Keystone College is expanding its curriculum with the addition of five new high demand, career-based bachelor degrees.
The new degrees are: financial planning, data analytics, esport and gaming management, public administration, and supply chain management. Keystone will begin accepting students for the new majors immediately for the spring 2021 and fall 2021 semesters.
“We are excited to offer these new bachelor degrees to our students,” said Keystone College President Tracy L. Brundage, Ph.D. “These additional programs are, and will continue to be, highly relevant in the regional and national workplace for years to come. At Keystone, our goal is always to create pathways for successful careers for our students and our graduates and we have taken another major step forward in that regard.”
“All of our new programs were created with the involvement of experts in education and industry,” said Keystone Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Karen Yarrish, Ph.D. “We are continuing our tradition of providing the best education possible and preparing our students for successful and exciting careers.”
Details on the new majors include:
Financial Planning
The financial planning program is designed to prepare students for a career as a financial planner or adviser by teaching students the skills needed in setting financial goals and identifying the tools needed to reach them.
According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, personal financial advisers earn a median annual salary of $87,850, with projected job growth 40 percent higher than the national average during the next 10 years. Students who pursue this major will be eligible to sit for the certified financial planner (CFP) exam, a critical professional certification in the field.
Data Analytics
Keystone’s data analytics major is designed to teach students to conduct research that helps organizations plan new marketing strategies, make business decisions, and map the path to future success.
Jobs for data analysts offer starting salaries of $65,000 – $115,000, according to the national job-search firm Glassdoor. One such example, operations research analyst, offers a median salary of $83,390, and is projected to grow at five times the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Potential careers span a wide range of industries including business, finance, and health care. For students majoring in other fields, a minor in data analytics can provide a differentiating skill set in programming and practical knowledge.
eSport and Gaming Management
From players to programmers, the gaming industry is growing exponentially and needs business-minded leaders with expertise in distribution, research, sales, and marketing. Between 2018 and 2019, the number of jobs in esports nearly doubled, growing a staggering 185 percent. Built in partnership with game developer Unity and the International Game Developers Association, the esport and gaming management program builds off of core business courses to provide a solid understanding of the nuances of games and the complexities specific to managing esports teams and leagues.
Public Administration
The public administration degree provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in a range of public sector roles.
Managers within the public sector earn a median salary of $67,150, with projected job growth nearly three times the national average over the next ten years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This program places a heavy emphasis on experiential learning, asking students to complete a range of individual and group projects.
Supply Chain Management
As supply networks have continued to expand, supply chain management (SCM) has become one of the most critical areas for companies with a need to move products around the globe. According to Indeed and Universal Logistics job sites, employees in SCM earn an average of $82,000 annually, and that number jumps to $97,000 annually for professionals with three-five years of experience. The SCM program was designed to provide students with the skills necessary to secure an entry-level position in SCM, while also giving them the educational background to succeed in other jobs and careers as well.
“These additional programs are, and will continue to be, highly relevant in the regional and national workplace for years to come. At Keystone, our goal is always to create pathways for successful careers for our students and our graduates and we have taken another major step forward in that regard.”
-Keystone College President Tracy L. Brundage, Ph.D
For more information on the new majors at Keystone, visit admissions@keystone.edu or call 1-800-824-2764. Keystone offers more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree options in liberal arts and science-based programs in business, communications, education, natural science, environmental science, and social sciences. Located 15 minutes from Scranton, Pa. and two hours from New York City and Philadelphia, Keystone is known for small class sizes and individual attention focused on student success through internships, research, and community involvement.
