Ten Hottest Masters Degrees in the Job Market

1. MBA – Financial Risk and Insurance Management
Financial risk management has emerged as one of the most sought-after skill sets in the financial services industry.  Regardless of recent developments on Wall Street, financial services is a growing business sector at both the Main Street and Wall Street level. However this degree as described by the University of Wisconsin School of Business is resulting in 93% placement of graduates with an average $15,000 sign-on bonus. See Online MBA Financial Risk & Management Degrees.

2. Masters in Marketing

Sales professionals are always at a premium in the job market, and many employers are willing to give an opportunity to someone who has put the time and effort into graduate study of the art.  New York University offers a Masters in Integrated Marketing which, according to the Association of National Advertisers, is the most sought after degree for new hires in the industry.  Most schools, like the University of Texas, have a Marketing Department within their Business School – but admittance to the graduate marketing program may be a separate process. See Online Masters in Marketing Degrees.

3. Integrated Master of Accountancy (IMAcc)

There are several names for this degree but in all cases it is a fifth year program for undergraduate accounting majors that prepares them for passing the CPA exam.  Three years of economic turmoil have led to substantial needs for new accountants in government and with large accounting firms that provide audits and regulatory preparation for corporations.  Twenty nine percent of all MBA graduates go to work for the government, and the percentage is even higher for highly qualified accountants and auditors.  Northeastern University offers the Masters in Accountancy online. See Online Masters in Accounting Degrees.

4. Masters in Electrical/Electronics Engineering

This profession crosses over from technology to traditional electrical engineering as applied in construction and electrical systems design.  At the graduate level you can pursue a career in computer design or work in power generation or sign on as a construction specialist.  Several schools have combined academic departments; in Illinois you would complete your masters in electrical/electronic engineering through the University of Illinois Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. See Online Masters in Electrical Engineering Degrees.

5. Masters in Engineering Management

This is a relatively new engineering field that is a combination of engineering technology training and business learning.  Graduates in the field may end up with construction firms, financial firms, or corporations with an interest in development.  The Duke University Masters in Engineering Management program saw 94% of its graduates placed within ninety days of graduation, with a mixture of employers that included Cummins Turbo Technology, Deloitte Consulting, and Cisco Systems.  The University of Massachusetts dual degree program results in an MBA/MS in Management and Engineering. See Online Masters in Engineering Management Degrees.

6. Masters in Mechanical Engineering

This degree also has some crossover potential, as skilled mechanical engineers are needed in materials development, systems dynamics, energy, and one of the hottest industry segments today: design.  A Masters in Mechanical Engineering can open doors in product development, construction, process control or any number of other industrial niches.  The University of Washington offers the Masters in Mechanical Engineering through its Edge online program. See Online Masters in Mechanical Engineering Degrees.

7. Masters in Civil Engineering

Because environmental engineering has become an important technical field over the past fifteen or twenty years, a graduate degree in civil engineering allows for some career crossover opportunity.  Moreover, a Masters in Civil Engineering will put you in the management role on public works civil engineering projects.  North Carolina State University Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering offers an online Masters in Civil Engineering. See Online Masters in Civil Engineering Degrees.

8. MBA Global Management

The number of U.S. firms with international operations today is astonishing.  A survey of product distributors with annual revenues of over $50 million will show that 90% of them do business on multiple continents.  Managing businesses in a global market, or managing business components in a global market, is a skill that too many of today’s businessmen have learned on the job.  MBA graduates who understand trading in the European market or manufacturing in the Far East are at a premium.  The University of Oregon Executive MBA program offers a curriculum focused on global business fundamentals.  Qualified students can complete this program in eighteen months. See Online MBA Global Management Degrees.

9. Masters in Computer Science

A computer science degree is the most respected technology undergraduate degree and for those who are interested in the theory and design of tech products, a graduate degree can lead to an early management position in the field.  It is also the most lucrative degree among technology undergraduate choices and the same is undoubtedly true at the graduate level.  The University of Illinois Online has a Masters of Computer Science program that is available on a full time or part time basis. See Online Masters in Computer Science Degrees.

10. Masters in Nursing

The options for a Masters in Nursing include several advance nursing practice options.  Those include Nurse Midwife, Nurse Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner.  Most of these also have specializations in gerontology, pediatrics, women’s medicine, and special medical functions such as surgery.  The University of California – San Francisco School of Nursing lists seventeen specialty practices available to Masters in Nursing graduates. See Online Masters in Nursing Degrees.

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