Return to flip book view
Message Parvus liber professionumeditio MMXXIV
1IntroductionFor several generations, our society has been coached to look at colleges as a four-year technical schools, providing hosts of “majors,” each of which provides a specic set of skills for a specic job. In this cultural context, the value of a liberal arts degree has been overlooked.Today, however, when fewer and fewer people remain in single jobs or even single elds for a lifetime, people are taking a fresh look at the liberal arts degree as an excellent preparation for not just one profession, but for a wide variety of professions.Of course, the liberal arts degree has benets beyond career preparation. Nevertheless, this small book (parvus liber) is focused on helping you to explore a few professions for which the program at e Collegium will give you an excellent preparation. In Parvus liber professionum (Little Book of Professions) we begin with a short article summarizing some of the advantages of a liberal arts degree with regard to career preparation. en we list various professions and graduate programs in dierent categories: • professions for which our program is an excellent preparation “as is;” • professions for for which preparation will require some supplementation;• graduate programs for which our program is an excellent preparation “as is;” • graduate programs for for which preparation will require some supplementation.In addition, we note elds in which our Ora et Labora (student work) program can provide some experience. Finally, we also discuss the kinds of supplemental work that might be required for various professions or graduate programs and, when possible, how we can assist with this supplemental work.Parvus liber professionum is a work in progress. We will continue to add to it as our program and corporate partnerships grow.Bene explorate et cum gaudi
ContentsAdvantages of a Liberal Arts Degree with Regard to Career Preparation .................................................. 3 Professions for which a liberal arts degree, as is, provides an excellent preparation ................................. 4Insurance 4Watch Making 4Real Estate Development 4Development and Grant Writing 5Recruitment and Sales 5Editor 5Marketing and Public Relations 5Small Business Entrepreneur 5Religious Vocations 6Business Management 6Journalism 7Catering 7Photography 7Non-prot Management 8Printing 8Historian 8Professions for which a liberal arts degree, with supplementation, provides an excellent preparation .... 9Real Estate Agent 9Teaching 9Cyber Security 9Digital Marketing 10Graduate programs for which a liberal arts degree, as is, provides an excellent preparation .................. 11Law 11Architecture 12Masters in Business Administration (MBA) 13Grad programs for which a liberal arts degree, with supplementation, provides excellent preparation . 14Medicine 14For More Information about Various Professions ..................................................................................... 14
3Advantages of a Liberal Arts Degree with Regard to Career Preparationere are many advantages to obtaining a liberal arts degree including the following:Access to a diverse job marketIndividuals with a liberal arts degree are not limited to one career choice. ese students can pursue employment in many dierent industries, including retail, restaurant, legal, hospitality, education, sales and event management.Development of individual interestsBecause liberal arts majors have a wide selection of courses they can take, they have the opportunity to further develop their individual interests. Most degree programs allow you to choose between multiple courses to meet curriculum requirements. Individuals can choose courses that best meet their intended career paths while also assisting them in developing necessary skills.Honing a wide range of skillsLiberal arts programs don’t focus on one specic career. Instead, they oer students a wide range of skills and knowledge that can be applied to most career departments. Typical skills learned in a liberal arts program include problem-solving, project management, critical thinking and teamwork.Career adaptabilitye business world is constantly changing. Liberal arts degree majors tend to be exible and well-adjusted and will have the ability to transfer multiple career skills from one job to another without any additional education. Career adaptability is important for students who attend college and do not yet know which career they want to pursue. e skills earned from a liberal arts degree will give these students a wide range of career opportunities upon graduation.1110 Careers You Can Pursue With a Liberal Arts Degree. Accessed at www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/liber-al-arts-degree-careers#Jobs%20you%20can%20land%20with%20a%20liberal%20arts%20degree, 18 Dec 2023.
Professions for which a liberal arts degree, as is, provides an excellent preparationProfession Description and Notes Experience Available in Ora et Labora ProgramInsurance e insurance industry encompasses a wide variety of types of work, for example:• Insurance claims investigator: investigates suspicious or fraudulent claims• Insurance claims adjuster: evaluates and settles insurance claims• Insurance loss control consultant: advises clients on how to reduce risks and prevent losses• Insurance broker: sells insurance products from dierent companies to clients• Insurance agent: sells insurance products from one company to clients• Auto appraiser: estimates the value and damage of vehicles involved in accidents• Insurance risk analyst: assesses and quanties the potential losses and risks of insurance policies• Actuary: uses mathematics and statistics to calculate insurance premiums and reserves.Insurance companies also work in all areas of society from personal life insurance, to auto insurance, commercial insurance, all types of liability insurance.Persons working in the insurance industry can work as independent business owners or as employees of larger insurance companies.Ye sWright-Gardner InsuranceGenerally, initial work will be oce work. If the eld in-terests you, our cor-porate partner will assist you in getting the various licenses required to work in specic areas.Watch Making Watch makers design, custom make, and repair luxury watches. e work requires the manual dexterity to work with small parts. Watch makers are generally entrepreneurs, running their own shops.Ye sMaryland Watchworks Real Estate DevelopmentReal estate developers engage in a wide range of activities rang-ing from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of developed land or parcels to others.Ye sGideon Properties (works mostly in renovation and leasing of existing properties)
5Profession Description and Notes Experience Available in Ora et Labora ProgramDevelopment and Grant WritingDevelopment work involves raising funds for organizations. It can range from events, to mailings, to prospect searches, to developing relationships with donors.Grant writing is a specic part of development that focuses on searching for foundations that have goals compatible with an organization’s mission and writing funding requests that meet the requirements of these foundations.Ye se CollegiumRecruitment and SalesRecruitment and sales involves nding qualied applicants for open positions and making the case to qualied applicants to some to work for a given organization, or in the case of a college, to enroll.Ye se CollegiumEditor Editors review, revise, and correct written material, such as books, articles, reports, and other forms of written communication. An editor’s primary goal is to ensure that the content is accurate, clear, and well-organized, and that it meets the intended audience’s needs. e editor achieves this by evaluating the structure, coherence, style, and tone of the written material and providing feedback to the writer on how to improve it. Editors are also responsible for correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, ensuring that the content follows the appropriate formatting guidelines, and fact-checking any claims made in the material.Editors can work in various industries, such as publishing, journalism, advertising, and public relations. ey may be employed by a company or work as freelancers, and their tasks can vary depending on the project’s scope and complexity. Some editors specialize in particular types of material, such as technical or scientic writing, while others work on a broad range of material. Ye se CollegiumMarketing and Public RelationsMarketers help businesses reach, nurture, and convert users through strategies like print advertising, search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, events. It is oen closely linked to Recruitment and Sales and Development.Ye se CollegiumSmall Business Entrepreneure Collegium owns and operates Elizabeth’s Super Clean Laundry. Students can work in this laundry to gain experience in maintenance, repair, inventory, bookkeeping, nancial planning, and marketing, including search engine optimization, internet marketing and seeking commercial clients. It may not be glamorouse, but the skills can be transferred to any enterprise.Ye sElizabeth’s Super Clean Laundry
Profession Description and Notes Experience Available in Ora et Labora ProgramReligious VocationsReligious vocations include a wide range of callings. For men there are• secular (diocesan) priesthood,• priesthood in a religious order,• monastic life, either as a priest or a brother.In addition, every order has a unique charism.For women there are• sisters who have active ministries, such as teaching,• nuns who are contemplative (cloistered),• consecrated women, who do not become sisters or nuns but live a single life dedicated to the service of the Church.Not exactly, but we provide excellent philosophical and theological background, and the opportunity for a rich prayer life.Business ManagementA Business Managers, or Oce Managers, oversee business operations across departments. eir duties include hiring new sta, conducting oce meetings and coming up with proactive strategies to improve productivity and employee morale.A business manager’s duties and responsibilities can include the following:• Supervise clerical sta and other employees.• Design work schedules and organize employee training.• Resolve employee and client issues.• Ensure the work facility is safe, free of security issues and in compliance with all government regulations.• Work with outside vendors to maintain necessary business supplies.• Maintain a good working relationship with executives and other managers.• Design and implement procedures to improve protability.Not exactly, but working in any of the small businesses in our program, such as Leiter’s Catering or Elizabeth’s Laundry, will help you develop the skills need to manage a business.
7Profession Description and Notes Experience Available in Ora et Labora ProgramJournalism Journalists gather, analyze, and report on news and current events. ey use various sources to investigate and report on stories, including interviews with sources, research, and observations. Journalists can work in a variety of media, including print, television, radio, and online platforms.Journalists can also work in a variety of ways, such as the following:• Investigative Journalist• Broadcast Journalist• Multimedia Journalist• Political Journalist• Sports Journalist• Science Journalist• Entertainment Journalist• Fashion Journalist• Feature Writer• Business Journalist• News Reporter• Correspondent• Photojournalist.in progressCatering Caterers play a critical role in the success of any event, whether it’s a corporate gathering, wedding, birthday party, or any other occasion. Caterers provide much more than just food and beverage service; they create a unique and memorable experience for guests. ey are responsible for menu planning, food preparation, serving, and cleaning up, allowing hosts and event organizers to focus on other important aspects of their event. Caterers also bring their expertise in event planning and execution, helping clients select the right theme, decor, and entertainment options.Some of the duties and responsibilities of a caterer:• Planning and organizing• Food preparation• Service• Client management• Budget management• Marketing and sales• Administrative tasks.Ye sLeiter’s CateringPhotography Photographers capture and create images using a camera. Photography is both a science and an art, requiring technical skill and artistic vision. Photographers use their knowledge of light, composition, and perspective to create images that convey emotions, tell stories, or simply capture moments in time.Ye sWertman Photography
Profession Description and Notes Experience Available in Ora et Labora ProgramNon-prot ManagementNon-prot businesses are simply small businesses (small are large) that require all the skills needed to run any business: maintenance, repairs, marketing, sales, inventory, bookkeeping, nancial planning, development, taxes, production, etc. e only dierence between a non-prot business and a for-prot business is that a non-prot business has a mission that is oriented toward providing a service or product without concern for the nancial prots to the company, while a for-prot business is oriented toward provide a service or product with primary concern for the nancial prots it provides to the company.Handling taxes for each is dierent, but the running of the businesses is largely the same.Ye se Maryland Symphony - in the futurePrinting Printing companies are primarily engaged in printing text and images on to paper, metal, glass, and some apparel and other materials1. Some of the services that a high-quality printing company can provide include the following:• Business and stationary printing• Graphic design• Commercial printing• Large format printing• Metal sign printing• Marketing material printing• Printing on acrylic.Most printing businesses also oer various specialized services such as T-shirt printing, signage, brochures, magazines, business cards, catalogs, mailing services, and more. Commercial printing refers to printing for businesses, and many printing companies can provide a wide range of products for businesses, including through on-demand printing and custom online print portals.Ye sCopyQuikHistorian Historians preserve and bring life to our past, working in a variety of areas:• Geneology• Museums and exhibits• Archival work• Artifact preservation• Rare books• Historical research• Educational projects and events.Ye sWashington County Historical Society(It is a plus if you can read cursive. Most historical documents are written in cursive.)
9Professions for which a liberal arts degree, with supplementation, provides an excellent preparationProfession Description and Notes Extra Requirements and Experience Available in Ora et labora ProgramReal Estate Agent Real estate agents are licensed to help people buy, sell, and rent homes and other properties. Some of their main tasks include the following:• Preparing comparative market research analysis to estab-lish a realistic asking price• Identifying and highlighting the top selling points of a property• Staging and showing homes to potential buyers• Photographing the property, inside and out• Scheduling appraisals and inspections• Negotiating contracts and closing deals• Handling administrative paperwork and legal issuesYou will need to take a real estate sales online course (60 hours of instruction) and the licensing exam.Yes, Keller Williams Premier Realty (car needed)Teaching We do not recommend teaching in the public school system or getting licensed to do so. Rather, there are numberous independent private schools for which a liberal arts degree will prepare you well to teach.e Institute for Catholic Liberal Education oers a certication program for teachers in independent Catholic schools. Typically the schools fund this training for their teachers.Yes, teacher aids at St. Mary’s School.Cyber Security Cyber security provides internet security for companies in hosts of ways. It is not managing information technology. It is, rather, providing protection for all the various aspects of information technology.Cyber security professionals manage the integrity, condentiality, and availability of information by protecting various digital assets, such as applications, networks, and databases, against attackers. Many organizations regularly work with multiple types of sensitive data, such as nancial data, personally identiable information, and trade secrets.ese organizations hire professionals to protect this data from sophisticated cyber threats. e methods that individuals use to attack and defend assets change constantly, and it’s a cyber security professional’s responsibility to adapt to changes in the eld.If a student has no ex-perience or expertise in the eld, then the work will be focuses on hardware assembly and similar projects. If a students want to work in the “com-mand room,” it will be necessary to take some cyber security courses.Yes, SOCSoter
Profession Description and Notes Extra Requirements and Experience Available in Ora et labora ProgramDigital Marketing Digital marketing is one of the major ways companies market their products. Businesses can adopt digital marketing types that are suitable for their product type and can allow them to engage with customers. Digital Marketing encompasses a number of areas, such as the following:• Search engine optimzation (SEO)• Social media marketing• Email marketing• Content marketing• Aliate marketing• Pay-per-click (PPC)• Inuencer marketing• Video production• Website developmentIf a student has some skills in any of these areas, there is more work available.To progress, a student should take some courses in some of these areas. Work for e Collegium will provide some training.Yes, SOCSoter,e Collegium,and DatAchieve.
11Graduate programs for which a liberal arts degree, as is, provides an excellent preparationDegree Description and Notes Experience Available in Ora et Labora ProgramLaw Lawyers are professionals who rst earn their Doctor of Law degrees, or Juris Doctor (J.D), in three or four years as a pre-requisite to the bar exam. Aer extensive training, a period of articling, and passing the bar exam, they become qualied attorneys who provide legal advice and represent clients in court. ey also need to register for a license within the province or territory in which they want to practice law. ey can work for several individual clients, corporations, or government agencies, and typically specialize in one type of law. A few types of work in the eld include the following:• Corporate law• Contract law• General practice• Divorce• Child custody• Power of attorney• Spousal support• Wills and trusts• Petty crimes• Trac violations and many more cases• Immigration law• Intellectual property law• Family law• Employment law• Litigation (representing plaintis or defendants in civil lawsuits)• Personal injury law• Criminal defense law• Judge.Ye sWA County Circuit Court
Architecture Note: Several universities have two- and three-year graduate programs in Architecture. e two-year programs are for students with an undergraduate architecture degree. e three-year programs are for students without an undergraduate architecture degree.Architects are professionals who plan, design, and oversee construction projects. ere are several architecture specializations available in diverse sectors, depending on a professional’s training and career goals. Some examples of architecture work follow:• Building architecture• Data Warehouse architecture• Project architecture• Enterprise architecture• Urban architecture• Industrial architecture• Church architectureere are also architecture-related elds that require a certain amount of technical training, but not an architecture degree. For example, CAD technicians use specic soware and technology to create highly detailed drawings and dras for steel fabricators, erectors, and other raw materials and manufacturing clients. ey develop plans like blueprints and architectural illustrations that help guide construction professionals through their processes. CAD technicians usually use technical, spatial and mathematical skills to accomplish their work. ey must be uent in CAD soware, but they don’t need a degree in architecture.Ye sMSB ArchitectsYou will need to have some uency in a soware called Revit, which you can acquire through online courses.
13Masters in Business Administration (MBA)An MBA focuses on teaching business principles and helping students to build leadership skills for executive positions. MBA programs oen include classes focusing on organizational psychology, behaviour, marketing, and nance. ey have various course materials, enabling you to specialize in one business area. While pursuing an MBA, you may learn several business principles, including nance, marketing, economics, strategy, accounting, ethics, and organizational behaviour. You can take electives outside the curriculum to help build leadership and networking skills, customize your experience, and have learning opportunities with actual companies. Here are some modules you can nd in an MBA curriculum:• managerial accounting• digital marketing• cultural psychology• corporate nance• business strategy• organizational management• operations management.Relevant professional work experience is oen a pre-requisite for earning an MBA degree. Many business schools require candidates to have at least three years of experience. For a general MBA, it’s vital you take an entrance exam, which is usually the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE). e GMAT and GRE enable students to demonstrate their business skills and showcase their academic ability.Ye sAny of the Ora et Labora positions that include small business management experience would give relevant experience.
Graduate programs for which a liberal arts degree, with supplementation, provides an excellent preparationDegree Description and Notes Experience Available in Ora et Labora ProgramMedicine A medical degree requires several courses in math and science that e Collegium does not oer.However, most, if not all, of these courses are oered at the nearby Hagerstown Community College (HCC). Furthermore, HCC is oering Collegium students in county rates for these courses.See www.the-collegium.org/preparing-for-medical-professions for more information. Ye sHagerstown Area Pregnancy ClinicMeritus Hospital Volunteer Program(Requires vaccincations, including COVID and transporation - bus is possible)Meritus Hospital Intern Program (Requires vaccincations, including COVID and transportation - bus is possible)Also, for any student enrolled in science and math courses at HCC to prepare for the MCAT exams, we will count those courses as Ora et Lab-ora work. For More Information about Various ProfessionsExplore the following links:• www.coursera.org/articles/liberal-arts-degree-jobs• https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice. (Use the search bar to explore any area of interest quickly.)
e Collegiumwww.the-collegium.orge Collegium educates and forms students, through the traditions of the Church, to restore all things in Christ.