DegreeGo Blog

Technology drives the demand for the latest and greatest jobs, so it never hurts to plan your education for the job market of tomorrow. What fields are experiencing acute growth thanks to technological demands though? Everyone knows that healthcare is booming, but what other advancements are being made that should influence your educational and career choices? What specific advancements are being made in healthcare? Let DegreeGo direct your academic pursuits with the Ten Most Interesting Degrees for the Future.

1: Medical Roboticist

We’re certainly not in the age of Terminator, but medical advancement is still making robotics a reality, from physical therapy exoskeletons to improved prosthetic attachments. Combine engineering and healthcare together and this is one of the high-demand degrees you’ll get. Your career could take our world one step closer to the Six-Million Dollar Man.

2: Stem Cell Researcher

Though stem cell research is still in that controversial point between progress and ethics, it has shown more progression than deterrence in the recent years. Research has already discovered an alternative to embryonic stem cells that could put the ethical battle to rest, opening the doors to even more opportunities. When stem cell research becomes the medical norm of tomorrow, stem cell researchers will be an integral part of our society’s well-being, from genetic enhancements to cures for diseases.

3: Energy Resources Engineer

Energy, no matter how you look at it, is a focal point to our future. Scientists and engineers that focus on energy resources–be it oil, electricity, wind power, water power, solar power, or another alternative–will pave the way the new world’s methods for transportation, agriculture, business, and everyday life. As the issue becomes global, energy resource specialists that focus on energy throughout the world will also be high in demand.

4: Simulation Engineer

The new movie Avatar proves how much 3D technology has advanced just in the past ten years. Holographic and smilation-based technologies are following close behind, and there are degree programs already focusing on how to implement them into a variety of settings. When simulation becomes as everyday as television, you can only imagine the demand for simulation engineers that will explode from it! Physics and computer science definitely build on this angle of technological expertise.

5: Organic Food Producer

Organic food’s popularity with the eco-conscious is already there, but the problems of the past lied in the high costs of organic produce. As technology addresses the demand for organic food, the cost goes down, increasing it’s popularity and the health of society. Organic food already takes up 10% of the food and beverage market, a tenfold increases from a decade prior. When organic food becomes the standard, more farmers, producers, and scientists will be in demand to further improve upon organic farming techniques.

6: Waste Management Consultant

It sounds silly, but waste is a huge problem for our planet, from overflowing landfills to e-waste. The advancements of technology also means the abandonment of old products, and there is only so much space to throw away the old–which means we need engineers to handle it more effectively! Consultants with backgrounds in biology and chemistry will bring new ideas to the table on how to eliminate the refuse clogging our waterways and stretches of land.

7: Hydrologist

We need water to live, and there’s a definite crisis for fresh water. Hydrologists study everything there is to know about water, from distribution, to the physical properties of different forms, to the patterns of rainfall and circulation. Both private and government sectors are seeking the expertise of hydrologists for conservation. Take part in securing the fundamental basis of all life on this world and make a different with your career.

8: Distance Education Consultant

DegreeGo is a backer of distance education, the future of college. The boom in distance education is obvious as people try to balance getting a college degree with their day job and family obligations. Military students are also attracted to distance education, a learning option available even on deployment. Distance education did not get to where it is today though without the help of experts that consult on how to improve upon it with schools, and the demand for those consultants will only grow. Get a degree learning how people learn and contribute to this educational movement.

9: Virtual Services Worker

Online role playing wonderlands are purely recreational, but they have already opened the doors to other virtual communities: online nightclubs, shops, and even online colleges that display their schools with cyber-walls. Second Life technology is on the cusp of taking over, and as people venture into these virtual reality worlds, professionals will be needed to maintain them. The virtual services worker is the clerk of the next generation.

10: Quantitative Finance Analyst

Also known affectionately as “quants,” quantitative finance analysts are the numerical wizards of the finance world. These finance specialists don’t gamble on stocks and bonds based on their trends and feelings; they use mathematical concepts, patterns, and calculus to understand and predict the most sound investments of the future. Are you interested in this and pursuing a degree in accounting or economics? Then rethink your major! Quantitative Finance Analysts are more likely to come from physics and mathematics backgrounds.