Courses To Take

Planning your college timetable for the next semester? Consider taking courses which make you more hirable, over courses which may give you an “easy A”, or which are chill but don’t lead to much being learned. 

After all, you’re putting in more than 30 thousand dollars into your education. Get your money’s worth and take classes which improve your knowledge and give you real skills. 

Read on for some courses which can add value and give you more bang for your buck. Find all of these courses and more at a singapore university.

Finance: 

Apart from boosting your career prospects, taking a finance-related course also gives you the required knowledge to manage your own finances. Likewise, if you take investment-related courses, it can prove beneficial. It’s never too young for you to start thinking about investments and retirement planning. The earlier you begin, the more lead time you give yourself to get an edge over others.

Computers:

With the world increasingly turning to technology across various industries, any exposure to such a course will definitely make your resume stand out. These can range from graphic design courses to coding courses. Businesses will definitely need some sort of technical skill or other.

Writing:

Basic writing skills are often overlooked in the grand scheme of things. Be it writing a marketing plan, doing up a caption for a design assignment, or coming up with lesson plans as a teacher, it is important to dedicate time to perfecting your writing skills. No matter which industry you are in, basic writing skills such as sentence structure and grammar are important to have. About 11 hours out of every 40-hour workweek is spent on the reading and writing of emails, so it is all the more important to ensure that your emails are well-crafted. 

Narrowing down our scope, public-relations writing for someone keen to be in the media industry can also be a good chance for you to learn the basics of press releases and media pitches, whereas an aspiring entrepreneur may find it helpful to enroll in a business writing course which teaches how to write business proposals.   

By perfecting your writing skills, you could even land yourself a side hustle! No matter your specialization, publications often aim to get professionals in their area of interest to contribute to their content. 

Public Speaking: 

While a large number of people are fearful of speaking in public, it is likely that you will eventually have to present to a large audience sometime in your career. As with all other forms of learning, practice makes perfect. By speaking more often, you eventually learn to get comfortable when addressing a crowd. 

In speech class, what you learn will be similar to how it is when preparing for a professional presentation. This includes composing a speech, how to maintain eye contact as well as nonverbal actions which can help to make or break a presentation. 

Foreign languages:

Knowing a second language opens up doors to various new job opportunities overseas. It also isn’t uncommon to see this as a requirement for some jobs. Consider less popular languages such as Japanese or Chinese over popular ones such as Spanish, which many already speak to stand out from the crowd.

International studies: 

An increasingly globalized environment means that business skills are essential for entry into the corporate economy today. An international-studies course will benefit you if you intend to travel upon graduation, or if you are looking to migrate overseas for better job prospects. 

Internships: 

Internships offer you the chance to gain valuable work experience and put into practice all that you’ve learned in school. Some colleges even offer credits upon the completion of qualifying internships. This can open doors to full-time placements, as well as earn you a letter of recommendation to potential employers. 

Go beyond a single major

Consider the increasingly popular option of declaring a second major, or a minor to study. For students who received exemptions due to having taken Advanced Placement classes, overloaded on courses in the regular semesters or who have taken extra courses in the summer, make use of the extra time you may have on hand to take on extra areas of study.

Do take note that by declaring a second major or a minor, you restrict yourself from taking free electives, as you would have to complete the required courses for your field of study. This means losing the chance to try out fun subjects such as foreign languages, art or coding.

You might also end up with a less flexible schedule, as certain courses may only be offered in a particular semester and not others. It might encroach into your social life, or make it more difficult to be hired for part-time work.

Or maybe not

If you lack the time to study a second major or minor, consider going for a certificate or a particular area of focus instead. In the Northern Illinois University’s College of Business, for example, certifications in retail management or interactive marketing may be earned alongside a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, or together with a minor in Marketing. 

Take advantage of your college’s resources to see if certificates or specializations within your interest areas are available. This could boost your resume and give you a leg up over other people. 

Fast-track programs for Master’s Degrees

At certain colleges, students are offered the opportunity to earn their master’s degree concurrently with their bachelor’s degree. Take advantage of this if it is available at your college. 

Venture overseas

The world is getting increasingly connected and globalized. Keeping that in mind, consider venturing abroad if you have the time to do so. By taking courses abroad, you immerse yourself in the culture of your host country. Your marketability increases as you can tell stories about your open-mindedness, responsibility, and willingness to try new things.

Before heading abroad, confirm that the courses you are interested in count towards your graduation criteria. To keep things affordable, keep an eye out for scholarships or bursaries.

Conclusion

Now that you’re more aware of the various courses and options available to add to your college experience, take action, and start finding out if your college offers such classes!