Applied Science

An applied science degree is a technical program that focuses on the practical application of scientific knowledge across various fields such as allied health, coaching, criminal justice, information technology, and psychology. It offers hands-on learning experiences tailored to prepare students for specific careers.

An applied science degree can be obtained in either an associate (typically 2 years) or bachelor’s degree format (typically 4 years). The total time required will depend on the specific program and whether the student attends full-time or part-time.

Yes, the applied science degree program at the University of the Cumberlands is offered entirely online, providing flexibility for working adults to pursue their education.

An applied science degree can be worth it, especially for those seeking practical skills and knowledge for technical careers. Graduates often find opportunities in various fields, and the degree can lead to roles with competitive salaries, such as medical assistants, budget analysts, and community service managers.

With an applied science degree, you can pursue various careers, including medical assistants, budget analysts, community service managers, post-secondary instructors, writers, and psychologists. The degree prepares you for roles in diverse fields like healthcare, business, criminal justice, and information technology.

To obtain an applied science degree, you need to apply to a university offering the program, complete the required coursework (including general education and major-specific courses), and fulfill any practicum or internship requirements.

Applied science encompasses several career fields, including accounting, allied health, business administration, coaching, criminal justice, communication arts, human sciences, information technology, psychology, and public health. The focus is on applying scientific knowledge to real-world problems in these areas.

If you enjoy working with numbers but thought to yourself, what can I do with an accounting degree, take a look at the many career options you could have with an Online Bachelor's of Applied Science in Accounting from University of the Cumberlands. 

Accountant or Auditor1

Your online bachelor’s degree in Accounting can help you get your foot in the door as a Staff Accountant or a Financial Auditor, providing the reports a business needs to remain financially stable. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for Accountants and Auditors was $71,550 in 2019. It’s a field projected to grow 6 percent by 2028.

Budget Analyst2

Your online accounting degree from University of the Cumberlands can also prepare you for a career organizing the finances of public or private organizations. According to the BLS, professional Budget Analysts earned a 2019 median annual wage of $71,550. Job growth for these positions is projected to hold steady at 6% for most of the next decade.

Careers
With the right experience and appropriate credentials, graduates of the Accounting degree program from University of the Cumberlands should be able to pursue one of the following business careers:

• Cost Accountant
• General Accountant
• Assurance Manager
• Audit Partner
• Business Analyst
• Budget Coordinator
• Budget Officer
• Financial Examiner
• Business Teacher

$71,550  Median Annual Pay for Accountants and Auditors1

1Accountants and Auditors
2Budget Analysts

An applied science degree in allied health is designed to help you pursue a number of career opportunities.

Graduates will be prepared to explore a number of career opportunities in the field of allied health, including:

Medical Assistants¹

From administrative services to patient intake and routine diagnostic procedures, your degree program will give you the skills you need to help others get the care and help they need in medical and clinical settings. In 2021, the median annual pay for medical assistants came in at $37,190 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which also projects a 18 percent increase by 2030 in the need for these critical medical facilitators.

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians²

Interested in a non-medical healthcare career? One where you still play a vital part in helping others get the care they need? Take it to a more technical level with a career as a medical records and health information technician. In 2021, they averaged $45,240 annually. The BLS also projects an 9 percent increase in the need for these professionals by 2030.

Medical and Health Services Manager³

Use your allied health degree to pursue a career planning, directing and coordinating the behind-the-scenes work required to keep medical practices and healthcare providers going strong as a medical and health services manager. In 2021, the median annual pay for these professionals came in at $101,340 per year, according to the BLS, which also projects an 32 percent increase by 2030 in the need for these critical medical managers.

Health Educators and Community Health Workers⁴

As a professional health educator or community health worker, you’ll help promote wellness and better health throughout whole communities. In 2021, these community-minded health workers averaged $48,860 annually. The BLS also projects an 17 percent increase in the need for these professionals by 2030.

Careers

Your degree program can also help you prepare for a career as a:

• Medical services manager
• Claims reviewer
• Health education specialist
• Medical or pharmaceutical sales representative
• Community health specialist
• And more!

“18 Percent” Projected Growth Rate for Medical Assistants by 20301

1Medical Assistants

2Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

3Medical and Health Services Managers

4Health Educators and Community Health Workers

Interested in an Online Bachelor's of Applied Science in Business Administration Degree, but not quite sure if a business administration degree is worth it? Explore careers, salaries and projected growth rates:

If your passion is mentoring others to get the most out of their talents, an Online Bachelor's of Applied Science in Coaching might be for you. Have you ever wondered, what can I do with a coaching degree?

With many career fields to choose from, you can find a fulfilling career that's right for you.

Coaches and Scouts¹

The skills you’ll receive in this online undergraduate degree program from UC will help you pursue a coaching position in the sport or field you’re passionate about. In 2021, the annual median salary was $38,970. And the job outlook for coaches and scouts, as a field, is looking up — expected to grow 26% over the next decade, faster than most other career fields.

Postsecondary Instructors²

If you’re interested in helping a larger audience achieve greater levels of fitness, meet self-improvement goals or train health advocates to help others, you could continue your education and pursue a career in postsecondary education. With a 2021 median annual salary of $79,640, employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 12 percent over the next decade.

Careers

Coupled with relevant experience and a solid foundation of communication and professional skills, an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Coaching from University of the Cumberlands could give you the foundation you need to pursue a number of careers in and out of team sports or athletics, including:

• Assistant Coach
• Athletics Director
• Head Coach
• Health and Physical Education Instructor
• Sports Management Professor
• Rec Center Manager
• Sports Director

"26 Percent"  Projected Growth Rate for Coaches and Scouts by 20301

1Coaches and Scouts
2Postsecondary Teachers

Whatever the future holds, the ability to communicate clearly and get your message across is key to any successful venture. With a communication degree, you’ll also have a chance to earn credit, as well as career-building skills, through practical experience in forensics, broadcasting practicum, or professional internships.  

WRITER¹

A bachelor’s degree in Communications Arts from University of the Cumberlands can prepare you for a number of communication career fields and platforms, from broadcast journalism to storytelling. If you’re thinking about a career writing articles, books or scripts, the growth rate for writers and authors is 9 percent with a median wage of $69,510 annually.

Maybe your bachelor’s is just the first step … many graduates of the fine arts program go on to pursue additional certifications or degrees to explore careers in graphic design, advertising or even art therapy.

Public Relations Specialist² 

Maybe you want to help craft the story the public will eventually learn about through their favorite media. Public relations specialists average $62,800 annually. And they’re in demand – a projected 11 percent growth rate over the next decade.

Postsecondary Instructor³

Another direction you can take is in teaching – training the next generation of writers as a college or university instructor. With a median annual salary of $79,640, employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 12 percent over the next decade.

Careers

• Freelance Writer
• Author
• Web Content Writer
• Advertising Copywriter
• Public Relations Specialist
• Media Relations Director
• Communications Specialist
• Writing Instructor
• Communications Professor

"11 Percent" Projected Growth Rate for Public Relations Specialists by 20302

1Writers and Authors
2Public Relations Specialists
3Postsecondary Teacher

The field of Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration is expected to fill more than 795,000 openings by 2030.

Find out what criminal justice bachelor's degree jobs you might be able to eligible for with an Online Bachelor of Applied Science in Criminal Justice from University of the Cumberlands.

Our master’s in criminal justice administration is ideal for those interested in the advanced study of criminal justice principles, concepts, and practices focusing on supervision, management, and administration of criminal justice agencies. Subjects covered in the program are intended to develop a skill set that increases competency and prepares students to advance their careers in the criminal justice profession. Students graduate ready to apply theories related to:

• Criminology
• Juvenile Justice
• Cybersecurity
• Addictions
• Psychology 
• Social Deviance
• Justice Administration
• Corrections
• Homeland Security

A master’s degree prepares students for many challenging but well-paying careers in the criminal justice sector. Graduates often pursue work in various sub-fields at the local, state, and federal level. Popular careers include:

• Police Officer
• Shift Supervisor
• Patrol Sergeant
• Chief of Police
• Corrections Officer
• FBI Agent
• Homeland Security Agent
• Border Patrol Agent
• Addictions Specialist

One of the highest-paying jobs you could pursue with this degree is in protective services. Protective services include professions like police officers and detectives. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 3% job growth with a median salary of $66,020 per year. Alternatively, you could consider any jobs requiring the foundation of critical thinking and people skills a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration would provide.

If you’ve been looking for a program that gives the flexibility you need to focus your degree plan to your career aspirations, you’ve found it with the Bachelor of Applied Science in General Studies. 

In addition to core coursework designed to give you professionally relevant skills in communication, finance and decision-making, you’ll choose from nine concentration options—Business, Health and Fitness, Behavioral Sciences, Education, Information Science and Technology, Media Studies, Christian Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences or Healthcare—followed by a number of strategic electives to complete your degree.
 

If you've ever wondered "what can I do with a human services degree," University of the Cumberlands can help answer that question.

With an increased demand in the human services field, employment is growing faster than the average. Find Online Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services careers along with potential salaries:

Social and Human Service Assistants¹

Employment of social and human service assistants is expected to grow 17% by 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work.

Much of the growth will be due to the needs of an aging population. An increase in number of older adults will cause growth in demand for social services. The elderly population often needs services such as adult day care and meal delivery. Social and human service assistants, who help find and provide these services, will be needed to meet this increased demand.

Community and Social Service Occupations²

As more people seek treatment for their addictions and more drug offenders are sent to treatment programs rather than to jail, the result will be an increase in demand for community and social service occupations who work in treatment programs or work with people with addictions. Employment of community and social service occupations is projected to grow 12%, faster than the average for all occupations, and center around counselor and social worker occupations. Currently, the median annual salary for these community and social service occupations is $48,410.

Careers

• Human Service Worker
• Social Worker
• Case Work Aide
• Clinical Social Work Aide
• Family Service Assistant
• Social Work Assistant
• Addictions Counselor Assistant
• Public Health Educator
• Community Health Worker

"17 Percent"  Projected Growth Rate for Social and Human Service Assistants by 2030

1Social and Human Service Assistants
2Community and Social Service Occupations

The computer and information sciences industry is in the midst of a faster-than-average employment growth. Those earning an Online Bachelor's of Applied Science in Information Technology have the potential to be an important part of growing fields such as cloud computing and the collection and storage of IT data.

Earning your information technology degree online could unlock a range of IT career paths. Jobs in this field should increase 13 percent from 2021 to 2030—much faster than average. The majority of these roles call for a bachelor’s degree.

After earning an IT online degree, you could pursue IT career paths like:

• Computer Network Architects
• Computer Programmers
• Computer Support Specialists
• Systems Analysts
• Database Administrators
• Software Engineers
• Web Developers

Businesses large and small, in every industry, rely on IT professionals. You may find the above roles and other career paths in industries such as finance, insurance, education, healthcare, government, and beyond.

A degree in religion, missions or biblical studies can help you pursue a number of ministry career opportunities to fulfill God's plan for you. With career opportunities projected to grow by 4-5 percent by 2030, you can begin your career today. 

A psychology degree can help you start your journey on a number of career paths, from psychotherapist to clinical psychologist. The need for qualified psychologists is expected to grow by 8 percent by 2030. Find out more about the many career paths:

Psychologist¹

A psychology degree from University of the Cumberlands can help you start your journey on a number of career paths, from psychotherapist to clinical psychologist. The need for qualified psychologists is expected to grow 8 percent by 2030. Currently, the median annual salary for these mental health professionals is $81,040.

Postsecondary Instructor²

Perhaps instead of practicing, you’re more interested in passing along what you’ve learned. With a median annual salary of $79,640, employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 12 percent over the next decade.

Or you could pursue a career in other fields altogether. With the solid foundation of critical thinking and people skills a psychology degree provides, you’ll be well prepared to pursue a variety of professional careers – from front-line sales to back-office management.

Careers

• School Psychologist
• Counseling Psychologist
• Child Study Team Director
• Early Intervention School Psychologist
• Applied Behavior Specialist
• Psychotherapist
• Staff Psychologist
• Neuropsychology Director
• Psychology Instructor
• Professor of Psychology

$81,040   Median Annual Pay for Psychologists1

1Psychologists
2Postsecondary Teachers

If you want to be an advocate for others to lead a better and healthier life, an Online Bachelor's of Applied Science in Public Health could be what you've been looking for.  But what exactly can I do with a public health degree? The answer is, actually a lot.

The Online Bachelor's of Applied Science in Public Health, from University of the Cumberlands, could give you the foundation you need to pursue a number of rewarding careers.

Health Educator¹

If your desire is to help people lead better, healthier lives, a public health degree can set you up for a number of careers serving the health and wellness needs of your community. And there’s a growing need for these professionals. In fact, jobs for health educators are expected to grow 11 percent over the next several years. Currently, the median annual salary for these public service health professionals is $48,860.

Human Service Assistant²

Just want to get your foot in the door? From nursing homes to fitness training, a public service degree could also open doors to other related careers, including that of a caseworker or community coordinator. Job openings for Social and Human Service Assistants are projected to grow 17 percent by 2030 with a median salary of $37,610.

Or you could pursue a career outside of health or human services altogether. The insights you’ll gain will help you prepare for any job that requires critical thinking and people skills as well as a professional demeanor – from business to customer service to office work.

Careers

• Health Educator
• Community Health Worker
• Child Development Specialist
• Community Health Consultant
• Director of Wellness Programs
• Community Nutrition Educator
• Health Program Representative
• Caseworker
• Advocate
• Family Support Worker
• Human Services Program Specialist

"17 Percent" Projected Growth Rate for Health Educators by 20301

1Health Educators
2Human Service Assistants