Exploring courses
Published on: Monday, May 17, 2021
By: K Krishnan
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However, courses can be very broad. Sometimes the courses are parked under faculties. Under the faculty there can be many departments. Within the department there can be many specializations. When you are looking for courses try and speak to the course counsellor in the college/university.
Look at their website for more details. If possible talk to students who study there. This will give you an idea.
To help you get an idea about courses look at the details below. This will give you an idea where to start.
Courses in arts
For instance, there are many careers in the field of Arts. At the beginners level, you have careers such as textile technician, sculptor, potter, photographer, offset printer, model maker, make-up artist, interior decorator, animator, artist, cake decorator, cartoonist, craftsperson, desktop publisher, film and television technician, illustrator, etc.
At the advance level, you have careers such as web designer, costume maker, textile designer, teacher (art/ music), stage designer, occupational therapist, naval architect, museum curator, multimedia developer, landscape architect, interior designer, industrial designer, graphic designer, etc.
The university / college may not prepare you for a particular job. They may provide you the knowledge, but ultimately it is up to you as to how you are going to use the knowledge. It also depends on how much time you are going to invest on your education.
Courses in computing
Just like Arts there are many disciplines in Computing. Do not think that Computing is only programming. At the beginners level you have careers such as sound technician, desktop publisher, data processing operator, Coder, Accounts Clerk, audiovisual technician, army soldier, etc.
At diploma level you have careers like town planning drafter, system designer, IT support technician, graphic designer, accountant, air traffic controller, audiovisual technician, broadcasting technician, database administrator, etc.
At degree level you may have more careers such as university lecturer, web developer, town planner, surveyor, systems designer, statistician, software designer, program administrator, pilot, operations researcher, mathematician, management consultant, IT manager, etc.
Courses in business
There are many students who study or want to study business. This does not mean you want to be a businessman. It is more than that. For example, at the beginners level you can be a Newsagent, Private Investigator, Retail Buyer, Sales Representative, Shipping Clerk, Telemarketer, Travel Guide, etc.
At the advance level, you can aspire to be an accountant, actuarial scientist, IT analyst, Bank Officer, building contractor, business analyst, company secretary, computer system auditor, economist, Explorer / Importer, Financial broker, financial journalist, financial planner, foreign affairs officer, health service administrator, hotel manager, valuer, etc.
Sometimes after obtaining your basic qualification, you need to take some professional courses to enter the field. For instance if you studied business, the chances are you can work in a bank. But after working in the bank, you need to specialize in banking courses.
These courses may not be taught in universities. These are professional courses for people who are already working in the bank.
Courses in hospitality
Another popular course is Hotel & Catering. Many students want to study this course. But are they going to be Hotel Managers? Not necessarily. At the beginners level, they can work as logistics clerk, retail supervisor, sales representative, security officer, baker, etc.
At the advance level, they can be advertising and marketing professional, human resource manager, Office Manager, Customer service manager, real estate agent, training and development professional, technical sales representative, supply and distribution manager, public relations professional, etc. Although they studied hospitality, they can work in other jobs. It may or may not be related to hospitality.
Career tips
There are many students who apply to study in local universities. When they are offered a course they never applied for, they feel that their future is shattered. There is no more life. From the above examples, you would have realized that the first course that you study is a stepping stone.
You can go on to other careers which may or may not be related. But you must have a passion for the job.
Let me give you a final example. Jimmy was trained as a Physical Education Teacher. His passion was sports and loved teaching sports. Jimmy taught in the school for five years. Suddenly there was a vacancy for an English Teacher.
The headmaster had no choice but to ask Jimmy to teach English. Jimmy was not trained to teach language. However, since the school badly needed an English teacher, Jimmy consented. Since he has learnt English during his schooling days, he volunteered to teach English. He picked up the skills and prepared himself to teach English. He became an excellent English teacher.
Although he was not trained to teach English, he was able to transfer his skills from Physical Education to English. Since his basic passion was “teaching” he was able to cope and still envoy his “passion.”
