The Career Services Center of Western Washington University surveyed the graduates from the 2012-13 academic year (recipients of Bachelor degrees, Master degrees, and Teacher certifications). Graduates were invited to respond via email, mailed hardcopy, and then by phone. Employment data were also supplied by the University’s academic departments.
As a result of these efforts, data were collected from 60% of the 3,213 students who received Bachelor degrees; 78% of the 347 students who
received Teacher certification; and 78% of the 257 students who completed Master degrees in 2012-13. Additional information, including names of hiring employers and internship locations, can be found on the Career Services Center website (www.wwu.edu/careers) and in Old Main 280. Questions regarding this report should be addressed to Tina Loudon, Director, or Aaron Ignac, Assistant Director of Operations, at (360) 650-3240.
Highlights
The results of our 2012-13 survey indicate a slow, but continuing improvement in the job market for recent grads as compared to the past few years of economic volatility. Bachelor degree recipients reported the largest gains. Eighty two percent (82%) reported employment within six months of graduation as compared to 80% the previous year, and field-related employment increased to 53% from last year’s 51%. However, average starting salaries were down 4%, decreasing to $37,097 this year from $38,741 last year.
Top employers of recent Bachelor degree graduates include (in order): Boeing, Logos Bible Software, Starbucks, Microsoft, Nordstrom, AmeriCorps, Costco, Target, Amazon, AVA.ai, and Google.
Overall employment for recipients of teaching certificates improved to 94% this year, with almost two-thirds employed as teachers within Washington State. The employment rate for Master degree recipients (84%) is slightly lower (by 1%) than last year’s results.
Employment
This year’s percentage of Bachelor degree recipients seeking continued education (10.5%) is down somewhat from last year’s results (11.8%), partially due to the improving job market. Continuing education was highest among disciplines such as Chemistry (48%), Biology (47%), Physics (47%), Philosophy (40%) and Communication Sciences and Disorders (37%).
The value of internship experience was again strongly supported by this year’s survey results. Graduates with internship experience again found employment sooner and reported an average
Western grads continue to be extremely competitive in gaining admission to a broad range of programs: Columbia University (Clinical Psychology), Duke (Nursing), John Hopkins (Educational Studies), London School of Economics (Business Administration), St. Louis University (Medical Doctorate), UCLA (Chemistry), and Notre Dame (English). starting salary that is about $6,500 (19.6%) higher than students without internship experience.
Continuing Education
Career and Internship Opportunities
Master’s Degree Graduates
Teacher Certificate Recipients
Employed
Continuing Education
Other
Still Seeking
82% 6% 2% 11%Bachelor’s Degree Graduates
84% 11% 6% 94% 4% 1% 1%
2012-13
Employment
Graduates 2012-2013
Status
# % # % # % # % # % # % # $ # ALL UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
GENERAL STUDIES 113 56 49.6 18 32.1 31 55.4 3 5.4 0 0.0 4 7.1 28 $39,800 5
COLLEGE of BUSINESS & ECONOMICS 537 359 66.9 224 62.4 84 23.4 22 6.1 8 2.2 21 5.8 239 $43,869 61 Accounting 92 74 80 38 51 16 22 13 18 2 3 5 7 35 $41,929 12 Decision Sciences 85 59 69 53 90 4 7 1 2 1 2 49 $50,674 15
Bus Admin-Mgt Information Systems 38 24 63.2 20 83.3 3 12.5 1 4.2 18 $41,400 5
Bus Admin-Operations Mgt 14 10 71.4 8 80.0 1 10.0 1 10.0 7 $46,750 4
Manufacturing & Supply Chain Mgt 33 25 75.8 25 100.0 24 $61,018 6
Economics 82 50 61 20 40 19 38 4 8 2 4 5 10 25 $37,886 7
Economics 29 19 65.5 5 26.3 7 36.8 3 15.8 1 5.3 3 15.8 5 $52,500 2
Economics / Accounting 6 3 50.0 1 33.3 2 66.7 2 *
Economics / Environmental Studies 14 10 71.4 4 40.0 3 30.0 1 10.0 2 20.0 5 $25,000 2
Economics / Mathematics 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 *
Economics / Political Science 5 3 60.0 1 33.3 2 66.7 2 *
Financial Economics 12 6 50.0 5 83.3 1 16.7 6 *
Politics / Philosophy / Economics 15 8 53.3 4 50.0 4 50.0 5 $37,100 2
Finance & Marketing 160 98 61 63 64 29 30 1 1 2 2 3 3 74 $42,900 13
Bus Admin-Finance 63 35 55.6 24 68.6 8 22.9 1 2.9 2 5.7 28 $47,900 5
Bus Admin-Marketing 97 63 64.9 39 61.9 21 33.3 2 3.2 1 1.6 46 8
Management 118 78 66 50 64 16 21 3 4 2 3 7 9 56 $42,134 14
Bus Admin 14 7 50.0 6 85.7 1 14.3 6 $31,500 2
Bus Admin-Human Resource Mgt 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 1 *
Bus Admin-International Business 38 33 86.8 17 51.5 8 24.2 2 6.1 6 18.2 19 $49,000 4
Bus Admin-Management 65 37 56.9 26 70.3 7 18.9 3 8.1 1 2.7 30 $41,360 8
FAIRHAVEN COLLEGE 86 37 43.0 20 54.1 9 24.3 4 10.8 3 8.1 1 2.7 18 $27,293 3
Fairhaven Upside-Down Program 4 1 25.0 1 100.0 *
Interdisciplinary Conc (BA) 82 36 43.9 20 55.6 9 25.0 3 8.3 3 8.3 1 2.8 18 $27,293 3
# % # % # % # % # % # % # $ #
Music Performance 11 9 81.8 2 22.2 3 33.3 4 44.4 3 *
Theatre Arts 56 36 64 18 50 14 39 3 8 1 3 16 *
Theatre 55 35 63.6 17 48.6 14 40.0 3 8.6 1 2.9 16 *
Theatre P-12 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 *
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 1329 710 53.4 299 42.1 283 39.9 85 12.0 11 1.5 32 4.5 402 $28,807 87 American Cultural Studies 11 3 27 1 33 2 67 1 * Anthropology 93 46 49 15 33 21 46 5 11 2 4 3 7 21 $35,720 5
Anthropology (BA) 53 26 49.1 6 23.1 15 57.7 5 19.2 12 $40,167 3
Anthropology / Social Studies 3 2 66.7 1 50.0 1 50.0 2 *
Anthropology-Archaeology Concentration 17 10 58.8 5 50.0 3 30.0 1 10.0 1 10.0 3 *
Anthropology-Biocultural Concentration 18 7 38.9 2 28.6 1 14.3 2 28.6 $29,050 2
Anthropology-Elementary Education 2 1 50.0 1 100.0 *
Canadian/American Studies 1 1 100 1 100 * Communication 97 60 62 33 55 24 40 2 3 1 2 43 $36,200 8 Communication Science & Disorders 45 27 60 4 15 12 44 10 37 1 4 11 $26,632 5 East Asian Studies 12 4 33 1 25 3 75 1 * English 210 98 47 49 50 9 9 5 5 50 7
English-Creative Writing Emphasis 97 51 52.6 20 39.2 28 54.9 1 2.0 2 3.9 29 $29,400 5
English-Elementary Education 1 0 *
English-Literature Emphasis 72 34 47.2 13 38.2 16 47.1 2 5.9 3 8.8 17 $25,467 2
English-Literature Emphasis (Sec Ed Interest) 40 13 32.5 2 15.4 5 38.5 6 46.2 4 *
History 77 35 45 9 26 18 51 6 17 2 6 21 $30,563 8
History 48 20 41.7 4 20.0 12 60.0 3 15.0 1 5.0 12 $30,084 6
History / Social Studies 25 12 48.0 2 16.7 6 50.0 3 25.0 1 8.3 7 $32,000 2
History-Elementary Education 4 3 75.0 3 100.0 2 * Journalism 41 37 90 24 65 6 16 1 3 2 5 4 11 28 $26,500 2 Journalism 4 4 100.0 4 100.0 4 * Journalism-Public Relations 26 25 96.2 17 68.0 5 20.0 1 4.0 2 8.0 20 $26,500 2 Visual Journalism 11 8 72.7 3 37.5 1 12.5 1 12.5 1 12.5 2 25.0 4 * Liberal Studies 15 6 40 4 67 2 33 5 *
Humanities & History of Culture 6 3 50.0 2 66.7 1 33.3 3 *
Humanities of Religion 3 2 66.7 1 50.0 1 50.0 1 *
Student / Faculty Designed Major (BA) 6 1 16.7 1 100.0 1 *
Linguistics 30 13 43 4 31 6 46 2 15 1 8 5 $22,133 3 Modern and Classical Languages 78 32 41 14 44 12 38 5 16 1 3 11 $28,750 6
# % # % # % # % # % # % # $ #
Physical Education, Health & Recreation 221 136 62 78 57 40 29 12 9 3 2 3 2 85 $34,284 10
Community Health 22 18 81.8 14 77.8 2 11.1 1 5.6 1 5.6 13 *
Kinesiology: Health & Fitness 8 3 37.5 1 33.3 2 66.7 3 *
Kinesiology: Movement Studies 41 19 46.3 11 57.9 11 2
Kinesiology: Sport Psychology 2 1 50.0 1 100.0 1 *
Kinesiology:PreHealthcare Prof 40 16 40.0 8 50.0 6 37.5 1 6.2 1 6.2 11 $27,000 2
Kinesiology:PrePhysical Therapy 52 30 57.7 13 43.3 6 20.0 1 3.3 1 3.3 18 $27,920 2
PE: Pre-Healthcare Profession 1 0 *
Physical Education & Health P-12 7 3 42.9 3 100.0 2 *
Recreation 48 46 95.8 28 60.9 1 2.2 26 $35,500 4
Political Science 80 29 36 8 28 17 59 1 3 3 10 21 $31,167 3
Political Science 74 26 35.1 8 30.8 16 61.5 2 7.7 21 $31,167 3
Political Science / Social Studies 6 3 50.0 1 33.3 1 33.3 1 33.3 *
Psychology 203 117 58 52 44 47 40 15 13 1 1 2 2 72 $23,326 21
Behavioral Neuroscience 18 10 55.6 4 40.0 2 20.0 4 40.0 4 *
Human Development-Elementary Ed 6 4 66.7 4 100.0 4 *
Psychology 179 103 57.5 44 42.7 45 43.7 11 10.7 1 1.0 2 1.9 64 $23,412 20
Social Studies 1 1 100 1 100 *
Social Studies-Elementary Education 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 *
Sociology 97 55 57 14 25 22 40 13 24 4 7 24 $27,186 7
Sociology (BA) 96 54 56.2 14 25.9 22 40.7 13 24.1 3 5.6 24 $27,186 7
Sociology-Elementary Education 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 *
HUXLEY COLLEGE OF THE ENVIRONMENT 219 145 66.2 71 49.0 45 31.0 9 6.2 3 2.1 17 11.7 82 $28,426 28 Environmental Sciences 112 73 65 40 55 18 25 5 7 1 1 9 12 40 $26,955 11
Environ Sci-Environmental Toxicology 18 13 72.2 5 38.5 4 30.8 3 23.1 1 7.7 7 $23,500 2
Environ Sci-Fresh Water Ecology 4 2 50.0 2 1 *
Environ Sci-Marine Ecology 23 19 82.6 9 47.4 1 5.3 1 5.3 9 2
Environ Sci-Terrestrial 12 7 58.3 6 85.7 5 $26,500 4
Environmental Science 55 32 58.2 18 56.2 6 18.8 1 3.1 18 $28,667 3
Environmental Studies 107 72 67 31 43 27 38 4 6 2 3 8 11 42 $29,378 17
Env Ed-Community Ed & Mass Communication 2 2 100.0 1 50.0 1 50.0 *
Env Ed-Outdoor Ed & Interpretation 12 8 66.7 3 37.5 2 25.0 1 12.5 2 25.0 3 $17,743 2
Environmental Studies 1 1 100.0 1 *
Environmental Studies-Elementary Education 1 0 *
Geography - Elementary 1 1 *
Geography / Social Studies 5 4 80.0 *
Geography: Intl- Society & Envr 2 1 50.0 1 *
Geography-Env & Resource Mgmt 21 11 52.4 6 54.5 6 3
Plan & Env Policy - Urban Plan Emph 23 19 82.6 9 47.4 8 42.1 14 $34,588 5
Plan & Envr Policy Disaster Reduc 6 4 66.7 3 75.0 1 25.0 3 *
Planning & Env Policy-Policy 24 15 62.5 5 33.3 1 6.7 3 20.0 $31,667 3
# % # % # % # % # % # % # $ #
Urban Plan & Sustainable Dev 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 *
SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE 440 304 69.1 189 62.2 38 12.5 62 20.4 3 1.0 12 3.9 165 $50,446 48 Biology 104 55 53 17 31 10 18 26 47 1 2 1 2 20 $26,125 8 Biology (BA) 3 1 33.3 1 100.0 * Biology (BS) 16 10 62.5 1 10.0 2 20.0 6 60.0 1 10.0 2 * Biology / Anthropology 11 5 45.5 1 20.0 1 20.0 2 40.0 1 20.0 2 * Biology / Mathematics 2 2 100.0 2 100.0 2 * Biology-Cellular Emphasis 15 8 53.3 1 12.5 1 12.5 6 75.0 1 *
Biology-Ecology, Evol, & Organsml Emphasis 22 10 45.5 2 20.0 2 20.0 6 60.0 1 *
Biology-Marine Biology Emphasis 13 9 69.2 4 44.4 3 33.3 2 22.2 7 $18,500 2
Biology-Molecular&Cell Emph 7 4 57.1 3 75.0 1 25.0 3 *
Biology-Secondary Teaching Emphasis 4 2 50.0 1 50.0 1 50.0 1 *
Cellular & Molecular Biology 11 4 36.4 2 50.0 2 50.0 1 *
Chemistry 41 33 80 8 24 6 18 16 48 1 3 2 6 11 $55,028 4
Biochemistry 18 15 83.3 3 20.0 2 13.3 9 60.0 1 6.7 3 *
Chemistry (BA) 4 2 50.0 2 100.0 2 *
Chemistry (BS) 17 15 88.2 4 26.7 2 13.3 7 46.7 2 13.3 5 $52,370 3
Chemistry / Biology-Sec 1 0 *
Chemistry / Mathematics-Secondary Education 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 1 *
Computer Science 52 41 79 39 95 2 5 24 $72,200 10 Engineering Technology 118 96 81 82 85 7 7 1 1 1 1 5 5 67 $52,112 17
Electronics Engineering Technology 22 21 95.5 20 95.2 1 4.8 18 $52,100 2
Industrial Design 11 11 100.0 9 81.8 1 9.1 1 9.1 4 *
Industrial Technology-Vehicle Design 15 8 53.3 6 75.0 2 25.0 8 *
Manufacturing Engineering Technology 20 14 70.0 10 71.4 4 28.6 12 $52,200 6
MET-CAD / CAM 10 6 60.0 6 100.0 6 *
PET-Vehicle Engineering Technology Option 14 13 92.9 13 100.0 5 $63,000 2
Plastics Engineering Technology 26 23 88.5 18 78.3 1 4.3 1 4.3 3 13.0 14 $47,000 6
Geology 32 19 59 6 32 5 26 6 32 2 11 6 $38,000 3
Earth Sci / Gen Sci-Secondary Education 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 1 *
Geology (BA) 6 5 83.3 1 20.0 2 40.0 1 20.0 1 20.0 2 *
Geology (BS) 8 3 37.5 2 66.7 1 33.3 1 *
Geology-Environmental Geology Conc 12 5 41.7 2 40.0 2 40.0 1 20.0 2 *
Geology-Envr Geo Conc-Thesis 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 *
Geology-Thesis Option (BS) 3 3 100.0 3 100.0 * Geophysics 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 * Mathematics 59 35 59 25 71 7 20 3 9 24 $55,250 4 Applied Mathematics 4 2 50.0 2 100.0 1 $57,000 2 Mathematics (BA) 3 1 33.3 1 100.0 1 * Mathematics (BS) 34 17 50.0 8 47.1 6 35.3 3 17.6 11 $53,500 2
Mathematics / Computer Science 4 1 25.0 1 100.0 1 *
Mathematics-Secondary Education 9 9 100.0 8 88.9 1 11.1 7 *
Physics/Astronomy 25 17 68 5 29 3 18 8 47 1 6 7 $24,700 2
Physics 24 16 66.7 4 25.0 3 18.8 8 50.0 1 6.2 7 $24,700 2
Physics / Mathematics Secondary Education 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 *
Science Education 9 8 89 7 88 1 13 6 *
General Science-Elementary Education 4 3 75.0 3 100.0 2 *
General Science-Secondary Education 5 5 100.0 4 80.0 1 20.0 4 *
WOODRING COLLEGE OF EDUCATION 276 177 64.1 122 68.9 31 17.5 6 3.4 4 2.3 14 7.9 117 $32,815 11 Elementary Education 44 34 77 26 76 5 15 3 9 19 *
Early Childhood Education 11 7 63.6 3 42.9 3 42.9 1 14.3 3 *
Elementary Education Studies Major 11 9 81.8 8 88.9 1 11.1 6 *
Lang, Lit, & Cultural Studies 22 18 81.8 15 83.3 2 11.1 1 5.6 10 *
Human Services and Rehabilitation 134 77 57 42 55 22 29 4 5 4 5 5 6 53 $32,815 11 Special Education 98 66 67 54 82 4 6 2 3 6 9 45 *
Early Childhood Special Education P-3 1 1 100.0 1 100.0 1 *
Special Education P-12 60 37 62.7 30 81.1 2 5.4 1 2.7 4 10.8 24 *
Special Education P-12 + Elementary Ed 37 28 75.7 23 82.1 2 7.1 1 3.6 2 7.1 20 *
# % # % # % # % # % # % # Min $ Max $ #
Anthropology MA 3 2 66.7 2 100 2
Biology MS 10 9 90.0 7 77.8 1 11.1 1 11.1 6 9
Chemistry MS 7 7 100 1 14.3 1 14.3 4 57.1 1 14.3 7
Computer Science MS 2 1 50.0 1 100 1 *
Continuing & College Ed MED 14 11 78.6 7 63.6 1 9.1 2 18.2 1 9.1 7 $63,000 11
Educational Administration MED 3 3 100 2 66.7 1 33.3 2 $108,000 3
English MA 18 5 27.8 3 60.0 1 20.0 1 20.0 3 $42,000 5
Environmental Education MED 5 5 100 5 100 4 $20,000 $36,000 5
Environmental Education (Residency) MED 13 12 92.3 11 91.7 1 8.3 6 $37,000 12
Environmental Science MS 9 5 55.6 3 60.0 2 40.0 2 5
Geography MS 7 4 57.1 3 75.0 1 25.0 3 $52,000 4
Geology MS 5 4 80.0 4 100 2 4
History MA 2 1 50.0 1 100 *
History ARM Certificate MA 7 4 57.1 2 50.0 2 50.0 $26,000 $32,000 4
Human Movement & Performance MS 3 2 66.7 2 100 2 2
Kinesiology, Exercise Science MS 1 1 100 1 100 *
Literacy MED 1 1 100 1 100 1 *
Masters in Teaching MIT 52 41 78.8 33 80.5 1 2.4 7 17.1 26 41
Mathematics MS 8 4 50.0 4 100 3 4
MBA Accelerated Track MBA 12 12 100 11 91.7 1 8.3 5 12
MBA Managers & Professionals MBA 2 2 100 2 100 1 2
MBA Regular Full-Time Track MBA 15 14 93.3 13 92.9 1 7.1 11 14
Mental Health Counseling MS 8 8 100 7 87.5 1 12.5 5 $90,000 8
Psychology (Experimental) MS 4 4 100 1 25.0 3 75.0 4
Rehabilitation Counseling MA 17 11 64.7 8 72.7 1 9.1 2 18.2 9 $50,000 11
School Counselor MED 6 6 100 4 66.7 2 33.3 4 $43,000 $50,000 6
Special Education MED 1 1 100 1 100 1 *
Speech-Language Pathology MA 19 19 100 18 94.7 1 5.3 12 $70,000 19
Student Affairs Administration MED 3 1 33.3 1 100 1 *
Speech-Language Pathology MA 17 16 94.1 15 93.8 1 6.2 9 $39,500 $77,980 10
Student Affairs Administration MED 7 4 57.1 4 100 3 *
Employment Category Number Percent
Employed as teacher in state: Public School 158 59%
Private School 13 5%
Employed as teacher out of state: Public School 9 3%
Private School 1 0%
Employed as substitute teacher: Still seeking teaching position 39 14%
Not seeking teaching position 4 1%
Employed in non-certified position in a school district 9 3%
Employed, non-teaching related 7 3%
Employed, non-teaching related but still seeking teaching position 13 5%
Unemployed, still seeking teaching position 9 3%
Unemployed, seeking non-educational employment 2 1%
Not seeking any kind of employment 0 0%
Primarily involved in graduate study 4 1%
Other 2 1%
270 100
Endorsements Used By Those Contracted To Teach
Endorsement # Endorsement #
Designated Arts: Visual Arts 2 English as a Second Language 8
Designated Science: Biology 2 English Language Arts 6
Designated Science: Chemistry 2 Mathematics 11
Designated Science: Earth Science 1 Middle Level: Humanities 2
Designated World Languages: German 1 Middle Level: Math/Science 2
Designated World Languages: Spanish 3 Reading 4
Early Childhood Education 2 Science 5
Early Childhood Special Education 1 Social Studies 4
Elementary Education 50 Special Education 17
Washington State Beginning Salary Schedule
Bachelors $33,401
PostBac (BA +90) $39,180
Masters $40,045
TOTALS
* Insufficient data
Average annual salaries shown for graduates are based on those employed full time.