Careers in science, technology, education, and mathematics, commonly known as STEM, are a hot commodity right now. As science and technology advance, so too does the need for people who are experts in these fields. So if you’re considering a future in STEM, it’s a wise move, as there will continue to be new opportunities and room for growth.
While it may appear that STEM is only starting to gain a lot of traction, there is actually a long history of individuals who have pioneered innovations in science and technology, leading us to where we are today. Many women, in fact, were some of the first to work and make breakthroughs across the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
They were some of the early leaders in STEM and inspired movements that led to new discoveries. So if you are on the fence about a future in STEM, let that inspire you and show how much is possible if you put your mind to it and follow your dreams.
What Would Pursuing a Career in STEM Look Like?
Of course, a future in STEM starts with the right education. Most universities offer courses in science, technology, engineering, and math — but not all of them are specifically geared toward pursuing a successful future in STEM.
So if you want to work in STEM, you must first find the right educational program for you and your particular skills and interests. Luckily, there are many schools that are now tailoring programs to meet the advanced needs of those who are interested in STEM.
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), for example, has a number of STEM programs that offer real-world tools to help equip students with the skills they need to succeed in their careers after graduation. They boast of highly skilled faculty bringing extensive field experience and value to their courses. They even utilize virtual reality experiences to enhance the learning experience for students to help them further advance their knowledge.
This is just one example of many schools that are taking steps to promote opportunities within STEM. Schools like SNHU are excited about the newer generations and where they will take us, and as such, they are developing advanced programs to support students in their STEM pursuits as much as possible.
The skills you would learn in these programs also don’t necessarily mean you would have to specifically work for a STEM company. As most industries today seek employees who have a background in technology, you could truthfully work just about anywhere with a degree in STEM, which is what makes pursuing a degree in one of these fields so smart.
Students in STEM tend to not only develop the hard skills required for these areas of study but also learn other vital skills that employers look for, such as problem-solving and critical thinking. STEM students also tend to think creatively and innovatively, which are additional skills employers across numerous industries look for. So with an education in STEM, you really can’t go wrong.
The Government Wants You to Work in STEM
If the previous points weren’t enough to convince you, the U.S. government also supports more students pursuing STEM careers. In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Education launched a new initiative to enhance STEM education for students across the country.
This initiative, Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students, was designed to strengthen STEM education nationwide and scale equitable, high-quality STEM education for all students, regardless of background.
In support of the initiative, the U.S. Department of Education has:
- Published a letter to state and district leaders outlining how federal funds can be used to enhance STEM teaching and learning;
- Partnered with Beyond 100K to identify challenges regarding the supply and demand of STEM teachers and cosponsor a series of practices to support more school districts in developing scalable STEM solutions and improving equitable access;
- Inspired over 90 public and private organizations to make specific commitments and enhancements to STEM education.
Potential Career Opportunities in STEM
With an education in STEM, the possibilities are limitless. Below are just a few examples of the many different careers you could pursue with a degree in STEM:
Information Technology
Information technology is one of the broadest areas of study in that it opens the door for you to work just about anywhere. As most companies these days operate on digital systems, they need experienced IT workers.
For example, you could work in healthcare IT or the IT department of charitable and non-profit organizations. You could even work in IT for the fashion industry. Of course, you can also work in IT at a STEM-focused company, but this is just to prove that having a degree in IT is highly versatile.
There is also a lot of room for growth and advancement in IT, as new technologies every day are advancing in this field. Artificial Intelligence is fast transforming the IT job market, for example. Through advanced processing power allowing it to sift through vast amounts of data quickly, as well in innovations in machine learning, AI both helps fill the gaps in IT and enhances what those who work in IT are capable of.
Software Engineering
If you like tinkering and building things, then you could pursue a career in software engineering with an education in STEM. Software engineers are behind a vast array of innovations at companies across numerous industries.
Many companies today are always looking for new programs and systems to help them run more efficiently, and as a software engineer, you can help build those systems.
The warehouse industry, for example, has rapidly gone digital and now runs on various tech advances to help them operate optimally. This includes cloud-based systems, AI-powered systems and robotics, and portable devices and software.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity technically falls within the category of information technology, but it’s become so popular that it’s worth noting separately. As technology advances, so do cyber threats, which means there is high demand for cyber security professionals to help companies protect their data.
Again, most companies today need IT specialists, so you could work just about anywhere with a career in cyber security. This includes some major tech corporations or even small businesses if you want a career somewhere a little less formal.
Business Analytics
Data analytics jobs are also quite hot right now. There is a high projected demand for occupations in analytics, making this a smart path to follow. Management analytics, for example, has an expected 11% growth over the next decade, and research analytics is even higher, with a 25% expected increase.
And not to sound like a broken record, but with a career in analytics, you can also work pretty much anywhere you want. Most companies today are jumping on the analytics bandwagon to improve their operations and gain more insights, so no matter what company you are interested in, they likely have positions for analytics specialists.
Closing Thoughts
The question isn’t really if STEM is the right move, but what path within STEM to follow exactly. There is no doubt that STEM careers will be in high demand well into the future. So when deciding if STEM is right for you, it’s perhaps best to determine which focus would be more to your liking and skill set.
If you aren’t sure, many schools allow you to visit and explore their STEM programs before you make a decision to help you get a better idea of what focuses they offer and what kinds of jobs you could pursue. So it can help to visit these schools if you aren’t exactly sure about the specific degree you want to pursue.
