Providing Top Jobs and Excellent Prospects

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services at Utah State University prepares people for five of the 10 Best Social Service Jobs listed by U.S. News & World Report.

They are: School Psychologist (#1), Speech Language Pathologist (#3), High School Teacher (#4), Middle School Teacher (#6) and Elementary School Teacher (#10).

The rankings were released earlier this year, and they reinforce what college officials already knew: jobs in those fields enjoy high placement rates among USU graduates.

School Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology graduates enjoyed 100 percent employment among those who sought work. Employment rates for secondary school subjects vary, but graduates who were recommended for certification in 18 different subject areas reported 100 percent employment in 2013.

Ninety-seven percent of certified elementary education graduates found work, according to the most recent survey.

The Speech-Language Pathology employment rates are tracked by the Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department at USU. It reports a 100 percent employment rate among SLP graduates from 2007 through 2012.

The survey of school psychology, secondary education and elementary education employment is conducted by the University Council of Teacher Education at USU, which issued its most recent report in 2013. The statistics reflect the number of respondents who sought jobs after being recommended for certification.

“We are proud to be the top producer of teachers and human service professionals among public universities in Utah,” said Beth Foley, the college’s dean. “We have exceptional job placement rates because our graduates are exceptional — they possess outstanding professional knowledge and skills, as well as extensive experience implementing research-based practices in their disciplines. They leave USU ready to change lives, and that is what they do.”

Contact: Dean Beth Foley, beth.foley@usu.edu

Writer: JoLynne Lyon, 435-797-1463