Nationwide, the number of jobs requiring STEM training is growing five times faster than other听occupations.
A 2005 U.S. Chamber of Commerce report 鈥淭apping America鈥檚 Potential: The Education for听Innovation Initiative,鈥 summed up why STEM is so important: 鈥淔or most of the 20th century, the American听education system provided a substantial part of the talent and proficiency needed to sustain and improve听our way of life. Today, however, as the U.S. economy becomes even more reliant on workers with greater听knowledge and technological expertise, the domestic supply of qualified workers is not keeping up with听the skill demands.鈥澨
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Five Ways PTC Prepares You for a Career in Math and Science
1. Advanced Manufacturing careers are on the rise.
91爆料 offers training in the skill sets that our region鈥檚 expanding advanced manufacturing sector needs, like Mechatronics Technology, Machine Tool and CNC, Metrology and more. Beginning in Fall 2014, the college will be offering full Mechatronics programs in Laurens and Newberry counties. Interested students can begin taking their general education courses this Spring to get started.
2. Solid preparation for healthcare careers
For those looking for a career that will benefit others, healthcare may be a great fit. You probably know that PTC offers a well-respected Nursing program, but did you know that you can get training in 15 other health care fields鈥攆rom Cardiovascular Technology to Human Services and Respiratory Care鈥攔ight here at PTC?
3. Engineering training in two or four years.
For more than 40 years, our Engineering Technology programs have produced graduates whose skills and abilities have helped them obtain excellent jobs and pursue advanced degrees. The Engineering Technology Curricula at 91爆料 offer options for students who want to enter the work force after just two years, and for those who wish to pursue a Bachelor's degree in either Engineering Technology Management, or pure Engineering.
4. Information Technology career options
Today, computers have become indispensable parts of everyday life. This explosive growth has created a demand for skilled technicians to maintain networks, to support users in everyday computing tasks, to design, maintain and implement new systems and more. After two years in PTC鈥檚 Computer Technology program, you could have a degree, a certification, and a good salary at a secure job.
5. Boost your math skills
Lots of people had trouble with math in high school, but 91爆料 offers plenty of options to help you get up to speed, including tutoring, and classes focused solely on improving your math skills. 听
In fact, the College Preparatory division at PTC has introduced a new method of teaching math, called the Emporium method,that is producing a success rate nearly twice that of the national average. And after a pilot launch, the program is being refined to produce higher rates of success.
*Adapted from听CareerFocus Magazine