Pre-Professional Programs Give Students an Edge in the Job Market

The Passport Program from The O’Malley School of Business provides a series of career-related events students can attend on campus during their University experience. Students collect points for each event, with a goal of 100 by graduation. 

The program includes: 

• invitations to professional and social networking events
• participation in academic and professional conferences and competitions
• volunteer opportunities in the local and global community
• research and internship opportunities
• educational travel experiences
• participation in many programs outside the O'Malley School of Business

Students who complete the program are awarded a cord for graduation.

“The business school is laser-focused on career outcomes for our students,” says Donald E. Gibson, Ph.D., dean of the O'Malley School of Business. “We offer both experiential learning and connections to businesses to prepare students for careers. We have more internship opportunities than we have students, and most of our students do at least one internship with a range of leading companies. Our strategy for connecting students to business is through a strong network of alumni and faculty with real business experience who guide students along their paths.”

Gibson points to business analytics as an in-demand field, noting that the major is strongly desired by a range of employers from accounting and finance to marketing. The school has an AACSB-accredited Accounting program, in which demand in the job market is high. “Most of our graduates have internships and jobs right after graduation. When they earn an MBA, nearly 100% go to regional and BIG 4 companies,” he says.

The University’s MBA program is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best part-time MBA programs, which undergraduates can apply for as juniors. If accepted, they earn their MBA in one year by taking two graduate courses as part of their undergraduate degree and looping them into the master’s program.

The school also stays on top of cutting-edge business trends. A real estate minor was added in 2020 based on advice from alumni, in addition to an insurance and risk management concentration in the finance major.

The School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers various programs for learners seeking to advance their careers in the healthcare industry. Students in the radiation therapy technology and nuclear medicine technology programs learn how to prepare patients for the delivery of the radiation in our state-of-the-art teaching facilities and through clinical internships with our cutting-edge affiliate hospitals in the New York City metropolitan area. 

Partners for the nuclear medicine technology program include Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York Presbyterian-Columbia Medical Center; and New York University Langone Medical Center.

Partners for the radiation therapy technology program include Montefiore Medical Center; New York Presbyterian; and Westchester Medical Center.

These programs also prepare students to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam in both nuclear medicine and CAT scan. These Certifications are required for technologists to operate PET/CT and SPECT/CT equipment. Students who graduate from these programs are ready to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

Students from these programs often find work with the clinical partners after graduation.

The Division of Education prepares students for teacher certification in New York State. Once students graduate and complete all exams, they are eligible for initial certification. Once they have completed the required years of service, they can apply for permanent certification. See all programs in the Division of Education of the School of Liberal Arts. 

Part of the undergraduate program includes pre-student teaching field experience, where students have an opportunity to work in a variety of classrooms and schools to explore various options to help them decide on what they would like to teach and at what level. Their culminating experience is student teaching, which allows students to practice what they have learned in the coursework. While student teaching, students are in their placements five days a week for full days. Students can prepare to teach on all levels in a variety of fields, including science mathematics, social studies, physical education and special education.

The school also offers opportunities to earn a master’s degree in the five-year programs for childhood and adolescent education. The baccalaureate degree is in either childhood or adolescent education and the master’s degree is in special education. 

Students also have opportunities to network with alumni who work throughout the New York metropolitan area in the field of education. 

“Education has strong relationships with local schools where students participate in pre-student teaching field experiences, student teaching and the graduate special education internship,” says Karen Nicholson, Ph.D. “Working closely with the schools, they understand our programs and expectations and work with our students to provide the “real world” experiences our students need to be well prepared when they enter their first teaching position.”

The School of Engineering prepares its students for rewarding careers in engineering and related professions. A mark of attainment in engineering is the Professional Engineer (P.E.) license. As one step in becoming a P.E., applicants are usually required to have earned an engineering degree from a program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. All five of the undergraduate engineering degree programs at Manhattan University are accredited by the EAC of ABET. Students can take the first exam in the process, the Fundamentals of Engineering (F.E.), during their senior year.

The University’s mentor program available through the office of Career Pathways pairs students with a mentor in their industry of interest, who is typically an accomplished Manhattan University alumnus/a. Engineering students can join the Mentor program during their first semester at the University. 

Students in the program have pursued internships and have worked closely on major infrastructure projects in the tri-state area. Internships are also key in the engineering programs for student development. Alumni often say their first engineering job stemmed from an internship opportunity.

Tim J. Ward, Ph.D., P.E., dean of the School of Engineering, points to the solid foundation the undergraduate program gives students. He says students can focus on a specific area of engineering through the many concentrations offered in different programs. 

Just one example is the Aerospace concentration in mechanical engineering, which should be available to undergraduates soon. Students in a concentration complete a Bachelor of Science degree while using 12 of the program credits to simultaneously complete the concentration. All concentrations in engineering at Manhattan University are registered with New York State, so they can be shown on the student's official transcript. 

Dean Ward also points to the advantage of the seamless undergraduate to graduate program, which enables students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in the fourth year of study and master’s degree in the fifth year. Second semester juniors need a 3.2 GPA to qualify.

The School of Liberal Arts has a longstanding history of vocational and pre-professional preparation in both traditional and more contemporary programs. Through the blending of foundational skills development and critical concept engagement with community and business partnerships, our graduates have in-demand experience that makes them highly sought-after candidates in many fields.

The Model U.N. program is open to students in any major. It offers a unique opportunity for students to better understand the inner workings of the United Nations and other international organizations, while building skills in diplomacy and compromise. In the fall, students participate in a conference in Washington, D.C., and in the spring, in New York City. The Manhattan University delegation is regularly recognized with awards. Currently, the University has alums from the program working on Capitol Hill and in other national and international positions.

Communication, digital media art and sound studies programs also provide liberal arts students with professional opportunities upon graduation. For example, students are able to work on the ESPN team that produces the MAAC basketball games for ESPN. The Manhattan University team also is responsible for the MAAC Championships that kick off March Madness. These students graduate with the skills needed to work in sports media or on a television production team.

The new sound studies major looks at sound in a scientific and artistic way. Students experiment with different materials to learn how to create the best acoustics for each project. One of the first graduates for the program is now working at the largest and most reputable acoustics firm on the East Coast.

Students in the School of Science have many professional degree opportunities after graduation. Traditionally, Manhattan University students have placed in prestigious medical, dental and veterinary programs, as well as physical therapy programs. Some students attend graduate programs to hone their research skills or obtain research positions to work with renowned scientists in their research laboratories. Frequently too, computer science and mathematics majors go on to pursue corporate positions. 

A hallmark of programs in the School of Science is to ensure that all undergraduate students have the opportunity to gain research or theoretical experiences during their undergraduate careers. Students are able to perform research alongside their professors utilizing the labs in the new Higgins Engineering and Science Center for their studies. In 2021, 17 students conducted summer research with a faculty member for eight weeks in our premier School of Science Summer Research Scholars and Jasper Summer Research Scholars programs. The students are supported with a stipend and campus housing during their summer projects and attend ongoing seminars to hone their research skills. In the fall, the Scholars present their results at the University’s Research Symposium. This summer 18 students are participating in the program. The students will be invited to submit their work for peer review in an external undergraduate scientific journal.

Others are working with professors who have been awarded prestigious grants and need assistants to perform laboratory research and/or gather data. Currently, students are working alongside professors who have grants from the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Army and M.I.T., to name a few. Students also go on to attend regional, national and international professional scientific conferences to present their research findings. 

Combined-degree bachelor's/master's programs in data analytics and computer science enable undergraduates to create individualized programs which often can be completed within five years. A number of graduates in these areas are working at Google, Meta, Horizon Media, Con Edison and other top companies.