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It’s no secret that the number of older people is
increasing as "baby boomers" age—or that
improved healthcare is promoting longevity. So, it should
be no surprise that there’s a growing need for people to
work in the field of aging.
Helping to answer questions about these careers are
resources from the Association for Gerontology in Higher
Education, the educational unit of the Gerontological
Society of America. "Careers in Aging: Consider the
Possibilities" is an introductory booklet on careers
in aging. The 16-page booklet, aimed at high school and
college students, covers the career field by breaking it
down into a number of topics. These include explanations
of what gerontology is, what jobs and careers are
available, and how to become a professional in the field
of aging. A longer, more detailed booklet, "Careers
in Aging: Opportunities and Options," is for upper
level undergraduates and for adults considering a career
change.
Single copies of either booklet are free; multiple
copies are 20 cents each. To request a booklet or more
information about careers in aging, contact the
association at 1030 15th St. NW., Suite 240, Washington,
DC 20005-1503; (202) 289-9806, voice; (202) 289-9824, fax.
The 16-page booklet may be accessed online at www.aghe.org/aghe.ciastart.htm
and at www.careersinaging.com.
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According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data,
more workers were hired in health services than in any
other industry in 2002. The 270,000 new workers in
health services represented a 2.6-percent employment
increase over 2001 employment in that industry.
Growth in demand for healthcare services stemmed
from an aging baby-boom population, overall population
growth, and technological advances. Hospitals, with
113,000 new hires, accounted for the largest share of
job growth. But the 63,000 additional workers in
offices of clinics and medical doctors represented the
greatest proportional increase—3.1 percent—in the
health services industry.
The data are from the BLS Current Employment
Statistics program. To learn more about employment in
2002, see "U.S. labor market in 2002: continued
weakness," by Terence M. McMenamin, Rachel Krantz,
and Thomas J. Krolik, in the February 2003 Monthly
Labor Review, available online at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2003/02/art1full.pdf.
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A livelihood in the air might be your dream. But pursuing and
paying for your education, flight training, certificates, and
other aviation-related requirements might seem like a nightmare.
Now, there’s an online resource that can help. The
nonprofit AvScholars Network Foundation has an educational and
career Web site for students interested in aviation or aerospace
occupations. The foundation’s online career center provides
brief descriptions of occupations ranging from the airborne—such
as pilots, flight engineers, and flight attendants—to ground
personnel—such as airport managers, ticket agents, and
avionics technicians. The career center also contains links to
related information. Other topics on the site include guides to
finding financial aid, scholarships, and internship and
cooperative education opportunities. There are several
searchable databases.
To visit the site, set your browser to www.avscholars.com.
If you do not have Internet access, you may contact the
foundation at 8526 S. Drexel Ave., Chicago, IL 60619; (773)
846-3327. But there are limitations to what you’ll get by
writing or calling, even if you do so after visiting the Web
site. The foundation does not screen applicants or provide input
regarding selection of recipients for openings mentioned on its
Web site. Inquiries about specific programs, scholarships, or
other opportunities should be made directly to each
administrator.
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If you’re interested in the environment and enjoy
life sciences and a variety of other subjects, a career
in ecology might be for you.
Ecologists study the interaction between organisms
and their environment. To help students learn more about
this career field, the Ecological Society of America
provides information for aspiring ecologists. Among the
society’s publications are brochures aimed at two
different student audiences: High school and college.
Both brochures describe what ecologists do, what kinds
of jobs they have, what their job outlook is, and where
to get more information. The brochure for high school
students also explains the kind of educational
background they need and steps they can take while in
high school to increase their awareness of ecology. The
college version recommends courses to take and suggests
ways to get ecology-related experience before
graduation.
For a free copy of either brochure, contact the
society at 1707 H St. NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC
20006-3915; (202) 833-8773. The brochures also are
available online via links at www.esa.org/education/resources
/resources_cfunding.php.
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Orthotists and prosthetists evaluate and custom fit
people’s artificial limbs and braces. And for five
students pursuing that career path, scholarship money is
available to help them finance their education.
Working in the field of orthotics and prosthetics
requires strong interpersonal skills, an aptitude for
mathematics and science, and technical knowledge.
Students can train to become a practitioner in a
baccalaureate or certificate program or train to become
a technician in an associate-degree or certificate
program. Baccalaureate study, which takes 2 academic
years to complete, is designed for students who complete
prerequisites in their first 2 academic years of a
4-year bachelor’s degree program.
Practitioner
certificates require 1 year of study for those who
already have a bachelor’s degree in a science-based
subject such as engineering, biology, or kinesiology.
And a 1-year, postbaccalaureate residency program offers
hands-on clinical training and experience.
Associate-degree technician programs generally require 2
years of study.
The Orthotic and Prosthetic Education and Development
Fund administers three scholarships for students
enrolled in an accredited orthotics and prosthetics
program. The Dan McKeever Scholarship (May 31 deadline)
grants $1,000 to three rising seniors completing
bachelor’s degree programs, the Chester Haddan
Scholarship (January 9 deadline) awards $1,000 to a
rising senior in a certificate program, and the Ken
Chagnon Scholarship (January 9 deadline) provides $500
to a student in a technician program. Students must show
proof of financial need, complete an application, and
provide a recommendation, letter of reference,
transcript, and 200-word essay explaining why they want
to work in the occupation.
To learn more about careers in orthotics and
prosthetics, contact the American Academy of Orthotists
and Prosthetists, 526 King St., Suite 201, Alexandria,
VA 22314; (703) 836-0788, ext. 203. Or, set your Web
browser to www.opcareers.org. For more
information about the scholarships, including additional
application requirements, contact the Orthotic and
Prosthetic Education and Development Fund at the academy’s
mailing address or go online: www.oandp.org/education.
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Minority students who are considering or are
currently pursuing a master’s degree in library
studies might be eligible for a $5,000 scholarship.
The Spectrum Initiative scholarship is a one-time,
nonrenewable award paid directly to a recipient in two
$2,500 installments. Recipients must be members of
specified minority groups and must be citizens or
permanent residents of the United States or Canada; they
also must be enrolling in, or have completed no more
than one-third of the credits for, a graduate degree
program in library and information studies. Students may
be either full or part time, but they may not defer
enrollment after accepting the award.
The scholarship is administered by the Spectrum
Initiative, the American Library Association’s
diversity recruitment effort. The association also
provides other scholarships for graduate students in
library and information studies. Primary consideration
factors for all scholarships are academic excellence,
leadership, and evidence of commitment to a career in
librarianship. The scholarship application process opens
annually in September, with applications due to the
association’s scholarship clearinghouse by March 1.
For more information about Spectrum Initiative or
other scholarships, contact the association at 50 E.
Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; 1 (800) 545-2433, ext.
4277. Or, access scholarship information online at www.ala.org/hrdr.
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