|   


# Elgin Community College economics major  
  
---  
|   
  
To request course information, please complete this form. You may request information from just one program, or several.  
  
Before making decisions about your future, compare programs carefully. Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.  
---  
  
  
Information about the Elgin Community College economics major, registering in a technical degree program to develop job skills, and taking free practice tests online. Which college degrees will give you the best chances of finding a job after graduation? Some students select a major because it offers practical skills that are valuable in the workplace. Other students choose their major because they enjoy the subject material. Business courses can help you advance your career via a degree or certificate, or enable you to find a new job. Further, if you have the drive, starting your own business can be a pathway to success. Write a business plan that lists your objectives, as well as expected start-up costs, go get a business license and start selling. The most popular college major is business administration, split equally between men and women. On the other hand, men make up the large majority of computer science and engineering majors. For women, the fields of education, English and liberal arts dominate the list.  
  
You don't have to be enrolled in a degree program in order to sign up for online courses. Distance education enables students who cannot make the commute to campus to have access to accredited courses. Online education gives you the opportunity to take difficult courses that won't show up on your transcript, if you so choose. Alternatively, you may be able to complete online credits for a grade. Advanced Placement exams are offered in a variety of subjects, offering college credit for classes that you have done well in. Test yourself with free practice exams, before visiting the College Board website to register to take your actual AP Tests. If you earn a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam, you may be able to receive advanced placement in college.  
  


## Online Courses - MOOCs

If a high school student is passionate about going to a particular college, but doesn't have the grades, he or she may apply via a degree major that is less popular, or harder for the school to fill. Pursue your career interests, not just a high salary, and your overall job earnings will increase over time as you gain experience. If you focus your degree choice on salary alone, there's the risk that you'll suffer early signs of burnout, and be forced to change careers.  
  
Technical training programs are a low-cost alternative to attending a regular, four-year college, and you still might end up earning a lot of money as a highly-skilled, technical consultant. By taking some of your degree courses online, you may be able to graduate earlier, saving money on tuition, as well as entering the job market sooner. If you're currently employed, you can take online courses in your spare time to advance your present career. Massive Open Online Courses are known as MOOCs, utilizing cloud-based software and Google apps.  
  
An online degree may be just as marketable as a college degree earned on campus. Udemy online learning, a site which allows anyone to take online courses, is a new startup with backing from the founders of Groupon. Khan Academy now offers over 3,900 micro-lectures available via YouTube. Coursera, another online-learning software platform, has millions of enrolled students around the world. Through MIT Open Courseware online classes, educators can improve development of their curricula, making their instruction more effective.  
  


## Online Tests - Free Practice!

This section offers practice tests in a variety of academic subject areas. Each of the following multiple-choice tests has 10 questions to work on. No sign-up required, just straight to the test.  
|  |  **Business Tests**  
---  
Business Management 1  
Business Management 2  
Business Management 3  
  
Finance - Test 1  
Finance - Test 2  
  
General Law  
Criminal Law - Test 1  
Criminal Law - Test 2  
  
Website Design - Test 1  
  
  
|  **Nursing Tests**  
---  
Basic Nursing - Test 1  
Basic Nursing - Test 2  
Basic Nursing - Test 3  
  
Paramedic 1  
Paramedic 2  
  
Psychology - Test 1  
Psychology - Test 2  
Psychology - Test 3  
Psychology - Test 4  
  
  
  
|  **English Tests**  
---  
AP English Vocabulary 1  
AP English Vocabulary 2  
  
English Vocab - Antonyms  
English Vocab - Synonyms  
  
Word Roots - Test 1  
Word Roots - Test 2  
Word Roots - Test 3  
Word Roots - Test 4  
  
|  **Engineering Tests**  
---  
Industrial Chemistry 1  
Industrial Chemistry 2  
Industrial Chemistry 3  
Industrial Chemistry 4  
  
Cell Biology - Test 1  
Cell Biology - Test 2  
  
Nuclear Physics  
Materials  
  
  
### Other colleges near Elgin, Illinois:

Take a few moments to browse other colleges and universities near Elgin. It's a good idea to compare all schools in the area, as well as consider taking some of your classes online, to save on tuition fees. By continuing your education, you can improve your salary prospects or train for a more interesting position. According to the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, college graduates are twice as likely to find employment as those without a college degree in today's competitive job market. Further, it may be possible to receive degree credit via Advanced Placement exams, as well as through honors classes that you've taken.  
  
Financial aid deadlines are typically scheduled well in advance of regular admission dates, so be sure to apply early. You may request free information from several different schools below, without making a commitment.  
  
**College Guide**| **Phone**| **In-state Tuition**| **Out-of-state Tuition**| **Student Body Size**| **Request Info**  
---|---|---|---|---|---  
Judson University  
Elgin, IL| (847) 628-2500| $$$$| $$$$|  medium |  Program Info  
Carl Sandburg College  
Galesburg, IL| (309) 344-2518|  $$ |  $$ |  medium |  Program Info  
Adler School of Professional Psychology  
Chicago, IL| (312) 662-4000|  $ (low)|  $ (low)|  small |  Program Info  
The College of Technology  
Chicago, IL| (773) 278-0042|  $$$ |  $$$ |  small |  Program Info  
Rush University  
Chicago, IL| (312) 942-7100| $$$$| $$$$|  medium |  Program Info  
Truman College  
Chicago, IL| (773) 907-4000|  $$ |  $$ |  large |  Program Info  
Olivet Nazarene University  
Bourbonnais, IL| (815) 939-5011| $$$$| $$$$|  large |  Program Info  
Lake Forest College  
Lake Forest, IL| (847) 234-3100| $$$$| $$$$|  medium |  Program Info  
Knox College  
Galesburg, IL| (309) 341-7000| $$$$| $$$$|  medium |  Program Info  
Lake Forest School of Management  
Lake Forest, IL| (847) 234-5005|  $ (low)|  $ (low)|  small |  Program Info  
John Wood Community College  
Quincy, IL| (217) 224-6500|  $$ |  $$ |  medium |  Program Info  
  
  


## Business Job Listings

After several years in the workforce, graduates in certain fields can end up with higher lifetime earnings than students who have degrees from elite colleges. The key is to focus on your technical skill set, and build a portfolio of your work. While some fields insist that you have a four-year degree just to get a job interview, other high-paying careers may be entered with only an associates degree. Your resume must show a clear pattern of success over time, based on numeric results and personal achievements.  
  
Each link below lists current openings:| Salary (up to)  
---|---  
Accounting Jobs| $56,000  
Bank Teller| $49,000  
Business Consulting| $78,100  
Credit Collections| $51,800  
Financial Analyst| $70,800  
Financial Management| $86,100  
Hotel Clerk| $32,900  
Human Resources| $53,300  
Human Resources Manager| $70,300  
Logistics| $53,700  
Marketing| $51,100  
Office Manager| $62,200  
Operations Management| $78,200  
Purchasing| $45,000  
Restaurant Manager| $56,600  
Retail Sales| $43,800  
Sales Director/VP| $158,000  
Sales Account Manager| $103,000  
Secretary| $33,000  
Securities Analysis| $70,600  
Warehouse Jobs| $34,700  
  
  
As certain fields expand, high-paying jobs continue to open up for graduates of technical degree programs in computer programming, health care, and small business administration. Whether an online business or a real world storefront, owning your own business can be a pathway to success. You'll need some starting capital to survive your first year in business, typically relying on savings. Write a business plan that lists your objectives as well as a total of your anticipated start-up costs. Then, double that estimate, and you'll get an idea of how much money you'd need to have a chance of starting your own business.   
  
Personal connections that you make at work can play a large part in determining who gets promoted. The main challenge in getting your degree is to choose a career that you will enjoy, and can pursue for many years. You can locate your state government job bank to get assistance in many areas, like writing a resume, conducting a thorough job search, or researching company data to prepare for a job interview. Finally, as the healthcare industry expands its use of electronic medical records, protecting patients' personal data becomes a priority.  
  
  
| 

### Degree Course Information

Find schools and get information on the program that’s right for you. |   
  
Fill out this form to request course information from just one program, or several.  
  
Before making decisions about your future, compare programs carefully. Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.  
---|---  
  
  
  
### Nursing & Medical Job Listings

Earning a CNA degree (Certified Nursing Assistant) is the first step towards becoming a fully-qualified nurse. Most CNA programs can be completed within a few months, allowing you to join the workforce quickly. The next step in a nursing career is to become a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or LVN ( Licensed Vocational Nurse). These are year-long programs, in which you'll work under an RN distributing meds, treating wounds, and providing basic patient care.  
|  | Professional Careers Each link lists current openings: | Starting Salary  
(up to) | 10 Year Salary  
(up to)  
---|---|---  
Dental Hygienists| $30,430| $41,530  
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers| $36,090| $68,520  
EMT, Paramedics| $29,390| $65,280  
Home Health Aides| $30,100| $57,030  
Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN)| $54,480| $84,780  
Massage Therapists| $33,000| $62,670  
Medical Assistants| $26,980| $37,140  
Medical Lab Technicians| $30,550| $59,260  
Medical Records| $29,140| $45,260  
Pharmacy Tech| $30,180| $46,600  
Physical Therapist Assistants| $41,410| $56,220  
Psychologists| $50,360| $77,840  
Radiologic Technicians| $52,110| $77,160  
Respiratory Therapy Technicians| $39,860| $56,220  
Surgical Technologists| $39,680| $73,630  
Veterinary Assistants| $21,060| $39,510  
  
  
In order to become an RN (Registered Nurse), a bachelors degree in nursing is recommended. RN's command a greater salary, and are responsible for an enlarged scope of practice over LPNs and CNAs. Students will receive classroom instruction and clinical training in a hospital setting. A 4-year BSN program allows students to further specialize in the areas of pediatrics, geriatrics and mental health. After completing your nursing education, you must be licensed by the state in which you'll be practicing, given that state boards of nursing each have specific certification requirements.