Best Degrees For Students Interested In Helping Communities

For many students, choosing a career is no longer about a big paycheck. It’s about finding purpose. They want work that involves making life a little easier for the people around them. And they’re looking for degree programs that can turn that desire into reality.

The good news? There are lots of degree programs that fit this description. Even better, the careers tied to these degrees aren’t just meaningful. They’re also in demand. 

Take healthcare and social assistance jobs, for example. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs in these niches will grow pretty fast in the next few years, thanks to the aging population and rising rates of chronic illness. 

This means one thing: a massive wave of opportunity for students who want to do meaningful work in the future.

Which degree programs make the most sense for these students? Here's a look at five future-ready degrees that combine purpose with strong career prospects.

Degree in Public Health

A public health degree program prepares students to prevent disease and improve health across entire communities. Unlike doctors who work with patients one-on-one, public health professionals look at the bigger picture. They study trends, ask questions, and look for practical ways to improve community health.

The field has always mattered, but interest in public health surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, making this program one of the leading future-ready degrees.

What Public Health Work Entails

• Doing outreach in underserved communities
• Organizing health screenings and education programs
• Helping people access medical services
• Collecting data to spot trends in localities

Public health jobs require a degree, either in public health, community health, or  a related field. Those who want to move up will definitely need a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree.

Some states or employers may also require public health workers to have NCHEC certification.

Social Work Degree (BSW)

Social work is often called the “ultimate” helping profession. This future-ready degree is for people who aren’t afraid of messy, complicated situations, from poverty and addiction to family crises. And to do any of this, they need a social work degree.

Social work isn’t only about compassion. It can also pay well. Social workers earn about $61,330 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What Social Work Entails

• Counsel families and children
• Connect people to housing or food programs
• Advocating for patients in hospitals so they get proper care
• Working in schools to help students facing bullying or home issues
• Lobbying for better mental health services

As already mentioned, getting into social work will require a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). This degree is very hands-on and usually requires hundreds of hours of field placement. However, those who want more clinical options will have to consider a clinical social worker degree. 

This master’s degree qualifies social workers to address the growing need for mental health services and improve the lives of people in their communities, according to Keuka College. It comes with more pay, too, with Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) earning as much as $112,068, according to ZipRecruiter.

Criminal Justice Degree

A criminal justice degree program teaches students to understand how the entire justice system works. It goes beyond policing. It's also about the courts, the laws that shape society, correctional institutions, and the communities impacted by legal decisions. 

Students learn how these pieces all connect together. This degree is for people who care about fairness, safety, and finding better ways to do things.

What Criminal Justice Work Entails

• Community policing
• Supervising rehabilitation and reintegration programs
• Analyzing policy for think tanks or government agencies to reduce crime rates
• Solving cybercrimes that affect vulnerable populations

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is standard for roles in this field. However, anyone who wants to work in federal law enforcement will likely require specific police training.

Urban Planning Degree

A degree in urban planning prepares students to design spaces for real people in everyday life. When done well, it makes communities more livable for everyone.

One of the major trends in urban planning is the use of digital tools like GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to identify areas that are at risk of flooding. Tech-driven strategies like this are why urban planning remains one of the top future-ready degrees, ideal for students who want to support communities.

What Urban Planners Do

• Design housing projects
• Improve transportation systems
• Plan disaster-safe communities
• Manage land-use policies
• Work with local governments

Most urban planning roles require a bachelor’s degree in urban planning, geography, or public administration. 

However, those who want to handle supervisory roles will need a master's degree in urban planning (MUP). Some employers may also ask for certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Degree in Environmental Studies

No community can truly thrive when the air is polluted, the water is unsafe, or neighborhoods are suffering the effects of climate change. An environmental degree program trains students to tackle these issues.

This field is also closely tied to social justice, as environmental problems tend to affect low-income communities first and most severely. Students who choose this path will work not just to protect the environment, but also people who are most vulnerable.

What Environmental Studies Work Entails

• Study pollution levels
• Work on climate adaptation projects
• Manage waste recycling programs
• Help farmers adopt sustainable methods
• Educate communities on conservation

This role requires at least a bachelor’s degree in environmental science or studies. Graduates who want to go into research or teaching roles will likely require a master's degree.

Apart from being one of the most urgent future-ready degrees today, it's also a well-paid one, with environmental scientists earning about $115,079 per year, according to the Economic Research Institute.

Choosing the Right One Among These Future-Ready Degrees

There's no single "best" option for students who want to support communities when it comes to future-ready degrees. The choice is deeply personal. Someone who loves science and data might thrive in public health. Those who are good at listening might find their place in social work. Someone drawn to systems and policy might be a natural fit for urban planning or criminal justice.

What all these paths share is this: they lead to work that matters. 

And with online degree programs now available across most of these fields, it's become so much easier to turn a personal drive into a professional reality.

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