The Career & Co-op Center will close for commencement activities beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2026. The office will re-open for standard operating hours on Monday, May 18, 2026.

Education, Government, Non-profit & Policy

This career path has two primary areas: education and public administration.

  • Education careers are focused on planning, managing, and providing education and training services, and related learning support services.
  • Public administration careers are focused on planning and performing government functions at the local, state and federal levels, including governance, national security, foreign service, planning, revenue and taxation, and regulations.

While many majors and minors can prepare you for this career path, we find that students studying certain subjects have a natural connection. Common majors and minors related to career in this area include:

  • Education, Business Administration (all concentrations), English, Fine Arts, History, Psychology, Sociology,  Philosophy, World Languages, Sciences (all majors), Criminal Justice, Political Science

Use the Job Trends tool below to explore the tasks and skills connected to specific types of jobs related to this career path.

Career definition is adapted from the National Career Clusters® Framework.

5 Things to do After Graduation to Decide What’s Next 

The time after graduation offers a valuable opportunity for career exploration, but it can be difficult to know how to approach it. Read what Madison suggests are 5 things to do after graduation to help you determine your next steps.  

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Madison Rowley Student Staff - Career Peer
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How to Transition from a Government Job to the Private Sector

Government jobs can be incredibly rewarding if you love building community and advocating for human rights. But they’re not for everyone—nor do these opportunities solely reside in the public sector, either.

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What Are Entry-Level Jobs Actually Looking For? Skills, Experience, and Expectations Explained

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You’ve seen it before: job postings marked “entry-level” that somehow require 2-3 years of experience. It’s maddening. You start wondering if employers have completely lost touch with reality or if the entire job market has gone sideways.

Here’s the …

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Pros and cons of working for the federal government under the Trump Administration

If you are a recent graduate or a professional just starting out, the headlines coming out of Washington over the last year have likely felt like a series of warning flares. Between the mass buyouts of 2025 and the recent …

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College Recruiter believes that every student and recent grad deserves a great career.
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18 early career jobs that map well to education majors

Career mapping is the process of strategically planning your professional journey by identifying career options, the skills you’ll need, and the steps to reach your goals. For education majors, career mapping is especially useful because the field offers a range …

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College Recruiter believes that every student and recent grad deserves a great career.
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Job TrendsIn partnership withLightcast logo

Search or filter by different career paths to learn more about what skills & education you may need, what salary ranges are common, and more!

Type in a keyword to select a relevant occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Resources

Handshake

UMass Lowell’s Career & Co-op Center is pleased to offer a comprehensive recruiting system called Handshake. This system provides customized …

Massachusetts Public Service Sector Jobs

State employment opportunities. 

Pathways for Students & Recent Graduates to Federal Careers

Internships and jobs for new grads within US Federal Government.

USAJobs.gov

The Federal Government’s official jobs site.

Peace and Collaborative Development Network

A free professional networking site that fosters dialogue and sharing of resources in international development, conflict resolution, gender mainstreaming, human …

Non-profit Jobs

An online gathering place where non-profit employers and management personnel can meet one another.

Contact & Location

Phone
978-934-2355
Address

Meehan Student Center, Suite 450
100 Meehan Way
Lowell, MA 01854-5148

O'Leary Library, Rooms 314 & 318
61 Wilder Street
Lowell, MA 01854-5148

Appointment Hours

Monday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.