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If the idea of studying all things social—social
change, social causes, and social action and interaction—fascinates
you, consider sociology as a career field.
Sociologists analyze social contexts and how people
interact within them. Research matter ranges from the
harmonious family to the hostile mob, from religious cults
to organized crime, from that which unites communities to
that which divides them. Studying sociology also provides
students with broad liberal-arts training, which is good
preparation for many careers.
For more information about sociology careers, contact
the American Sociological Association, 1307 New York Ave.
NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 383-9005, TDD
(202) 872-0486. Through its Web site, the association also
offers prospective students brochures about careers in
sociology. The brochures are available online via www.asanet.org/student/student.html.
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Several well-paying computer occupations
are among the fastest growing occupations in the economy
through 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS). Yet women continue to be underrepresented in the
computer science field. What can educators do to narrow
that gender gap? Prepare them better, writes Cynthia
Lanius in "GirlTECH: Getting Girls Interested in
Computer Science."
Simply liking computers, which Lanius says
girls often respond that they do, is not enough to prepare
them for computer science careers. High school girls are
less likely than boys to take high-level mathematics,
science, and computer science courses—all necessary
training for studying computer science in college. But ask
any college student who has changed majors: interest in a
subject doesn’t go very far if you’re struggling to
make up for lost preparation.
To see Lanius’s article online, visit math.rice.edu/~lanius/club/girls3.html.
It is also available through the online digest of the
Women’s Educational Equity Act Resource Center, which
provides information and resources on gender equity in
education. Contact the Center at 55 Chapel St., Newton, MA
02458; 1 (800) 225-3088; www.edc.org/womensequity.
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Foreign countries have long been popular study
destinations for U.S. undergraduates. But many would-be
globetrotters are dissuaded from studying abroad because of
its high price tag, which usually includes travel and living
expenses, tuition, fees, and administrative costs. To make
international study more affordable, the Institute of
International Education provides students with financial
assistance.
The Institute directs the well-known Fulbright program
for graduate students and professionals interested in
international study. But it also administers dozens of other
programs for undergraduates interested in studying overseas.
Among them are the following, all of which require
applicants to be U.S. citizens:
- The National Security Education Program (NSEP) David
L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship is a need-based
award of up to $20,000 per academic year. The nearly
200 current students in the program, which helps
undergraduates gain experience in countries that are
crucial to our national security, selected host
countries that include Cuba, India, Jordan, Kenya, and
Russia. Awards are for the semester, summer, or full
academic year, and each carries a poststudy service
requirement. Applications are due in February,
although campus deadlines may be earlier. For more
information, contact the National Security Education
Program, David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships,
Institute of International Education, 1400 K St. NW.,
Washington, DC 20005-2403; 1 (800) 618-NSEP (6737); www.iie.org.
- The Freeman Awards for Study In Asia (Freeman-ASIA)
Program aims to increase the number of Americans
studying in East and Southeast Asia with fixed-amount
awards of $7,000 per academic year, $5,000 per
semester, or $3,000 per summer term. Recipients study
in 1 of 15 countries, which include Hong Kong, Japan,
Mongolia, Singapore, and Vietnam. Awardees must
complete a poststudy service requirement to promote
study abroad and submit a final report on their
experiences. Application deadlines are in March (for
the summer term), April (fall semester and full
academic year), and November (spring semester). For
more information, contact the Freeman Awards for Study
In Asia, 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY
10017-3580; (212) 984-5542; www.iie.org/programs/freeman-asia.
- The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Program seeks to increase the number of U.S.
undergraduates studying abroad—especially those whom
financial need might preclude from doing so. The
need-based, $5,000 maximum award per semester or
academic year is available only to current Pell Grant
recipients and requires that returning scholarship
beneficiaries create a followup project to promote
international study. Host countries chosen by the 179
recipients for the 2002 fall semester and 2002-03
academic year include Brazil, the Czech Republic, Ghana,
Norway, and Singapore. Application deadlines are in
April (for the fall semester and full academic year) and
October (spring semester). For more information, contact
the Gilman International Scholarship Program, Institute
of International Education, 515 Post Oak Blvd., Suite
150, Houston, TX 77027-9407; 1 (888) 887-5939, ext. 25 (tollfree)
or (713) 621-6300, ext. 25; www.iie.org/gilman.
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How long have wage-and-salary workers been with their
current employers, a measurement known as employee tenure?
The answer in January 2002 was a median 3.7 years, according
to BLS. Results are from a supplement to the Current
Population Survey, a monthly household survey of the
civilian noninstitutional population aged 16 and older.
Variation in tenure resulted from several factors. For
example, workers aged 55 to 64 had median tenure that was
3½ times that of workers aged 25 to 34. Those age
differences also influenced employee tenure in industries
and occupations: workers in the public sector, who are
relatively older, had twice the median tenure years of those
in the private sector. And officials and administrators in
public administration had the highest median tenure—11
years—in contrast to food service workers, who had the
lowest at 1 year. Officials and administrators in public
administration tend to be older than food service workers.
For more details about the tenure data, call (202)
691-6378 or visit the Current Population Survey program
online at www.bls.gov/cps. The employee tenure
summary, USDL 02-531, is also available online at www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm.
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