The New Power Career: Language Specialist

According to some career experts, many professionals overlook the power of language as a skill that can grow salaries and enhance careers. Language degree programs can help educators and health care professionals develop new roles in growing specialties. However, business professionals in a variety of industries can also benefit from language degree programs. In today's global marketplace, language skills can enhance negotiations with global buyers and vendors while improving relationships with a diverse labor force.

Language Degree Programs

• Certificate Programs
• Associate's Degree Programs
• Bachelor's Degree Programs
• Master's Degree Programs
• Doctorate Level Degree Programs

Career & Salary Options for Graduates of Language Degree Programs

Health care professionals and educators who complete language degree programs can significantly increase their salaries. For example, speech language pathologists who complete a master's degree can earn $60,000 or more per year. Schoolteachers with language degrees often earn annual salaries above $42,000 per year. Corporate managers with fluency in Spanish, Chinese, or other strategic languages can boost their incomes by 20 percent or more.

Typical Language Degree Program Course Work

Language-specific degree programs emphasize vocabulary and usage as well as the cultural background necessary to understand the context of clear communication. Educators and therapists enrolled in language degree programs often focus on higher-level skills, such as:

• Biology
• Acoustics
• Psychology

Language Online Education Options

The flexible nature of language degree programs makes them ideal for online education opportunities. Online degree programs in a variety of languages and language career specialties blend online lectures with interactive learning opportunities. Thanks to innovative voice and video chat technology, many online education programs connect students with native speakers from around the world for live conversation. Career-oriented online degree programs match students with nearby internships that can help prepare for industry certifications. Tuition reimbursement programs offered by many employers help relieve the costs of paying for enriching online education programs.
Sources:
Columbia Tribune
Omniglot
Ottawa Citizen
Philadelphia Examiner
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics

Joe Taylor Jr. is an internal business consultant for a Fortune 500 company, who writes about finance, culture, and design. He holds a bachelor's of science in communications from Ithaca College.