Make a Lasting Impact: 5 Best Master’s Degrees for the Future

As we enter 2023, you have the opportunity to transform your career (and ultimately, your life) with a graduate degree.

But if you are going to spend your time, money, and energy obtaining an advanced degree, then it is critical that you choose the program that is going to serve as a launching pad for your career.

Industries are not static, and as such, our professional landscape is always changing. For this reason, it is important that you not only choose a program that aligns with your industry — but a program that will stand the test of time and remain relevant to your longterm career goals.

What does the research say about the best master's degrees for the future?

First things first: let's talk about some of the data regarding choosing a master's program that will prepare you to fill the growing job need in various popular industries.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are several fields that are projected to continue to see excellent job growth in 2023 and beyond, and these industries include (but are not limited to):

Business administration
Nursing and other healthcare fields
Computer and other information research sciences
Robotics and other engineering disciplines
Education (at all levels)

While these are not the only fields seeing healthy job growth in the next few years, let's dive into these few — including helpful qualities that would make you a good match as well as potential job options.

1. Business Administration

The MBA is one of the most popular, useful, and versatile graduate degrees to date. In addition to teaching the nuts and bolts of business, many MBA programs allow for some level of customization — meaning that you have the opportunity to focus on the area of business administration that you are most interested in.

Qualities that business administration professionals need:

Strategic mindset
Exemplary leadership skills
Critical thinking

Jobs you can get with an MBA:

Chief executive officer
General and operations manager
Financial analyst

2. Nursing

It's no secret that the 2020 pandemic shed light on just how important and critical nurses are when considering the health of our communities. Nurses are tasked with providing phenomenal patient care in diverse settings, and with COVID-19, the flu, and RSV in mind, nursing is one of the most important fields that consistently needs new leaders.

Qualities that nurses should have:

Compassion
Integrity
Detail-oriented mindset

Jobs you can get with an MSN or DNP:

Family nurse practitioner
Nursing informatics specialist
Forensic nurse consultant

3. Computer Science

Technology is one of the fastest-evolving commodities of the modern workforce, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Pursuing a graduate degree that is based in computer science is a strategic choice for professionals who want to position themselves as thought leaders in the field of technology.

Qualities that are important for computer science professionals:

Innovative mindset
Collaboration
Resilience

Jobs you can get with a computer science-related degree:

Computer scientist
Information technologist
Data scientist

4. Robotics

Believe it or not, robotics technology is everywhere. We interact with robotics technology every day — with our home security systems, self-driving vehicles, surgical tools in procedural medicine, and environmentally-friendly energy systems (just to name a few). Robotics technology will continue to improve the lives of others in fields, such as healthcare, exploration, sustainability, and more.

Qualities that are critical for robotics engineers to have:

Attention to detail
Innovative thinking
Research-oriented mindset

Jobs you can get with a robotics-related degree:

Robotics engineer
Computer hardware engineer
Data scientist

examples of robotics technology

5. Education

The education landscape is one of the most transformative fields today. Teachers and other educational professionals are actively shaping the next generation of leaders who have the ability to make the world a better place. For this reason, there will always be a critical need for skilled, empathetic individuals who have a passion for teaching.

Qualities that are sought after in education professionals:

Empathy
Open mindedness
Mission-oriented thinking

Jobs you can get with an education degree:

Elementary, secondary, or high school teacher
Instructional coordinator
Administrator

Find the best graduate program for you at WVU

At West Virginia University, we offer dozens of graduate programs that are specifically designed with your success in mind. We foster a community of diversity and equality, and we are dedicated to helping you to reach your full potential in an inclusive environment.

As you consider your next academic venture, we invite you to take advantage of a few of our resources: read more stories, subscribe to our podcast, and visit our resource library to learn more.

Feel free to request more information while you explore our programs, or if you're ready to apply, you can start your online application today.

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