by Doug Schmitt
BusinessSchools.com Staff Writer
September 27, 2006
Houston, having a total population of better than 2 million people, was – and still is – known for its role and strong presence in the oil industry. It was a frontier town, but today is a major player in international commerce, having the Port of Houston which is the sixth largest port in the world. Despite Houston's rapidly expanding economy and growing population, the low cost of living remains one of the most desirable traits of the city. Along with the low cost of living, Houston is a culturally diverse region, offering a variety of recreational activities including theater, professional sports teams, shopping, and the great outdoors!
Employment and Internships
Houston, while being known for its oil industry, also has a very strong business economy having numerous Fortune 500 companies with headquarters in the region. Some of Houston's major employers include Baker Hughes, ConocoPhillip, Eagle Global Logistics, Halliburton, Marathon Oil, Shell, and Sysco. Students will find internship and employment opportunities with these and several other Houston employers.
Occupational projections for business related professions in Houston appear to be excellent through 2012 according to the Labor Market & Career Information Department (LMCI) of the Texas Workforce Commission. Business and Financial Occupations Operations will see an overall 22.9% more jobs while management occupations will see 18.0% additional jobs. Business operations specialists will see a growth of 24.7%; general operations managers expect 18.7% new opportunities; human resources managers' will have 21.4% new jobs; and financial managers opportunities will grow by 19.7%.
Education
Students in Houston have several educational opportunities at their disposal. One such opportunity is with the University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business, offering students BA and MBA degrees. Some areas of concentration include Accounting, Business Administration, Corporate Communications, Entrepreneurial Studies, Finance, and Information Systems.
Other opportunities include the Houston Baptist University College of Business and Economics, which offers degrees at the bachelors and masters level. Some specialties offered are Business Management, Economics, Human Resource Management, Management Science, and Marketing. Additionally, the University of Phoenix – Houston Campus offers students bachelors and masters degrees on a flexible schedule. Some concentrations include International Business, Project Management, and Public Administration & Policy.
Financial Aid
There are many sources of financial help for student's attending school in Houston. Typical forms of aid are grants, loans, and scholarships. The easiest way for students to find financial aid is by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This can be obtained via the school financial aid office or by filling one out online.
Several Scholarships are available to business students in Houston. The University of Houston considers students for their Academic Excellence Scholarship upon application to the University. Students receive $2500 to $6500, depending on SAT/ACT scores. Another example is the Houston Endowment Jesse H. Jones and Mary Gibbs Jones Scholarship Program, founded by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse H. Jones. Established in 1958 and having provided $64 million in scholarships, students receive $12,000 administered over a four year period.
A financial aid resource for business students in Houston is CollegeForTexans.com, provided by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The website provides links to institutional, private, and government grants & scholarships in addition to extensive financial aid information.
Summary
Houston is a city with a booming economy that plays an important role in world economic affairs. This promises to provide business students and graduates with a countless number of employment opportunities. Combine this with all of the recreational activities that Houston has to offer and it proves to make Houston a terrific place to study business.
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