Guide to Choosing your SNHU Major & Concentration

How important is my major?

Choosing your major is a significant milestone in your academic journey, as it determines the specialized content you’ll learn and lays the groundwork for potential career paths. It allows you to dive deep into a particular field of interest, gain valuable knowledge and expertise, and build essential skills. 

However, it’s crucial to recognize that your major does not rigidly define your career path. Life will present multiple opportunities, so your interests, goals, and circumstances may evolve over time. Many individuals find success in careers not directly related to their college majors. Your major provides a strong foundation, but it’s your experiences, ongoing learning, and continuous exploration of your passions that shape your unique career journey. This is a time to embrace the possibilities that lie ahead and be open to the opportunities that come your way. Your major is just one aspect of the multifaceted and exciting path to a fulfilling career.

What can I major in at Rivet School?

There are three SNHU majors to choose from through College for America: 1) Communications 2) Healthcare Management and 3) Business Management. Although there are a limited number of options available, each one of them will equip you with a wide range of knowledge and transferable skills. Keep in mind that every single type of organization out there that you could work for operates based on principles you will learn in management and communications. No matter what you choose, you will be able to help your future employer operate better and make a difference.

1. BA in Communications

What careers could I pursue with this degree?

1️⃣ Communications Coordinators assist in the execution of communication strategies, including content creation, media outreach, and internal communication initiatives, to promote an organization's message and enhance its public image.

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2️⃣ Human Resources (HR) Specialists support various HR functions, such as recruitment, onboarding, employee records maintenance, and benefits administration, to ensure smooth people operations within an organization.

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3️⃣ Marketing Coordinators assist in the implementation of marketing campaigns, including tasks such as market research, content creation, social media management, and data analysis, to help promote a company's products or services and reach its target audience effectively.

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4️⃣ Public Relations (PR) Specialists support the development and execution of PR strategies, including media outreach, content creation, and reputation management, to enhance an organization's public image and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders and the media.

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5️⃣ Social Media Coordinators manage and create content for an organization's social media platforms, engage with the online community, analyze performance metrics, and contribute to social media strategy to help build and maintain the brand's online presence and engagement.

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Note: Job titles and responsibilities vary across organizations, so it's important to read job descriptions carefully when seeking a position.

Which concentration is a good fit for me?

2. BA in Healthcare Management

What careers could I pursue with this degree?

1️⃣ Healthcare Project Managers are responsible for the day-to-day coordination and efficient operation of a healthcare program or project. They oversee healthcare projects from start to finish, monitoring and reporting on the progress throughout the process. An example of a project might be to coordinate a clinical trial at their facility, including a research study with a faculty member as well as a drug study with a pharmaceutical company. 

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2️⃣ Medical Office Administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a practice. This includes managing patient files, billing and insurance, scheduling appointments, and handling communications with doctors and patients. The job role can vary depending on the size and type of medical office.

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Note: Job titles and responsibilities vary across organizations, so it's important to read job descriptions carefully when seeking a position.

Which concentration is a good fit for me?

3. BA in Business Management

What careers could I pursue with this degree?

1️⃣ Customer Success Managers focus on ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty by providing support, addressing inquiries, and facilitating communication between customers and the company to maximize the value and benefits customers receive from its products or services.

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2️⃣ Operations Coordinators assist in the daily administrative and logistical tasks of an organization's operations department, including inventory management, scheduling, and coordination of resources, to ensure smooth and efficient business processes.

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3️⃣ Program Coordinators assist in planning, organizing, and executing various activities and initiatives within a specific program, ensuring smooth coordination, communication, and successful implementation of program objectives.

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4️⃣ Project Managers are responsible for assisting in the planning, execution, and monitoring of project tasks, timelines, and resources to ensure successful project completion and achievement of defined objectives.

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5️⃣ Sales Development Representatives identify potential leads, initiate initial contact, and nurture these relationships to generate sales opportunities and create a robust sales pipeline for the organization.

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Note: Job titles and responsibilities vary across organizations, so it's important to read job descriptions carefully when seeking a position.

Which concentration is a good fit for me?

What should I consider before choosing my major?

Before making this choice, you should consider several factors: 1) your interests and passions 2) your skills and strengths and 3) your career goals and aspirations. Take the time to reflect and remember that it's okay to seek advice from family, friends, mentors, and colleagues to help you make the best choice for your future. 

Interests & Passions

Choosing a major that aligns with your interests and passions increases the chance of finding a career that brings satisfaction and a sense of purpose. Ask yourself the following questions:

Skills & Strengths 

Choosing a major that builds on your skills and strengths can guide you towards a career path where you are more likely to thrive and succeed. Ask yourself the following questions:

Career Goals & Aspirations

Choosing a major that aligns with your career goals and aspirations ensures that your education is purposeful and focused, providing you with relevant knowledge and expertise needed to succeed in your career. Ask yourself the following questions:

How can I supplement my degree?

If your prior experience and current job isn’t aligned to your career goals, there are many ways to supplement your degree and bridge the gap between where you’re at in your career and where you want to be. Here are some suggestions:

• Network with people who work in your desired role or industry
• Participate in one of Rivet School’s career programs
• Enroll in an online course or training program
• Start a side hustle
• Take on freelance work
• Attend graduate school

Other FAQ

Which competencies are required for each concentration?

• BA in Communications + Business
• BA in Communications + Healthcare
• BA in Healthcare Management + Communications
• BA in Healthcare Management + Global Healthcare Perspectives
• BA in Business Management + Insurance Services
• BA in Business Management + Logistics and Operations
• BA in Business Management + Public Administration

Which majors do you recommend for Educator Pathway fellows?

Although SNHU does not offer a major in education through College for America, it’s helpful to note that most teaching credential programs only require a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Most of our Ed Pathway fellows major in Communications or Business Management.

How does SNHU’s BA curriculum translate to teaching (in California)?

The six California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP) are organized below, with the aligned competencies from SNHU’s BA curriculum reflected below each standard area. While the curriculum does not embed specific K-12 teaching standards, scenarios, or content, many of the competencies are indirectly linked to the standards. 

1. Engaging and Supporting All Students in Learning

• Can create an effective website.
• Can clearly and succinctly express complex ideas or information orally.
• Can identify and explain concrete ways to contribute to one’s community.
• Can identify issues of particular significance to one’s own community.

2. Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning

• Can apply common decision-making frameworks.
• Can communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Can apply leading management theories and models.
• Can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different management styles.
• Can apply key terms and concepts that relate to cultural competences.
• Can explain how culture shapes interpersonal relations.
• Can acknowledge one’s own cultural beliefs, values and sensibilities and those of others.
• Can articulate and analyze one’s own cultural biases and preconceptions.
• Can recognize and interpret both verbal and nonverbal messages.
• Can identify and apply effective conflict resolutions techniques.

3. Understanding and Organizing Subject Matter for Student Learning

• Can access and use academic and scholarly materials related to a specific field for research.
• Can appropriately cite and document sources of information related to learning and research.
• Can produce clear, grammatical and polished writing about learning experiences.

4. Planning Instruction and Designing Learning Experiences for All Students

• Can apply the principles of design thinking.
• Can develop a basic operations plan.
• Can evaluate the essential components of operation processes.

5. Assessing Students for Learning

• N/A

6. Developing as a Professional Educator

• Can facilitate a group discussion or meeting.
• Can speak effectively in different professional contexts.
• Can weigh competing priorities and make an informed decision or recommendation.
• Can collaborate with others to solve complex problems.
• Can apply knowledge of norms and cultures other than one’s own.
• Can recognize the strengths and limitations of others and delegate appropriately.
• Can provide encouraging, specific and actionable feedback.
• Can critique and build on one's own ideas and the ideas of others.
• Can respond effectively and appropriately to complaints and negative feedback.
• Can function effectively as part of an interprofessional team.

Which majors do you recommend if I want to become a school counselor?

• BA in Communications + Healthcare
• BA in Healthcare Management + Communications

Can I switch my major if I change my mind?

Yes. You can change your major between terms, but depending on how far along you are you may end up having to do more than 60 projects.