These days, it can seem like the only way to get an entry-level job is with a master’s degree, especially in some occupations.
That was certainly true when Ronnika Williams, now 33, was looking for a job in archival work after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history from Western Michigan University.
“There really weren’t any jobs out there because I was really looking to go into the archive fields,” she says. “But every job that I wanted to apply for was asking for a master’s degree — either a master’s degree in history or library science.”
With a desire to become an archivist, the Michigan native enrolled in the graduate library science program at the North Carolina Central University, the only historically black college with an accredited program in that field. “The better fit for me was to go the library science route.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists both occupations — archivist and librarian — as usually requiring a master’s degree. Here are few professions, according to the BLS, that typically require a graduate degree for an entry-level position.
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1. Archivist: “Most archivists jobs are going to require a master’s degree of some kind,” says Mary Stansbury, associate professor and head of the library and information science program at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. “Many library science programs over the years will add a course or two each year that falls into the category of archival work.”
But employment in the profession isn’t expected to grow anytime soon. The BLS — in its ” 2015 Occupational Outlook Handbook” — estimates the field to grow only 7 percent over the next 10 years.
“The running joke in our field is it’s going to be hard for you to find jobs because usually when people get into those types of positions, they die in them,” Williams says.
2. Librarian: The primary role for this occupation is to help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use, whether it’s at a public library, school or even a law firm.
“Some people in the field go into the knowledge management area and typically work in more of a corporate setting,” says Stansbury from DU.
But, she says, the profession isn’t known for its high pay. The typical wage for a librarian, as reported by the BLS in May 2015, is around $56,880 annually.
3. Health care social worker: The health care track within social work is a fast-growing track — especially as this sector continues to expand. Workers in this field are employed in various settings — from mental health clinics and hospitals to private practices.
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La Shawn Paul, a social worker based in New York, says she became a manager for social work programs at a hospital in Queens within four years of completing her master’s degree in social work from Columbia University.
Paul says she enjoys the variety of work opportunities the degree can provide. After leaving the hospital setting a couple years ago, the now 30-year-old started her own private practice called Social Work Diva, which primarily provides therapy for women.
4. Mental health counselor: “You can become a licensed mental health professional with a two-year degree in social work,” says Jean Anastas, a professor at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work.
The NYU professor says choosing a MSW has become a more common track for those interested in becoming mental health clinicians, in part because it’s very difficult to get into clinical psychology programs. These programs also require a doctorate, she says, compared with the social work track, which requires a master’s degree and licensure.
“Every state has their own rules for licensure, and licensure is the route you want to take if you have your MSW,” says the Social Work Diva counselor, who works as a licensed clinical social worker. “In certain sectors, you’re almost required, especially in the medical sector.”
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5. Urban and regional planner: These professionals spend their days developing land use plans and programs that help create communities, accommodate population growth and revitalize physical facilities in urban areas.
Earning a two-year master’s degree in urban and regional planning at one of 72 accredited programs in the U.S. will lead to a job in this field, according to the Planning Accreditation Board.
An urban and regional planner can expect to make around $68,220 annually, according to the BLS.
6. Political scientist: This vocation researches political ideas and analyzes governments, policies, political trends and related issues.
“About 52 percent of our students will pursue the public interest area , ” says Monica Jackson, career resource specialist for the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas–Austin.
Jackson says the job outlook for this field is healthy despite the recent federal hiring freeze. “Some of our students might transfer those skills to a think tank.”
According to the BLS, a political scientist earns around $99,730 a year.
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6 Occupations That Typically Require a Master’s Degree originally appeared on usnews.com
