Are you looking to advance your career this year? Perhaps your goal for 2022 is to take steps towards a promotion – or land your dream job. Maybe you want to embark on a new path altogether.

In any case, a graduate degree can help you achieve these goals.

Find out why many people are pursuing an advanced degree in 2022.

Career advancement

For guidance, we checked in with Megan Beardi, director of graduate and transfer admissions at Daemen University.

“A lot of people already in the workforce apply to graduate school – because they want to take the next big step in their career,” said Beardi.

While earning a graduate degree, students will gain contemporary knowledge, training and skills to grow their roles in the workplace – which often leads to increased income and promotions to managerial positions, Beardi explained.

For example, Daemen’s Master of Social Work (MSW) degree allows recent graduates and current working professionals to gain all of the credentials and experience needed to become a licensed social worker.

“Those who earn their MSW can expect a significant increase in pay in their field,” said Beardi.

Likewise, those who want to become a licensed behavioral analyst in New York State will need a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which Daemen offers as well.

These individuals can also expect an increase in income when they advance their career with a degree in ABA, stated Beardi.

Pursuing your true passion

“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Beardi, “we’ve seen many applicants to Daemen mention that they’ve lost their job – or that they are taking the opportunity through the pandemic to go after their true passion.”

“Many people who have worked in a certain field for years are returning to higher education to work towards a new career path,” she said. “They’ve found a new purpose. They had a change of heart as to where they are professionally and where they want to go from here.”

She added, “Losing a job sparks something that can motivate someone to dig deeper into their passions – and therefore shift career goals. This is where earning a graduate degree in the new field can help them significantly.”

For instance, the field of public health has become increasingly popular since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consider Daemen’s Master in Public Health (MPH) program, which prepares graduates to work in settings including health departments, community-based organizations, hospitals and much more.

They work to protect and improve the health and well-being of people and communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, development of health policies and research for disease and injury prevention – areas that have become increasingly critical in response to the pandemic and beyond.

Personal accomplishment

“Applicants often say they want to earn their graduate degree because it is a goal they have wanted to achieve for a while, but are finally ready to make it a reality,” said Beardi.

These life-long learners, Beardi said, often feel a graduate degree will provide value and credibility to their name to accomplish their goal of becoming specialized or advanced in their field of work.

“Not only will they graduate with their degree, but they will also gain confidence in themselves to advance into leadership positions,” Beardi said.

Daemen even offers a master’s degree in Leadership and Innovation, where students develop and hone the highly-sought-after skills of communication and critical thinking to invent, lead, collaborate and innovate in their field.

Learn more about how you can advance your career with Daemen University’s graduate programs today.