According to a recent study by Lynn O’Shaughnessy, author of “The College Solution,” if students want to avoid the worst-paying college degrees, they need to think twice before choosing a college major that involves children.

Just about all of the majors listed in O’Shaughnessy’s article are offered at UNA. Included among the 20 worst-paying college degrees are elementary education, special education, social work, and child and family studies.

If students wish to make big paychecks then they should avoid careers with children, according to O’Shaughnessy.

That’s the conclusion of the latest annual study of college degrees by Payscale, Inc. that compiled starting and mid-career pay for dozens of college majors.

Child and family studies were ranked as the worst-paying college majors.

The average graduate with a degree in education earns a beginning salary of $29,500.

What’s equally discouraging is that the salary of someone in this field will barely budge after 15 years in the profession.

UNA senior Alicia Rae Anchors, an elementary education major, is discouraged by this article because the worst-paying jobs are the ones that are needed the most and require the most creative thinking.

“It makes me sad to think that we are putting such a low price on the value of creativity,” said Anchors. “Some of the world’s most innovative people choose to study in these fields.”

Anchors is sad that America is allowing the fields that are most essential to their everyday lives to get paid the least.

“This is further proof that the nation needs to take a step back and look at how little they are giving to the fields that are needed the most in order for them to function,” said Anchors.

Jennifer Smith, of Career Planning and Development, said that there are jobs out there for students who wish to go into fields involving children.

“With some of the students I talk to, they are unwilling to move away from their home even if it means getting the job,” said Smith.

Smith encouraged any student who feels uneasy about their major to make an appointment with Career Planning and Development.

UNA senior Christine Black, an elementary education major, is saddened by this article not because of the low pay but because students are being discouraged from entering fields having to do with children.

“To me, these careers are the most important,” said Black.

Black believes that children are America’s future.

“Teachers are more valuable than movie stars and athletes,” said Black. “But most of us don’t do this for the money; we do it because we want to make a difference in the lives of American children.”