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Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy is a relatively new and a definitely expanding specialty in the health care field. Its origins can be traced to the increasing industrialization and disastrous effects of modern warfare. Occupational therapists help people. They help people of all ages prevent, reduce, and overcome disabilities by encouraging and training them to work, draw, dance, and express themselves in social settings. They work with patients of all ages with every kind of disability: heart problems, cerebral palsy, arthritis, serious physical injuries, mental retardation, emotional and neurological disorders – you name it, really. They also work with families, doctors, nurses, case managers, social workers, and other therapists. Most four-year Occupational Therapy programs consist of two years of science-heavy classroom coursework followed by two years of professional, hands-on fieldwork, particularly during senior year. One important thing you should know about Occupational Therapy is that an important, national standardized test comes at the end of your undergraduate years. To be an occupational therapist, you must take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination after graduating from an accredited program and completing all your fieldwork. It is only then that you will officially earn the designation Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).
Preparation
Occupation Therapy programs can be somewhat competitive. If you want to get an edge, you should take as many high school science and math courses as possible. Advanced placement biology, chemistry, and physics classes will prove especially helpful. Also, take psychology if your school offers it.
Ocean Engineering
Ocean EngineeringIt’s big and it’s blue and you can bet that we haven’t even begun to understand its depth (no pun intended, of course). The ocean is one of the richest and most complicated bodies in the world, providing us with everything from oil to oxygen. Someone out there has to help us understand its potential and resources, and you can bet that we’re not looking to Eugenie Clark (a.k.a the Shark Lady) to answer our questions (or at least not all of them). No, for this we depend on the ocean engineer, the scientist who has brought the math and the analytical tools of engineering to bear on the largest physical mass on the face of the earth. We turn to the ocean engineers of the world to help us understand such complex things as ocean thermal dynamics, or how to preserve the balance of the delicate resources that we can find only in the ocean. The career options with an Ocean Engineering major are varied because not only will you have the skills of an engineer—able to figure out differential math equations while leaping a tall building—but you will, of course, have the entire ocean as your specialty. So, whether you want to help design the next battleship, or help preserve the Great Barrier Reef, the world is your oyster.
Preparation
A lot of deep sea diving is a good way to begin preparing for a major in Ocean Engineering. If you’re diving suit happens to be a little tight, consider very strong math and science skills, particularly advanced mathematics, like trigonometry and calculus, as solid preparation for what lies ahead. On the science side, advanced physics is probably the subject your school offers most pertinent to this major.
Oceanography
OceanographyGreat white sharks can go up to three months without eating. If the total salt content of all the oceans was dried, it would cover the continents to a depth of five feet. Dolphins can whistle, coral can sting, and seaweed can be a good source of calcium, zinc, and even protein. Want more? A major in oceanography focuses—obviously—on oceans. Not just the deep, dark, mysterious waters, but also what they’re made of, what lives in them, how they create and use resources, and how the sea moves and changes. Oregon State describes oceanography as “the application of the sciences to the study of the oceans,” and oceanography is truly an interdisciplinary major. You’ll study elements from many different fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, geology, math, and geography. You’ll learn about the captivating animals and plants that make the sea their home—what they eat, how they live, how they affect the ocean itself. From the nutrients and gases in ocean waters to tides, currents, shoreline formation, waves, and the motion of the sea, you’ll become an expert on every aspect of the world’s greatest feature. You’ll also learn about the complex relationship between the ocean and the rest of the environment, and how their interactions affect each other—and us. Finally, you’ll examine some of the challenges and threats the ocean faces today, and how we might best address them. Many oceanography programs give students the opportunity to work directly with the ocean through on-site laboratories, internships, and research projects. The field of oceanography—like the oceans themselves—is extraordinarily rich, and some programs may ask you to focus on one specific area. Specializations might include biological oceanography, chemical oceanography, marine geology, and physical oceanography. Through your studies, you’ll gain a deep (so to speak) understanding of oceans and their ever-changing role in our world.
Preparation
To prepare for a major in oceanography, you should take a variety of courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and math. Science courses with laboratory components will be especially valuable. Reading, writing, and speaking skills are important to this major as well, so take courses in English, languages, and other humanities.
Operations Management
Operations ManagementThe world of business involves many intricate workings, and Operations Management covers them all. Operations Managers seek to control the processes that determine outputs from businesses. In other words, as an Operations Management major you’ll study operating systems, quality management, product design, supply chain management, and inventory control. You’ll study how equipment, information, labor, and facilities are used in the production process. You’ll learn about every step that goes into making a product or service and how to make each step as efficient and beneficial to the company as possible. You’ll study the delivery systems that serve customers and the ways to administer helpful customer service. Your studies will give you the knowledge you’ll need to identify and evaluate problems with a business’s existing operating system and the skills you’ll need to improve the system to help turn the business into a strong competitor in the marketplace.
Preparation
Your best preparation for any management major is to become familiar with math and humanities courses. Computer skills and a foreign language are assets. And English classes will give you the writing, reading, and speaking skills you’ll need to become a successful manager.
Organizational Behavior Studies
Organizational Behavior StudiesIf you were that kid who always brought an ant farm to show-and-tell, fascinated by its orderly structure and seamless group efforts, you may have found your calling. The essence of group conflict, collaboration, and cooperation form the basis of a major in organizational behavior studies. Here, you’ll learn all about organizations: how they work, who’s involved, and why things sometimes fall apart. Or, better yet, why they don’t. The workplace is one of the best examples of organizational behavior, so the major will focus largely on how people interact with each other on the job and how their behavior has a crucial impact on the organization as a whole. You’ll learn about why people behave the way they do and how their actions can be understood and analyzed psychologically. In addition to taking a look at human resources, employee compensation, and labor relations, you’ll also examine the more emotional aspects, such as what motivates employees to do their best and what happens when the quality of their work weakens. You’ll study elements of psychology, management, sociology, political science, government, education, and industry in order to reach a deeper understanding of organizational behavior. By understanding the fundamentals of the field, you’ll be able to not only predict behavior but also control it. Also important are the responsibilities and challenges of a manager and such principles as reinforcement and punishment and how they come into play in the workplace. You’ll also touch on employment law. Your studies in organizational behavior will take you from the individual level to the group level, and you’ll see that the effects of individual behavior are truly profound. (Just like back in that ant farm . . . a workplace in and of itself.) No matter where your major takes you, you’ll have the knowledge you need to observe, analyze, and manage individuals and groups with intelligence, compassion, and dignity.
Preparation
The best preparation for a major in organizational behavior studies is a good selection of courses in the humanities, math, and science. This field requires excellent communication skills, so take courses in English and languages that will strengthen your reading, writing, and speaking abilities. History courses might give you some new perspectives on the role of work in the world. Understanding the larger world will give you a strong foundation on which to build your knowledge in this field.