Majors at the University of Connecticut

General Studies, Continuing Studies

Corporate and Organizational Studies: The objective of the corporate and organizational studies major is to provide students with a foundation to respond to the demands of business and industry in today’s global society. This program also provides students with knowledge about the nature of contemporary organizations and the role of consultation in the improvement of organizational functioning and quality of work life.

Health and Science: The health and science focus is designed for students who plan on pursuing careers in the health and medical professions. This focus also provides a unique opportunity for students to study public health, social science, biomedical science, and economics/commerce in order to prepare them for work across a range of areas within the health industry.

Human Services: The Human Services focus is an interdisciplinary program designed for individuals seeking to pursue a professional career path in mental health, family services, employee assistance programs, and/or counseling services to diverse populations and other related fields. Students become knowledgeable about individual development across the lifespan, about families, and about human service agencies and how they work.

Academic Department

• UConn's College of Continuing Studies

Nature of Work

Corporate and Organizational Studies: Typically the role of professionals with a background in corporate and organizational studies is to create training programs tailored to the specific needs of individual corporations, government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations. This is especially beneficial in such areas as human resource advising, professional development, organizational change, strategic planning, program evaluation, and organizational learning.

Health and Science: Health and science focuses on the study of the direct care, support, and monitoring of the sick, injured, handicapped, or elderly. Learning the day-to-day skills and practices involved in quality patient care is the primary focus. The profession also involves learning about human anatomical and physiological processes, human growth, development, and behavior.

Human Services: Any profession in the human services field requires a strong desire to help improve people's lives. Human Service workers help people function the best way they can in their environment, deal with their relationships, and solve personal and family problems, as well as cope with any type of crisis. Human service professionals are specially trained people who provide counseling, support, and guidance to people in need.

Sample Job Titles

Potential Employers

Corporate and Organizational Studies: Certainly corporate and organizational studies professionals would most typically find in the business and corporate world, but it is not limited to just that industry. Other possible industries include: the banking and financial industries, healthcare, consulting sector, education, research companies, government, telecommunications, aerospace, manufacturing, and utilities.

Health and Science: Possible industries where health and science professionals are employed include: health departments on the state, county and local level, public and private foundations, state and local governments, international health agencies, labor and consumer organizations as well as consulting firms.

Human Services: Once students have received their degree they are typically employed in agencies and organizations such as Head Start, Family Services, Office for the Aging, Neighborhood Justice Program, Planned Parenthood, and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

Useful Skills

With any general studies focus, employers all look for very similar skills, even though the fields are very diverse. Students are much more marketable to employers when they possess a combination of the following skills: communication, computer, flexibility, self-motivation, teamwork, and multi-lingual.

Getting Experience

Taking advantage of any internship or co-op opportunities as well as any volunteer experiences in the field that you are interested in, is a great way to become familiar with the atmosphere and the requirements of the job. Such hands-on experience makes students marketable when they are applying for full-time positions upon graduation. Also, participating in any research studies, or any other on-campus related organization is another way to become knowledgeable about the field.

Employment Opportunities

Corporate and Organizational Studies: Employment opportunities are extensive for anyone who can not only work in the business world, but also blend psychology and social sciences, especially in such areas as the design and supervision of organizational development, human resources management, and consulting.

Health and Science: Those with a background in health and science can by employed by companies and organizations that are related to the health and medical field. With the health care industry always advancing, there are a number of opportunities available in pharmaceuticals, medical technology, nursing and allied health, biotechnology, hospital administration, as well as other forms of managed care.

Human Services: Human service professionals can be employed by the state, county, or municipal government agencies, primarily in departments of health and human services, mental health, social services, child welfare, housing, education, and corrections. Most private sector jobs are in social service agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and other health centers or clinics.

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