Continuing Education

According to U.S. News, people like you who are interested in developing business skills in accounting, finance, and management will see an expansion of available opportunities in the coming years. An Associate of Science in Business will help you get your foot in the door. Those with an AS in Business can pursue jobs in management, customer service, sales, consulting and business administrative positions.

Even more doors open when you pursue a Bachelor of Business at Assumption College. Graduates with a business degree pursue a variety of careers in both the private and public sector. These include jobs in accounting, marketing, digital marketing, management, and more. Whatever concentration you choose, you’ll find that a degree in business has the ability to open doors to multiple exciting career opportunities.

Careers in Accounting

• Graduates with an accounting concentration enjoy a wide range of career opportunities within the field of accounting or in other business professions. Many Assumption accounting graduates take public or corporate accounting positions, while others have become financial managers, consultants, entrepreneurs, and financial information technology experts.
• Typical opportunities include roles in public accounting (e.g., auditing and accounting services, tax and management advisory services, and personal financial planning); in business and not-for-profit organizations (e.g., financial and management reporting, cost accounting, corporate finance, internal auditing and controls, and tax planning); and in government agencies (e.g., auditing and compliance, budget preparation and analysis, and risk assessment).
• Employment prospects in the field of accounting are excellent, especially for those who pursue a professional certification; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs are expected to grow by 22% through 2018. Up and coming careers in the field include forensic accounting, assurance services, international accounting, and environmental accounting.

According to the BLS, the median annual salary for an accountant was $65,940 in 2014   US News ranks Accounting #3 in best business jobs

Careers in Digital Marketing

• As a graduate with a digital marketing concentration, you will find that there are many career opportunities, all of which have one common thread: the necessity to understand and translate customer needs in developing and communicating your organization’s digital marketing strategy.
• As one of the fastest growing industries, Forrester Research projects that spending on digital marketing in the U.S. will nearly double from $57.29 billion dollars to $103.37 billion dollars in a five year period through 2019
• Virtually every industry employs marketing professionals, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that jobs in this field will increase by 13% through 2018, with most growth expected in the areas of search engine marketing, social media marketing, channel marketing, and general sales roles. Digital marketing institute projects 150k new digital marketing jobs by 2020.

Careers in Management

• Management done well is both an art and a science, and graduates of our management concentration are well-equipped for leadership and supervisory roles in all types of industries and organizations, both public and private. You will not only learn foundational management subjects but also skills in planning, organizing, directing and oversight that will make you a more versatile and effective manager.
• Graduates of the management concentration are found in such diverse industries as manufacturing, healthcare, education, nonprofits, technology, insurance, banking, government, and real estate, in roles including operations management, procurement, contracts management, sales and marketing, human resources, office management, and personal and commercial banking. Some have also gone on to establish entrepreneurial ventures.
• Because of the range of opportunities, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that management careers will increase by 12% through 2018, particularly in the areas of healthcare, transportation, general and operations management, financial services, and office administration.

Sometimes it can be challenging to explain how a degree in philosophy or music will lead to a career, but there are more options than you realize. Liberal arts majors possess skills that are in demand—and they can qualify for many different kinds of jobs.

Important skills for liberal arts students.

Surveys by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) show that most hiring managers care more about a job candidate’s skills than they do about a college major. The skills employers say they want most in a candidate, such as communication and critical thinking, are precisely those for which liberal arts students are known.

Liberal arts graduates can pursue a range of careers.

Most entry-level positions require people who can learn quickly and solve problems; the specifics are taught on the job. “A general college degree is the major entry-level credential you need,” says author and speaker Donald Asher. “Employers are looking for the skills a candidate has to offer.”

Experts say, and a NACE survey confirms, that the most important skill employers seek in job candidates is the ability to communicate effectively. Employers also look for a strong work ethic, teamwork, initiative, interpersonal skills, and problem-solving and analytical abilities. These are the very kinds of abilities honed by coursework in the humanities and social sciences.

The same NACE survey shows that liberal arts graduates worked in a variety of industries, including retail trade and social assistance. And they worked in a range of career fields, from management to sales to graphic arts.

Liberal arts majors who are passionate about their studies are at an advantage in the job market, experts say. Interest in the classroom often translates to eagerness in a job search and enthusiasm in an interview. Having the ability to confidently articulate their ideas—a hallmark of liberal arts training—may be these jobseekers’ best justification of all for having chosen their major.
–Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics by Diana Gehlhaus

Potential Careers after Earning a Humanities Degree

• Graduates with a major in English or other Humanities subject areas enter an array of fields including nonprofit agencies, television and radio broadcasting, journalism, advertising, strategic communications, education, social justice advocacy, media relations, marketing communications, internal communications, investor relations, corporate social responsibility, government relations, and crisis management. They also pursue graduate degrees in literature, law, communications, higher education administration, and business.

Job prospects in social and human service fields are expected to be excellent, particularly for individuals with appropriate education after high school. 

Job openings will come from job growth, but also from the need to replace workers who advance into new positions, retire, or leave the workforce for other reasons. There will be more competition for jobs in urban areas than in rural ones, but qualified applicants should have little difficulty finding employment.

Human service professionals help social workers, healthcare workers, and other professionals to provide services to people. Human services is a generic term for workers with a wide array of job titles, including human service professionals, case management staff, social work counselor, community support worker, mental health staff, community outreach worker, life skills counselor, social services professional, youth worker, psychological aide, client advocate, or gerontology service professional.

(Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Social and Human Service)

Program Highlights

• The program follows in the footsteps of the Assumption College Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling Program, which is ranked among the top 50 Rehabilitation Counseling graduate program in the nation by U.S. News
• Our student-centered approach emphasizes academic excellence, convenience, ongoing communication, and interaction with professors, administrators, and professionals.
• Faculty have interest, investment, and experience in teaching online courses, utilizing a nurturing approach and
• communication to encourage students and keep them engaged throughout their entire degree program.
• The Program is asynchronous; students can learn at a time that is convenient to their own schedule each week.
• Multiple learning modalities, including online, experiential, practice and team approach, are incorporated.
• An outcomes-based learning model is employed: through the practical application of knowledge and through career preparation, students demonstrate that they have learned the required skills and content offered in the Program.
• With over 40 years of teaching Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies, Assumption’s Program is rich in history, experience, and achievement.
• We have provided degrees to hundreds of working professionals in the Human Services field throughout New England and the United States.
• Graduates of this program are qualified to work with children, adults, and the elderly with a broad range of disabilities, special needs, substance abuse issues and economic circumstances in diverse work settings.
• The Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies Program provides a strong undergraduate foundation for graduate professional education in a variety of health and human service-related fields, including rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, social work, special education, speech-language pathology, counseling psychology, school psychology, adjustment counseling, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, and more.

Transfer Agreements with Community College's

CCE at Assumption College has entered into a growing list of articulation agreements with most community colleges throughout Massachusetts as well as other state community colleges. These transfer agreements allow a seamless, easy, and direct transfer of all credits from your community college associate degree program into CCE at Assumption’s bachelor program.

Connecticut:

Quinebaug Community College

Massachusetts:

Bristol Community College

Bunker Hill CC

Cape Cod CC

Holyoke CC

MassBay CC

Mount Wachusett CC

North Shore CC

Northern Essex CC

Quinsigamond CC

Roxbury CC

Maryland:

Anne Arundel Community College

Carroll Community College

College of Southern Maryland

Criminal Justice Careers

• Job opportunities in most local police departments will be favorable for qualified individuals, whereas competition is expected for jobs in State and Federal agencies.
• Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow 10 percent over the 2008–18 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Population growth is the main source of demand for police services. Overall opportunities in local police departments will be favorable for individuals who meet the psychological, personal, and physical qualifications. In addition to openings from employment growth, many openings will be created by the need to replace workers who retire and those who leave local agencies for Federal jobs and private-sector security jobs.

Careers in Economics

• Economists are found in banking, government, finance, investments, research, and teaching, as well as in business, labor, law, and the private non-profit sector. The Economics major is excellent preparation for direct career entry or for graduate work in Economics, Business, Law, Public Administration, and International Affairs. Economics is good academic preparation for those planning careers in financial planning, investments, and banking.
• The demand for workers who have knowledge of economics is projected to grow faster, but these workers will commonly find employment in fields outside of economics, such as business, finance, or insurance. Many workers with economic backgrounds will work in related fields with more specific job titles, such as financial analyst, market analyst, public policy consultant, researcher or research assistant, purchasing manager, or a variety of positions in business and the insurance industry.

Careers in Psychology

• Psychology is a science concerned with mind and behavior. Psychologists are interested in explaining how and why we think, act, and feel. Psychology is a very diverse discipline that can prepare students for numerous different career paths. Some specialties, like caring for people in psychological distress, are well known. Other specialties, like helping design workstations to reduce stress in the workplace or studying how we perceive things, are less well known. Psychologists not only have a wide variety of specialties; they also contribute to the field in different ways. Some psychologists are researchers and generate scientific knowledge to understand thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Others are practitioners and apply their knowledge to help solve human problems.
• Opportunities directly related to psychology may find jobs as assistants in rehabilitation centers or in other jobs involving data collection and analysis. Those who meet State certification requirements may become high school psychology teachers.

Careers in Political Science and Sociology

• Prepares students in more than a general way for successful work in such fields as government service, international affairs, graduate study, journalism, law, teaching, and business.
• Overall employment of sociologists and political scientists is expected to grow 21 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Sociologists will experience much faster than average job growth because the incorporation of sociology into research in other fields continues to increase.
• Sociologists possess broad training and education in analytical, methodological, conceptual, and quantitative and qualitative analysis and research, so their skills can be applied to many different occupations. As a result, many workers with sociology backgrounds will find work in niche areas with specialized titles, such as market analyst, research assistant, writer, and policy analyst.

Assumption College CCE offers eight certificates to enhance your career in an existing or new field. A certificate program gives you the opportunity to focus on one professional area of expertise and quickly build your understanding and skills. You’ll gain crucial knowledge that might complement a college or university degree while strengthening your ability to perform effectively in the workplace, gain a promotion, or make a career change.

A college degree is not required to enroll in a certificate program. 
Certificate programs usually include introductory courses to familiarize new students in the field with the subject matter. Specific program requirements are listed within each certificate description.

Some certificate programs can be completed in less than 12 months!

A Central Massachusetts Lifelong Learning Program

Since 1993, Assumption College has hosted the Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE), a lifelong learning institute for older adults in Central Massachusetts who share a love of learning and community engagement. WISE is a member-run organization in which peer learning, participation, and leadership are valued. Members develop a full schedule of educational and cultural programs, running from September into June. New members are always welcome!

New to WISE?

The WISE Program is located on the Assumption College campus. The office is in Maison 203B, located near the entrance of campus. Please visit the FAQ page on our website to learn more about the program.

You can also learn more about WISE by calling the office at 508-767-7513. The office manager, Jill Lagana, or WISE director, Susan Perschbacher, are happy to answer any questions! Our number is 508-767-7513.

WISE Office Hours:      

Monday and Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

WISE Classes and Activities

WISE is largely class-oriented. For the annual membership fee of $250, a WISE member can take multiple classes in each of the four terms. (Approximately 18 courses are offered each term.)

In addition to classes, other WISE-sponsored events include Brown Bag lectures, museum trips, special luncheons, a Worcester night out, Movie Club, Book Club, Baseball Club, and many leadership opportunities. These special WISE events are offered for members and open to guests when there is space available.

Learn More

Visit, http://assumptionwise.org/, for the latest course offerings, events schedule, membership benefit information, and more. This site also has instructions for joining WISE.

Assumption College admits students who demonstrate an active intellect and personal qualities that will contribute to our community.
THE ONLINE APPLICATION
Prospective students who would like to apply to a degree or certificate program with CCE must fill out the online application form or submit a paper application.

Required Academic Credentials

• All applicants must be a graduate from an accredited secondary school or be able to provide an official GED transcript.
• If you are applying to CCE with fewer than five college courses, please submit an official high school or GED transcript.
• Students with previous college coursework should submit an official transcript from all colleges with credits to be considered for transfer.

Application Review Process

• The application and all supporting documentation are submitted to the Academic Counselor for review. The applicant must have achieved a minimum quality point average (QPA) of 2.5 in previous academic coursework. Students with less than a 2.5 may be considered as a conditionally accepted student.
• Though not required, counseling interviews are encouraged (either in person or by phone).
• After official notification of acceptance, application and transcripts are kept on file for one year. If the candidate has not enrolled in a course within the year, the candidate reapplies and is subject to the rules and regulations which are in effect at the time of the new application.

NOTE: Incomplete application files will be kept no longer than one year.

For more information please visit: https://cce.assumption.edu/