In an era where career paths are as varied as they come, the call to engage in a profession that extends beyond personal gain to make a significant difference in the lives of others is something many career changers are looking for. At the heart of a functioning society are the helping professions—careers fundamentally focused on improving individuals' physical, psychological, social, or environmental well-being. The appeal of these roles isn’t just their altruistic nature but also the profound internal and external value they bring. 

Internally, helping careers offer a sense of fulfillment and purpose by directly impacting another's life positively. Externally, they play a critical role in fostering a more functional, empathetic, and understanding society.

It's important to understand that these roles bridge a wide array of sectors including healthcare, education, social services, and more. They are epitomized not by the products or profits they generate but by the compassionate service they provide and the lives they touch and transform. 

Let’s explore five degree programs that address and combat the challenges of our evolving society.

1. Public Safety Administration

In the face of any crisis, public safety should be our primary concern. Designed for adults currently working in the fire service, law enforcement, and emergency medical services fields, the field of public safety administration focuses on meeting the challenges in public safety structures. Work in public safety administration includes managing environmental safety workers, safety management, collaborating with other professionals to prevent safety hazards, and much more. Professionals in this field can pursue careers in many different industries including government, public, or nonprofit organizations — at the local, state, and federal levels.

This field needs ambitious, results-driven professionals with the skills needed to make a real difference in the lives of others. The Public Safety Administration at Neumann University is an accelerated online degree completion program that can be completed in 20 months, making it accessible and convenient — and allowing you to begin tackling public safety challenges while employed.

2. Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling

In the face of the escalating mental health crisis, the role of mental health counselors becomes not just important, but critical for societal wellbeing. There is an urgent need to expand accessibility and provide robust support through trained professionals. To combat the struggles many are facing, society needs dedicated helpers with the skills and knowledge to address mental health crises and help their patients through them. 

These practitioners are the architects of recovery, lending not only their expertise but also their compassion to craft individualized paths to resilience and healing. Their involvement goes beyond treatment; it is about building a foundation for lasting mental wellness that reaches across communities, ensuring that no one has to navigate their darkest moments alone.

NU’s program in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares graduates to meet the unique mental and spiritual demands of a modern, global society. The integration of spirituality allows pastoral counselors to care for their clients from a holistic and integrated perspective, acknowledging the connection between the body, mind, and spirit.

3. Nursing

There is no question that medical professionals are feeling the brunt of the rising tensions in healthcare. As hospitals and staff struggle to meet demands, the importance of highly qualified nurses to face whatever challenges may come is one of our greatest priorities. The field continues to need skilled leaders who can work closely with doctors, patients, and other nurses in challenging environments.  

A Master of Science in Nursing prepares nurses to provide holistic, patient-centered care, while also preparing them to tackle whatever health challenges may unfold in the future. Choosing to pursue an MSN also opens up doors in the nursing field with specialized paths that offer flexible career options to align with your professional goals. Nurse practitioner was rated the #1 job in 2024 asserting its importance and opportunity for workplace fulfillment.   

4. Education: Social Emotional Learning Program

Teaching is a quintessential helping profession. Teachers play a pivotal role in molding young minds, fostering intellectual curiosity, and instilling lifelong values. Their work extends beyond classrooms, influencing students' character, resilience, and social consciousness. From preschool to higher levels of education, teachers are unmistakably instrumental in shaping individuals and, by extension, society. In this profoundly transformative role, the value of teaching as a helping profession cannot be overstated.

As a result, all educators are currently being relied on in new and challenging ways, and many may be struggling to meet the emotional needs of their students as they typically would in the classroom. Neumann’s  MS in Education with an Emphasis in Social Emotional Learning offers graduate students the opportunity to acquire a wide range of knowledge and skills to prepare them to assess and meet the social, emotional, mental, and behavioral needs of all learners.

5. Organizational and Strategic Leadership

In most companies and organizations, even under normal circumstances, implementing solutions when resources are scarce can be challenging, if not overwhelming. In times of crisis, companies and communities alike need leaders who can make smart, ethical, and strategic decisions to help communities overcome obstacles. Organizational strategic leadership studies incorporate legal issues, public policy, fiscal planning, change management, social and ethical leadership, and other areas that societies.

NU’s Organizational and Strategic Leadership program prepares students to lead high-performing teams, develop effective strategies, and find ways to positively impact others in their personal and professional lives. The program takes a critical and innovative approach to leadership, preparing professionals to effectively address and resolve unconventional situations by modeling the way and empowering others to achieve their fullest potential.

Neumann University’s Dedication to Community

When we come together as a community, we can overcome even the greatest of obstacles. At Neumann University, we are dedicated to serving our local and global communities by offering opportunities for you to advance your personal and professional goals. All of our graduate programs and degree completion programs are affordable and convenient, allowing you to focus on making a difference in the lives of others.

If you are ready to earn a degree that will allow you to impact positive change, we encourage you to explore our graduate programs or start your online application today.

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