{"id":14338,"date":"2021-06-17T14:10:15","date_gmt":"2021-06-17T20:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/?p=14338"},"modified":"2021-06-22T08:27:45","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T14:27:45","slug":"is-a-degree-in-stem-right-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/is-a-degree-in-stem-right-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Is a Degree in STEM Right for You?"},"content":{"rendered":"

*The following custom content is sponsored by Rider University.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

An education in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) cultivates an environment for critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and innovation. STEM coursework challenges students to apply their knowledge and understanding of scientific and mathematical concepts while thinking outside the box to devise their own solutions.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve enjoyed taking classes in STEM, but how do you know if pursuing a STEM degree is right for you? We spoke to Kelly Bidle, Ph.D., Dean of College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at <\/span>Rider University<\/span><\/a>, who shared her insight into the importance of STEM programs, skills required, and considerations to determine if a degree in STEM is a good fit for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

STEM Skills<\/span><\/h3>\n

What skills are required for those seeking a degree in STEM?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike most fields, there are a broad set of skills required in almost any profession which include strong communication (both written and oral), teamwork, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence,\u201d said Bidle. \u201cFor STEM fields, analytical and data-driven thinking are also key.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At Rider, STEM students acquire and test their skills through an engaged learning approach. \u201cRider has always believed that learning by doing is key to success in the sciences,\u201d Bidle said.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cOur students get into the research labs and fields early in their course of study so they can apply what they learn in the classroom with active, hands-on learning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

STEM Programs<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re interested in pursuing a career in STEM, Rider offers <\/span>degree programs<\/span><\/a> in computer science, cybersecurity, health sciences, exercise sciences and behavioral neuroscience, and more traditional offerings such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, marine sciences, environmental science, and mathematics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/span>Cybersecurity Graduates Secure Their Own Future<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Finding Resources<\/span><\/h3>\n

Knowing where to find the right information and resources for your STEM studies is critical. Bidle encourages STEM students to take advantage of all the research, field, and internship opportunities offered while engaged in a STEM program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGet to know your professors early and learn about their research. Get into the laboratory or computer labs and start diving into different research projects to truly identify what you have a passion for,\u201d Bidle said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To show its commitment to science and technology and provide additional resources to its students, Rider is completing work on a <\/span>$7 million expansion<\/span><\/a> of its Science and Technology Center. This new addition will house modern laboratory facilities, a modern greenhouse, and teaching spaces for software engineering, cybersecurity, and anatomy and physiology.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognize that many future jobs are going to require a good deal of knowledge in computer science, coding, and cybersecurity,\u201d Bidle said. \u201cWe are investing heavily in these fields and growing our programming in artificial intelligence, robotics, and software engineering.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits of a STEM Education<\/span><\/h3>\n

Most STEM occupations require postsecondary education, with some needing graduate degrees to compete in a competitive job market. According to the <\/span>Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)<\/span><\/a>, over 99 percent of STEM positions, such as engineers and software developers, typically require at least a bachelor\u2019s degree.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

STEM knowledge and technical skills are in high demand and often come with attractive salaries. Although wages vary widely, the median annual wage of a STEM job in 2020 was $89,780<\/span>\u2014<\/span>significantly higher than the national average of a non-STEM occupation annual salary of $40,020.<\/span><\/p>\n

BLS also identified STEM jobs as among those seeing the highest percentage of job growth, including positions in computer science, information security, data scientists, mathematicians, statisticians, and engineering.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur students have been going into several different medical fields (physician, nursing, physical, and occupational therapy), scientific fields (research, scientific teaching, environmental consulting), as well as homeland security, IT analyst, and software engineering,\u201d said Bidle. \u201cMany of our students also go on to earn post-baccalaureate degrees in graduate and professional fields.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Bidle says she\u2019s seen an increase in enrollment in the sciences over the past five years, due in part to their introduction of new and modern programming. \u201cWe hope this trend will continue and that our students enter the workforce prepared and ready for jobs we haven\u2019t yet imagined.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/span>12 Scholarships Designed for STEM Students<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

For more information about furthering your education in STEM, visit Peterson\u2019s <\/span><\/i>college search<\/span><\/i><\/a> for available programs.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

*The following custom content is sponsored by Rider University. An education in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) cultivates an environment for critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and innovation. STEM coursework challenges students to apply their knowledge and understanding of scientific and mathematical concepts while thinking outside the box to devise their own solutions.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You\u2019ve enjoyed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":14354,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5],"tags":[417,5096,5142,39,1461,6362,6383,471,1594,511,6384,510],"class_list":{"0":"post-14338","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-colleges","8":"category-grad-schools","9":"tag-computer-science","10":"tag-cybersecurity","11":"tag-cybersecurity-degree","12":"tag-engineering","13":"tag-engineering-majors","14":"tag-mathematics","15":"tag-robotics","16":"tag-science","17":"tag-science-program","18":"tag-stem","19":"tag-stem-degree","20":"tag-technology"},"better_featured_image":{"id":14354,"alt_text":"STEM Student","caption":"Shot of a young woman using a machine to conduct a medical test in a 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