STEM is an approach to learning and development that integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and applies to any topics covered by these four disciplines. Since these topics are never simple, there are also hundreds of alternate STEM forms (including STEAM STREAM and METALS) but STEM is by far the most commonly used.
The acronym emerged from concerns about the lack of skilled students working in high-tech jobs. Governments and universities around the world have made it a priority to attract students to STEM courses since its creation, to counter this shortage. In some situations, it is also cheaper to immigrate to another nation if you have completed a degree-level STEM topic and are looking for work in that area.
It can be difficult to define STEM. It is such a popular term that to a lot of different people, this implies a lot of different things. Although the abbreviation sections of science (biology, chemistry, etc.) and math (algebra, calculus, etc.) may be easy to figure out, the technology and engineering pieces may be less obvious. Technology covers subjects such as computer programming, research and architecture. Engineering can incorporate topics such as electronics, robotics and civil engineering. Integration is the key term when thinking about STEM.
Getting a STEM Degree
STEM degrees allow you to apply for tech-centric jobs and make it easier for you to get higher education admissions into educational institutions. The demand for software, medicine, and machinery tech professionals is so large that the government has rolled out OPT (Optical Practical Training) scheme which enables international students to work in the industry for two years.
As students examine the collection of STEM degree majors they notice that not all STEM degree programs are created equally. There is no question that they are all difficult, but some offer more career opportunities than others. Computer and engineering degree programs are in highest demand, based on job prospects. In fact, the degree programs with the highest job opportunities are computer networking and device analytics. Computer development has also been cited as having the best opportunities for jobs. Many majors are still in demand, such as those in engineering, astronomy, natural sciences, and life sciences, but people in these majors mostly end up working as academic researchers. While qualified, these scientists and mathematicians are experiencing great competition for research jobs that aren’t in as much supply as technology professions.
Why You Should Get a STEM Degree in 2020
The world needs skilled and innovative people in order to accelerate advancement in the fields of technology and science. According to a report from Change the Equation, there are 3.6 million unemployed workers for every available job in the U.S. However, for every single unemployed STEM worker, there are two unfilled jobs.
Why Unemployment When Jobs are Available?
This is because there is a lack of skilled candidates and jobs like technicians, operators, and machinists requiring STEM education are going unfilled.
Not sure if STEM degrees are the best options for you? Here are the main benefits of pursuing an STEM program:
Certain benefits differ according to region. For instance, in the US, all foreign students are entitled to stay and work there for 1 year. This duration is called Optional Practical Training (OPT), and you must get a position in the same area in which you studied. Graduates in foreign STEM are permitted to expand this duration of OPT by 2 years. All of this demonstrates that the STEM workforce is internationally very relevant, and the market for qualified professionals is growing every year.
Top 10 STEM Degrees in 2020
Completing a degree program with a focus on science, technology, engineering or math will make you become a more innovative, critical thinker— one who utilizes both collaboration and constructive conversation to exchange ideas with other people. After graduation from one of the STEM degrees, students will look forward to a profession involving the problem solving and creating new skills.
If you’re searching for a strong investment return, nows a perfect time to think about studying advanced STEM schooling. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that, from 2012-2022, employment in the STEM fields will be the fastest growing with more than 1 million jobs added — reaching more than nine million jobs available.
The research, design and development of information technology for the benefit of people, organizations and community are known as informatics. If you’re excited about driving innovation, a bachelor’s degree in informatics may be perfect for you. By completing this type of degree, you can learn how to build effective and easy-to-use interfaces and create stable, scalable technologies. After graduation, you will complete your career as a software developer, project manager, data scientist, user experience builder, or technology architect.
Computer engineering is mainly concerned with the creation of devices and systems that process information. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, you may land a position as a computer network architect in an industry such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, communications, healthcare, robotics, or transportation.
In a management science degree program, students focus on the design and administration of complex systems. They learn how to use quantitative tools and qualitative methods to explore a wide array of strategic and logistical problems. With a bachelor’s degree in management science, you can help organizations save time, money, and resources.
Since information drives our economy, nearly every industry is in need of qualified information technology or IT professionals, making it one of the best STEM majors in regards to employment opportunities. Students who earn bachelor’s degrees in information technology can prepare themselves for positions such as computer system analysts, network engineers, computer programmers, software or web developers, and IT managers.
The increase in water resources engineering programs has earned this major its first appearance on this list. Water resources engineering is a type of civil engineering that involves designing new systems and equipment to help manage water for industrial, recreational, agricultural, household, or environmental purposes.
Another one of the best STEM degrees — and another newcomer to this list — is in the field of chemical engineering. This versatile field can allow students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work in industries such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, construction, manufacturing, biotechnology, and environmental health and safety.
When computer networks are malfunctioning, professionals with a network and system administration degree can come to the rescue. A network and system administration degree program can teach you how to keep computer networks and technology running efficiently so that you could support a variety of organizations.
Students seeking careers in research, teaching, the sciences, business, or government may all benefit from a bachelor’s degree program in mathematics. If you decide to major in mathematics, you’re likely to have the opportunity to explore advanced mathematical theory and analytical methods while sharpening your critical-thinking skills. You can also expect to take courses such as calculus, trigonometry, technical writing, probability theory with applications, and mathematical modeling.
Bachelor’s degree programs in computer science are designed to provide students with instruction in the latest software engineering methods and practices. With a computer science degree, you can pair a solid mathematical background with the ability to design and develop software. You may choose to become a software developer, IT consultant, database administrator, games developer, technical writer, or cybersecurity consultant. Since computer technologies play a vital role in virtually every aspect of modern life, computer science skills are in high demand across a wide range of industries.
While many of the best STEM majors focus on cutting-edge technologies, this brand-new addition to our list focuses on understanding the past. A four-year degree program in paleontology can train students how to discover the secrets of ancient plant life and dinosaur bones. It may also provide the opportunity to participate in research projects with curators at museums and develop valuable hands-on experience. If you decide to pursue a paleontology degree, you can expect to take courses such as introductory zoology, paleobotany, structural geology, geowriting, and invertebrate paleontology. Following graduation, you may enjoy a career as a geologist, researcher, curator, topographic surveyor, or anthropologist.
Top 10 STEM Jobs That Require a Bachelor’s Degree
STEM really is in everything, and it has a role for everyone. You can have a good STEM career with varying levels of training –from an apprenticeship, a diploma or an associate degree to a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree. Keep reading to explore the 10 STEM Jobs that involve a bachelor’s degree (and, of course, your brilliant mind).
As a global marketing manager you are responsible for managing the advertising of your business and its products or services by conducting research and finding out the best strategy to promote it. A bachelor’s degree in advertisement or related fields is the way to get into this profession. Take a look at schools such as Arcadia University or Morehead State University for study.
User experience executives are responsible for improving the experience that users have with a product or service. This position is critical because it ultimately leads companies to achieve their financial goals and to be able to grow.
If you are interested in this field, you can receive a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic or Web Design from a school such as Dakota State University, Fitchburg State University or National University.
Interested in quick entry into the ever-expanding field of technology? Then, the title of computer support specialist may just suit you. An associate’s degree is usually all that is required for entry-level positions in the field, and some employers may even be satisfied with some post-secondary classes.
You’ll likely just need a bachelor’s degree to become a geographer—another of the best STEM jobs. Geographers research the Earth, including its features and its people.
It is no wonder that the profession of a biomedical engineer is high on our list of the best STEM jobs, as it blends the strong STEM healthcare and engineering sectors. Applying expertise from both sectors, biomedical engineers are responsible for creating and improving technologies (including software and computer applications) for the healthcare sector. This is a high-paying profession that needs only a bachelor’s degree in engineering or bioengineering to pursue.
If you’re not scared of figures, and your buddies are always asking how much money you still have left out of your summer work months after it’s over, this might be one of the better STEM jobs that involve a bachelor’s degree for you.
As a personal financial adviser, you can earn a median salary of $89,160 when supplying your customers with sound investment, pension, mortgage, and tax advice. You’re going to make sure they’re spending their money carefully and have a solid plan to pay for bigger things like education or retirement.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science, information science, or computer engineering is all you need to apply for one of the greatest STEM positions in the world of computer science— that of a computer system administrator. Such technology personnel manage computer networks, update software and hardware, and otherwise conduct day-to-day computing activities for the enterprise.
Everyone has that favorite teacher who they will never forget. With just four years of college education, you can become that teacher for someone else and pass your love of STEM onto the next generation! Teachers not only impart knowledge and information onto their students; they also act as role models for their students.
Jobs for environmental engineers are on a steady track, due to growing social concern about environmental issues. Environmental engineers are responsible for implementing their understanding of technical principles in order to address environmental problems, and are paid rather well for doing so. You will need a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or a closely related discipline to get into the business.
Are you passionate about healthy eating and always find yourself swatting that extra cheese pizza away from your friends’ mouths? With a degree in nutrition, you could make an excellent dietitian. Your career will include guiding clients to make the best decisions when it comes to food to reach their health goals, whether they want to lose weight, increase muscle, or prevent illness.
Careers to Consider After a STEM Bachelor’s Degree
There are numerous job sectors that are looking to hire people who hold A STEM degree and have inculcated the required skills. Here are 8 major careers to consider after your STEM bachelor’s Degree program:
In addition to the above, there are a range of other high-paid jobs such as Biomedical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Geoscientist, Logistician, Data Scientist, Information Science and much more.
Best STEM degrees for Careers of the future
Are you practical and enthusiastic about science and technology? Then pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in STEM could be just down your lane. If you join a small group of students who study in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, you will be happy to know that most countries have well-paid jobs for STEM graduates and are looking forward to getting more of them on the job market.
Here 10 STEM degrees for careers of the future:
Best Online STEM Degrees to Apply to
Online STEM degrees are accessible from associates to PhDs. These include a number of promising sectors of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics— each offering a variety of focus areas and unique skill sets. Whether you’re excited about biology or computers, these scientific subjects could help a variety of demanding professions. And those professions could have a ton of potential for advancement, not to mention a chance for a life of experimentation and creativity.
Perhaps best of all, you might achieve the lofty goal online with flexible programs that you could complete from your house, workplace, a local restaurant, or the mall; wherever you have a compatible laptop and good internet connection. You can even check for self-paced online classes where you can learn when you have some free time.
Below is a list of 10 best online STEM degrees to apply for:
Opportunities Open to STEM Degree Holders
STEM careers are well-tailored to inquisitive minds; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are all topics focused on the discovery, perception and even creation of the world around us. Fortunately, there are more STEM career opportunities than available talent currently. It ensures that skilled STEM applicants are in high demand so that men and women in the STEM field continue to see lower unemployment rates and higher wages than workers in other industries. Read on to start your journey or to gain new skills to further your career in STEM.
As one of the fastest-growing and best-paid sectors, those employed in STEM professions will feel confident and secure in their career choices over the coming years. The following table highlights some of STEM’s hottest occupations at the moment, but by no way provides a comprehensive review of all available jobs. In order to find a function that suits their interests, learners will conduct additional research.
| OCCUPATION | MEAN ANNUAL WAGE | JOB GROWTH |
| Computer and information Research Scientist | ₦20, 937, 600 | 11% |
| Systems Software Developer | ₦19, 590, 200 | 17% |
| Computer Network Architect | ₦18, 763, 200 | 9% |
| Information Security Analyst | ₦17, 287, 200 | 18% |
| Computer System Analyst | ₦16, 491, 600 | 21% |
| Database Administrator | ₦15, 683, 400 | 11% |
| Web Developer | ₦12, 987, 000 | 27% |
A degree in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics improves your skillset and lets you get a high-paid job. There is a rising demand for skilled professionals and specialists in this sector for the overall growth of the state. Pursuing such subjects as majors in college will definitely transform your life, despite the need for the technical expertise needed in the industry. If you have a knack of science and technology, then you should go to STEM to choose a degree.
This post was last modified on August 2, 2022 5:46 pm