Ok you've graduated. Now what do you do? Read our helpful hints to get started on your plan!

Continue learning. Take a continuing education class.

Are you interested in Fitchburg State's MA in English program? As part of the GCE blog's "Our Faculty" series, we introduce Dr. Benjamin Railton, Professor in the English Studies department and the Graduate English chair.

Are you thinking about a career as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in a public or private school setting or private practice? If so, learn more at our Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Spectrum Disorder Webinar on October 7 at 4 p.m. (EST)

The Applied Behavior Analysis online program provides the coursework required for individuals interested in sitting for the exam to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) through the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), Inc.*

The seven-course certificate program is designed to meet the coursework eligibility requirements needed for the BCBA certification exam. Our carefully planned course sequence, verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis - International (ABAI), prepares individuals for a career in Applied Behavior Analysis working in a variety of settings, including with children and adults with Autism. For candidates seeking a masters degree, our Guided Studies - Applied Behavior Analysis concentration provides additional coursework, focused on Autism and Special Education, and culminates in both the required coursework to sit for the BCBA exam and a Masters in Education. 

 

Wow... that's a lot of reasons to finish your degree. On second thought, that may be too many reasons, and is sounding more and more like a book.

You’ve decided to apply for a graduate program at Fitchburg State University. Now it’s time to ask for recommendations, but you’ve been out of school for a while so who do you ask? Here’s a list of people we suggest you start asking:

Aside from “cryptocurrency,” the term “cybersecurity” might just be the biggest buzz phrase right now. But unlike crypto (if you haven’t seen the market plunge, yikes), the need for cybersecurity and the entire industry supporting it, is only going to continue rising. In fact, according to Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, it is the “fastest growing tech sector in the world” and will most likely impact many aspects of our day to day lives as well as the world we live in, from here on out. There probably aren’t many people who haven’t heard of Solar Winds or the Colonial Pipeline hack that occurred recently shutting off much of the country’s gasoline supply, all the while taking a major U.S. corporation to its knees in exchange for a hefty ransom (which was paid). These are not one-off actions and we can only expect to see more and more of them, which is why every industry needs folks who know how to recognize and stop an attack in its tracks.  

You've graduated and you're thinking about continuing your education.  Let us help you navigate the application process and prepare you to succeed at the graduate level.

Ask the Right Questions

Why this graduate program?  Don’t go to grad school just to go to grad school.  Even in career fields that require a graduate degree, it is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for breaking into that field.  Why graduate school now?  You need to weigh the pros and cons of going straight from your undergraduate to earning your graduate degree or getting some work experience first, and then going back to school. What will be the likely return on this investment?  Weigh the total cost of tuition against the average salary for your anticipated career field.

Are you interested in ethics and theoretical approaches to communications within society? The new graduate course in the M.S. Applied Communication program, Communication Ethics, challenges students to consider the ethical and legal implications of real-world issues in the field of communication, and will be offered online through the School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education this summer, 7/12/21 through 8/29/21.

Have you ever thought about the impact of media technologies and media practices on our social values, or how our media habits influence technology? Dr. Kyle Moody’s Social Media Theory course encourages students to explore the relationship between technology and society, among other related issues and theories, which will be offered online through School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education (SGOCE) during Summer Term A, 5/17/21 through 7/04/21.

Have you ever heard the saying “the early bird gets the worm?" Well it’s true for course registration too! Students who register for courses early receive the most benefits.

Whether you’re looking to accelerate your degree, take a course for professional development, or take a class prior to applying to a program, it’s important to get an early start. With a busy schedule, including working full time, and children and family responsibilities, students often find that careful planning for all aspects of life is crucial.

That said, we offer our top five reasons to register early for your summer courses: