My first-born recently graduated from Ithaca College (December ’21), and like many parents I experienced feelings of relief, pride, and some worry about their next steps. One option we discussed was pursuing a graduate degree to deepen his knowledge, better position himself within the job market, and attract a more desirable salary. While he ultimately chose full-time employment to start, graduate school remains a viable option for the future.
There is not an exact “right” time to attend graduate school. Like my child, many students will benefit from working first, while others may find that going to graduate school right away is the best option for them to get ahead in their chosen profession. Since graduate education is so specific, students should only proceed when ready and in a program that is the right match for their interests. This includes not just academics but also access to faculty with specific expertise, as well as research, internships, field placements or other related opportunities that might be important to them.
In our discussions, I shared the many offerings available through the Ithaca College Graduate and Professional Studies programs, including:
- An MBA in Entertainment & Media Management which attracts a wide range of undergraduate majors from business to music or communications. In less than a year, students gain the business skills and knowledge necessary to manage, develop, and distribute creative content.
- The nine-month master’s in accounting program provides advanced training in the theory and application of financial reporting, taxation, auditing, and contemporary accounting practices.
- Our education department offers three pathways (adolescent education, agriculture education, and childhood education) to prepare as a teacher in the K-12 environment. Make sure to check out the NOYCES Scholarship.
- Return for 3 summers to earn a master’s in music education, focusing on contemporary trends and refining teaching skills through research, reflection, and interaction with leaders in the field.
- Students with an interest in the health professions can consider our exercise science, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and physician assistant studies programs which all offer graduate level entry options. (If your student is a first year or sophomore and showing interest in the health professions, we offer accelerated degrees in Athletic Training, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy.)
I reminded him that his undergraduate major may be completely different than what he might chose for graduate school, and that this is okay! For example, a biology undergraduate major may choose to pursue a master of arts in teaching to become a high school biology teacher. A psychology undergraduate major may choose to pursue a master’s in exercise science to work with athletes on their mental performance or a master’s in physician assistant studies to become a physician assistant. A music major may pursue a master’s in business administration to understand the business side of the industry to be more effective in managing the oversight of others producing their music. This combination of degrees is perfectly acceptable and would likely strengthen readiness for the next career step.
Graduate school can be a challenging and rewarding adventure. If you or your student have any questions regarding applying to graduate school or graduate programming at Ithaca College, please feel free to reach out to me at cmoylan@ithaca.edu.