The Benefits of Career-focused Education at Northwestern College
Specialized education that results in a successful career is good education, something J. F. Fish believed when he founded Northwestern College in 1902. He also foresaw that Chicago would need competent, well-trained workers to support its rapidly growing business community. His vision still holds true today.
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Northwestern College offers focused degree and certificate programs geared to industries that are expected to grow and produce new jobs well into the future. Unnecessary coursework has been eliminated in Northwestern College’s programs in business administration, healthcare and technology to concentrate on the skills directly related to your chosen career. Many programs can have you ready for your career in as few as two years.
A Northwestern College education delivers a results-based education that is important to a fulfilling career. The following are benefits of choosing to study at Northwestern College.
Programs that meet rising healthcare needs
According to the American Medical Student Association, the number of people over the age of 65 will have increased by 73 percent between 2010 and 2030. These older Americans will make up the majority of patients who will need healthcare – one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States.
At Northwestern College, you can choose a program that involves patient care or the administrative side of healthcare. Your training prepares you to play a vital role in this in-demand field. Check out your options:
- Nursing. The foundation of every healthcare organization, nurses provide hands-on care to patients and work as liaisons between patients and the rest of the healthcare community. Earn your associate degree at the Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing at Northwestern College.
- Radiologic Technology. You’ll learn to perform diagnostic imaging exams, including X-rays, that are crucial to patient care. Northwestern College provides specialized training toward an associate’s degree that will set you apart in the medical community and give you the firm foundation for an entry-level position in healthcare.
- Medical Assisting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth of the medical assistant field on the national level is expected to increase by 24 percent through 2024. When you earn your certificate from Northwestern College, you will be able to help doctors by administering medication, checking vital signs, drawing blood, removing sutures, noting patient medical history and more.
- Medical Coding Specialist. Medical coding is at the heart of the healthcare industry, keeping doctors and nurses on track and organized. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for medical records and health information technicians (billers and coders) is growing much faster than the average for other occupations. Northwestern College offers a certificate program in coding specialist.
- Dental Assisting. At Northwestern College, dental assistant students learn what they need to work in any type of dental office. Students in the one-year certificate program get hands-on training in a state-of-the-art facility, learning to take X-rays, sterilize instruments, record patient information and offer chair-side assistance.
- Health Information Technology. The Northwestern College health information technology associate’s degree program integrates two of the more profitable healthcare industry options – coding and health information management – and can prepare you for your career in two years when studying full time.
New bachelor’s program in business administration
Northwestern College has recently launched a new bachelor’s program in business administration that offers students the opportunity to enroll in one of two tracks – Human Resource Management (HRM specialization) or Logistics & Supply Chain Management (SCM specialization). A major advantage of the program is that all classes are online, giving students many options.
Here is an overview of the differences between the two tracks:
- Human Resources Management. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for human resources managers are expected to grow 9 percent by 2026. As new companies enter the marketplace and other organizations expand, more human resources managers will be needed to plan and oversee employee benefit programs, recruit and hire employees, and handle staffing issues. This track is the ideal choice for those who prefer more of an administrative environment.
- Logistics & Supply Chain Management. Students who choose this track should have a desire to work in the transportation industry, warehousing or retail. SCM is important to businesses everywhere, and the effectiveness of a company’s logistics operation can mean the difference between big profit and big losses.
New bachelor’s program in Health Information Management (HIM)
HIT has created the need for a way to effectively manage an organization’s information systems. That is the responsibility of HIM. Northwestern College has recognized the growing need for HIM professionals and has just launched a four-year Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program. Students who have completed a two-year associate’s degree in HIT are eligible to move on and take third- and fourth-year courses (the bachelor’s program) in HIM.
Flexible study options
Since many Northwestern College students have part-time jobs, schedule flexibility allows them to work, or to handle family responsibilities, while pursuing their education. Many courses are available online (the bachelor’s program in business administration is only online), and many programs offer the choice of morning, afternoon or evening classes. Because of its career-focused training, Northwestern College prepares you to begin your career (in most cases) in two years or less.
Instructors who are experts in their fields
Because the instructors work in their fields, they are able to bring real-world experience into the classroom. That enhances the hands-on experience you get across all programs by providing you with what you need to succeed in today’s ever-changing workplace. They have experienced what you will experience on the job, making you workforce ready as soon as you graduate. Because of the small class sizes, instructors are able to give you dedicated one-on-one time to ensure you grasp all that your program offers. Free peer and professional tutoring is also available to those who require additional assistance.
A commitment to student success
Students’ success is a direct reflection of the education they receive, and Northwestern College empowers students to succeed. Founder Fish and his successors believed that a career education should prepare students for significant, responsible lives and equip them with the intellectual and social skills necessary to succeed. At Northwestern College, you learn through a well-balanced mix of hands-on practical training, traditional classroom teaching and in-field externships that will help you begin a career that will carry you through your entire lifetime.