Some of the best career growth strategies for BBA graduates are building experience intentionally, developing leadership habits early, and expanding your skills before you need them.
That’s the blueprint. But here’s how it usually plays out.
Most graduates start in roles like “marketing coordinator” or “financial analyst trainee.” That’s normal (and honestly, a good thing). Those early roles are where you learn how business actually works, not just how it works in a textbook.
So how do you get from there to the role you actually want?
This article covers:
A BBA, or Bachelor of Business Administration, builds the skills employers need most: communication, budgeting, problem-solving, and working across teams.
Those skills transfer everywhere. Someone who learns to manage a project budget as a coordinator can use that same skill as a department manager five years later. And someone who gets comfortable talking to clients early will have a real edge over peers who never had the chance.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects business and financial occupations to grow faster than average from 2024 to 2034, with roughly 942,500 openings per year. That means strong demand, whether you’re fresh out of college or looking to advance in your current role.
Career growth after a BBA comes from making yourself useful in visible ways.
Think of your first job like a startup. You’re building your reputation from the ground up. The fastest way to grow is by making moves that people actually see.
Some ways to do that early on:
That last one is underrated. If you become the person who knows how to use the reporting software (or whatever the go-to platform is in your industry), suddenly you’re the person everyone needs.
Yes, and leadership skills start long before you have a leadership title.
Most people don’t graduate and step directly into a manager role. But people who think like leaders tend to get there faster. That can look like keeping a team organized when things get chaotic, helping a new coworker get up to speed, or taking full ownership of a project instead of just completing your piece of it.
Those habits build trust. Trust leads to more responsibility, and more responsibility leads to the kind of experience that gets you promoted.
Management occupations are projected to grow rapidly through 2034, with about 1.1 million openings per year. That means there’s definitely room to move up—you just have to start building toward it now.
BBA graduates should keep building skills in whatever direction their career is heading, especially areas like data, digital tools, and people management.
The most in-demand skills today barely existed as job requirements five years ago. Depending on where you want to go, it helps to keep building skills in areas like:
For some graduates, that might eventually mean a master’s degree. For others, it means mastering one skill or specialty first. Either path works. The point is to keep moving forward. Your degree is a foundation, not a finish line.
Career planning means setting short-term and long-term goals at the same time (and adapting when the path doesn’t feel perfectly straight).
For example, one person might start in sales support, shift into operations, and eventually grow into a general manager role. Another person might start in finance and end up running a consulting practice. Both are legitimate paths, particularly when those individuals have a degree flexible enough to support either choice.
Try mapping your career in three stages:
The range a BBA gives you is freeing. It ensures you’re not locked into one lane, so you can follow the work that interests you and still land in a strong, secure career.
The University of Texas Permian Basin’s online Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting program is 100% online. Whether you’re fresh out of high school, already working full-time, or somewhere in between, you won’t have to pause your life to build your future.
The program provides real business knowledge and practical skills you’ll actually use—not just a credential to frame and forget. Whatever stage you’re at, it meets you there.
Take a closer look at the program and what it can do for your career, and contact us if you have any questions!
Some of the best career growth strategies for BBA graduates are building experience intentionally, developing leadership habits early, and expanding your skills before you need them. That’s the blueprint. But here’s how it usually plays out. Most graduates start in roles like “marketing coordinator” or “financial analyst trainee.” That’s normal (and honestly, a good thing). Those early roles are where you…
Most MBA graduates don’t end up in the C-suite by accident. They got there because of decisions they made long before they reached it, starting with the first one. A Master of Business Administration looks great on a resume, but it also gives you something more lasting: a strong foundation that evolves with you, from your first post-graduate role all the…
When companies expand into foreign markets, they face a fundamental question: Should they keep everything the same, or adapt to fit local customs? The answer usually involves two strategies—globalization and localization—and most successful businesses use both. Imagine you’re traveling abroad and, in a horrible twist of fate, your iPhone breaks. You buy a new one at a nearby Apple…
Have you ever seen wheelchair rugby players slam into each other at full speed? How about sitting volleyball players, as they cover the court with explosive movement generated entirely from their upper bodies and core?
These are serious athletes doing serious athletic work. And behind a lot of that performance is a science: kinesiology, the study of human movement. Kinesiology plays a key role in improving the performance of athletes with disabilities.
This article covers:
Kinesiology helps coaches and performance specialists understand how the body moves, how it responds to training, and how to build programs that actually fit the athlete.
In adaptive sports—competitive and recreational sports designed for athletes with physical, cognitive, or sensory disabilities—that knowledge gets applied in ways that are more specific and individualized than in most other settings.
No two athletes with disabilities move in exactly the same way. A training plan might need to account for a prosthetic limb, a wheelchair, differences in balance or coordination, or how an athlete manages fatigue. A coach’s ability to understand an athlete’s biomechanics helps them see exactly how that person is generating force and where small adjustments might lead to big performance gains.
That means the staff supporting these athletes needs more than basic fitness knowledge. They need to understand what efficient, effective movement looks like for that specific person in that specific sport.
Kinesiology gives students the tools to:
Individualized training matters because no two athletes have the same needs, and in adaptive sports, that’s especially true.
Wheelchair basketball, para track, and seated shot put all make completely different demands on the body. Each sport has its own movement patterns, and within each sport, athletes bring unique strengths, limitations, and goals. A training plan that works for one athlete might not work at all for another, even within the same sport.
This is where individualized programming makes a real difference. A strong adaptive training environment includes:
Adaptive physical activity means matching the activity to the person. In a kinesiology context, that means knowing when and how to adjust a workout so the athlete can train more effectively.
That might look like:
For example, a strength coach working with a wheelchair athlete might shift the focus from lower-body lifts to upper-body pulling and pressing movements, then adjust grip positioning based on the athlete’s range of motion.
The goal is the same as it would be for any athlete—build strength, reduce injury risk, improve performance—but the path to get there looks different. That kind of thoughtful adjustment is what adaptive physical activity is all about, and small changes like these can make a big difference in how consistently an athlete improves.
A master’s degree in kinesiology prepares you to work across a wide range of sports settings, and adaptive sports are among the most rewarding areas you can go into.
Kinesiology covers a lot of ground. From biomechanics and exercise physiology to motor learning and strength and conditioning, all of it applies directly to adaptive sports. These subjects help explain how athletes generate power, develop skill over time, manage fatigue, and recover between sessions.
That foundation can take you into careers like:
And because adaptive sports require creative, on-the-fly problem solving, students who train in this space often come out as stronger practitioners across the board.
If you want to work in adaptive sports, coaching, exercise programming, or rehabilitation, graduate-level training in kinesiology gives you a real edge. You’ll go deeper into the science of human movement and come out better equipped to design programs, support athletes, and solve performance problems.
The University of Texas Permian Basin’s Master of Science in Kinesiology is fully online, so you can build that expertise without putting your life on hold, whether you’re already working in the field or looking to move into it.
Beyond a diploma, you’ll graduate with a stronger understanding of how the body moves, how training shapes performance, and how to apply that knowledge with real athletes across all sports. In adaptive sports, especially, that preparation can make a genuine difference—for you and for the people you work with.
Have you ever seen wheelchair rugby players slam into each other at full speed? How about sitting volleyball players, as they cover the court with explosive movement generated entirely from their upper bodies and core? These are serious athletes doing serious athletic work. And behind a lot of that performance is a science: kinesiology, the study of human movement. Kinesiology…
You know that feeling right after a good workout? The addictive mix of pride, exhaustion, and the sudden realization that climbing stairs is a “tomorrow problem”? Most of us think workout recovery ends with a quick stretch and a protein shake. But in kinesiology, recovery isn’t the end of your workout. It’s where the real…
When you think of a great athlete, you might picture strength, speed, or agility. But what often separates the good from the great is more than physical skill; it’s the ability to stay focused under pressure, recover from setbacks, and trust in hard-earned preparation. That mental edge comes from sports psychology. This key area within…
Summer break hits differently when you’ve been running on fumes since January. That first week is sacred. Your priorities are (in no particular order) sleeping in, ignoring all emails, and reacquainting yourself with your old friend, the couch. You’ve earned it.
But once the dust settles, summer becomes something else: a rare window where you’re not just reacting. No lesson plans due, no parent emails, no coverage requests. For educators serious about career advancement, that shift in mindset is worth leaning into.
Summer vacation isn’t about stacking more professional development hours onto an already full plate. It’s about being intentional, which includes figuring out where you want to go and taking the first steps to get there.
Summer gives educators something the school year rarely does: permission to think long-term.
Without the daily pull of the classroom, you can actually step back and ask: Am I where I want to be? Where do I want to go next?
That kind of reflection is the starting point for any meaningful career advancement—and it’s hard to do in October.
A good career plan starts with honest self-reflection, and summer is the right time for it. Before you research programs or update your resume, spend some time asking the right questions:
There are no wrong answers here. Some educators realize they want to move into leadership. Others find themselves drawn to deepen their expertise in a specific area, like English language learning or bilingual education, where demand for skilled educators is growing fast.
Teacher career advancement doesn’t follow one track. And depending on your goals, there’s often more than one direction worth considering.
If you love every aspect of teaching and want to help other teachers get better at it, coaching and curriculum roles let you stay close to the classroom without staying in it. These positions usually require strong instructional experience and, increasingly, graduate-level training.
Assistant principal, principal, curriculum director—administrative paths offer broader impact and typically come with higher earning potential. Most require a master’s degree and, in many states, a specific leadership licensure.
With growing multilingual student populations across the country, educators with expertise in English as a second language or bilingual instruction are in high demand. This path is especially valuable in states with large and growing English language learner (ELL) populations.
Some teachers eventually find their way into community colleges, university settings, or corporate training. These are roles where a graduate degree and teaching experience open doors that wouldn’t otherwise exist.
Summer is the perfect window to act on your reflections. Here are a few things worth doing before August hits.
Look specifically for online options designed around working educators’ schedules. The right program shouldn’t require you to leave the classroom to finish it.
A 30-minute conversation with an instructional coach or building principal can tell you more than an hour of Googling, and most people are genuinely happy to talk about their career path.
Many educators leave money on the table simply because they don’t ask. Check with your HR department or union rep to find out if they offer tuition reimbursement. Even partial coverage can meaningfully lower the cost of a graduate degree.
Trying to draft a personal statement in September between back-to-school night and your first round of parent conferences is not the move. Summer gives you the mental space to give your application the attention it deserves — and write a statement that actually sounds like you.
If you’ve been thinking about moving into educational leadership or expanding your expertise in ESL and bilingual education, UTPB’s online master’s degree programs can help you get there—without having to leave the classroom to do it.
Both programs are fully online, which means summer is a smart time to get started, whether that’s submitting an application, completing prerequisites, or simply talking with an advisor before the school year pulls you back in.
Explore our programs to find the right fit for your career goals and your life, no matter what time of year you begin.
Summer break hits differently when you’ve been running on fumes since January. That first week is sacred. Your priorities are (in no particular order) sleeping in, ignoring all emails, and reacquainting yourself with your old friend, the couch. You’ve earned it. But once the dust settles, summer becomes something else: a rare window where you’re not just reacting. No lesson plans due, no…
Texas teachers, here’s the reality: More than half of all K-12 students in the state are Hispanic, and nearly a quarter are enrolled in bilingual/ESL programs. That translates to over a million students who needed specialized language support throughout the 2023-2024 school year. Districts are struggling to find enough certified bilingual and ESL teachers. A critical shortage for schools? Absolutely. But…
You’re sitting at your desk after dismissal. The room is quiet (for once), and somewhere between grading essays and planning tomorrow’s lesson, you hear it again in the hallway: “My students are using ChatGPT for schoolwork.” Suddenly, you’re wondering: Is this cheating? This is the real question around AI in education. And as this technology…
After COVID-19 reshaped daily operations in 2020, working from home became the norm for millions of employees. For many professionals, that period reset expectations. Flexibility wasn’t just a perk anymore. You could attend virtual meetings in your pajamas and still get just as much done as you did in the office.
Since then, many offices have reopened, and companies have been reconsidering how—and where—work should happen.
So, what is the future of remote work?
Working from home isn’t on the rise anymore. It’s already peaked. Now, it’s settling into its next phase, and the conversation has shifted from emergency adaptation to something more long-term: How can we maintain remote work flexibility while protecting productivity and workplace culture?
In this article, we explore:
The future of remote work is a hybrid model that balances flexibility, productivity, and culture.
Remote work rose quickly in 2020. Organizations across industries rapidly restructured how and where employees worked. Companies improvised policies, and technology adoption accelerated almost overnight.
Now, years later, companies have had time to evaluate what worked in remote environments and what didn’t. Organizations are now asking:
Ultimately, the future of remote work isn’t about choosing between home and office. It’s about improving hybrid work models so companies can keep flexibility while setting clear expectations for performance and teamwork.
From 2019 to 2021, the number of Americans who worked from home tripled to 27.6 million people. Now? About 50% of employees work in hybrid arrangements, with a quarter of them still fully remote.
After experiencing greater flexibility working from home (truly, who didn’t love skipping that daily commute?), employees have increasingly prioritized:
But from a business perspective, this raises important questions:
Research suggests that flexible work arrangements can reduce turnover, expand access to geographically diverse talent, and improve employee satisfaction—but only when supported by clear performance expectations and strong communication systems. For example, a company that allows hybrid schedules may retain employees who would otherwise leave for more flexible competitors.
When remote work began, businesses were worried about productivity. Would output decline without physical supervision?
As it turns out, the opposite was true. A Stanford study found that many employees report equal or higher productivity when working remotely. Contributing factors often include:
For instance, employees who work during their most productive hours—whether early morning or late afternoon—may complete focused tasks more efficiently than during traditional office hours.
For employees, this flexibility often translates into better work-life balance, reduced stress, and greater control over how their workday is structured.
Remote work may not be every employee’s full-time reality anymore, but it’s certainly not going anywhere. Many teams now split time between home and office, which means office culture has to travel with them.
A remote work culture doesn’t just happen on its own. It requires deliberate leadership decisions around communication, team structure, and engagement.
In physical offices, culture often develops informally, through hallway conversations, shared lunches, or quick check-ins before meetings. (Yes, even the breakroom small talk had a purpose.)
In remote or hybrid environments, leaders have to be more intentional by:
Without these systems, organizations risk employee disengagement or uneven collaboration.
For many industries, the future of remote work is hybrid, meaning employees split their working hours between home and the office.
Hybrid systems allow:
However, hybrid models introduce new management challenges. Leaders must prevent the creation of a “two-tier” system where in-office employees receive more visibility or advancement opportunities than remote peers. This requires thoughtful policy design, fair performance reviews, and reliable digital communication tools.
Most companies have already decided remote work is part of the modern employment landscape. What they haven’t always figured out is how to manage it well.
Business graduates entering today’s workforce must understand:
Organizations increasingly look for leaders who can manage remote and in-person teams, navigate digital tools, and make informed decisions about how work gets done.
Remote work isn’t a temporary phase. It’s part of how modern organizations operate, and future leaders will be expected to know how to make it work.
As remote and hybrid models continue evolving, organizations need leaders who understand finance, operations, strategy, and communication—not just in theory, but in practice.
The University of Texas Permian Basin’s fully online Bachelor of Business Administration programs help build that foundation. Whether you’re interested in the BBA in accounting, BBA in marketing, BBA in finance, or BBA in management, each program equips students with skills that translate directly to today’s distributed workplace, from data-driven decision-making to team leadership and strategic planning.
If the idea of working in (or leading) a hybrid team excites you, explore UTPB’s business programs to see which path fits your goals. And if questions pop up along the way, our FAQ page is a good place to start.
Some of the best career growth strategies for BBA graduates are building experience intentionally, developing leadership habits early, and expanding your skills before you need them. That’s the blueprint. But here’s how it usually plays out. Most graduates start in roles like “marketing coordinator” or “financial analyst trainee.” That’s normal (and honestly, a good thing). Those early roles are where you…
Most MBA graduates don’t end up in the C-suite by accident. They got there because of decisions they made long before they reached it, starting with the first one. A Master of Business Administration looks great on a resume, but it also gives you something more lasting: a strong foundation that evolves with you, from your first post-graduate role all the…
When companies expand into foreign markets, they face a fundamental question: Should they keep everything the same, or adapt to fit local customs? The answer usually involves two strategies—globalization and localization—and most successful businesses use both. Imagine you’re traveling abroad and, in a horrible twist of fate, your iPhone breaks. You buy a new one at a nearby Apple…
You’re sitting at your desk after dismissal. The room is quiet (for once), and somewhere between grading essays and planning tomorrow’s lesson, you hear it again in the hallway:
“My students are using ChatGPT for schoolwork.”
Suddenly, you’re wondering: Is this cheating?
This is the real question around AI in education. And as this technology becomes more common, educators are navigating both its potential benefits and its challenges in real time.
AI appeared in classrooms much faster than teachers could prepare for it. Seemingly overnight, students began using tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm essays, summarize readings, solve math problems, and even generate code.
For many educators, this raises immediate red flags: Are students still thinking for themselves?
Quickly after that comes an even harder question: How do I assess learning when AI can write a decent paragraph in seconds?
But here’s the thing: Students didn’t create this shift. Technology did. As AI becomes a bigger part of our daily lives, banning it can feel a lot like banning calculators in the 1980s or Google in the early 2000s. (Because, truly—how did we function without instant access to information before?)
The question now isn’t whether AI belongs in education. It’s how to use it intentionally.
Let’s start with what is working. The benefits of AI in education are real, especially when teachers are part of the process.
Every teacher knows this struggle: one class, 25 students, and just as many different learning speeds.
AI tools can help bridge this gap, reaching students at different levels by:
In these instances, AI isn’t replacing the teacher. It’s supporting the learner.
Burnout is real in any profession. But in education, where educators are often working more hours each week than the average working adult, it’s especially common.
AI for teachers isn’t about cutting corners; it’s about protecting your energy. Used ethically, AI can help educators:
Instead of spending hours formatting materials, teachers can spend more time doing what actually matters: connecting with students.
When AI handles more routine tasks, teachers can focus class time on deeper thinking.
Instead of “write a summary of this topic,” prompts can shift toward questions that require analysis, evaluation, and creativity, such as:
That shift moves learning up Bloom’s taxonomy, emphasizing analysis, critique, and original thinking rather than simple recall or reproduction. With AI generating instant (and near-constant) content, these are skills that matter more than ever: knowing what’s missing, what’s wrong, and how to make it better.
As AI enters classrooms, it influences how students learn, how teachers assess work, and how instruction is designed. While 55% of educators in a Forbes survey reported that AI has improved educational outcomes, 18% said it impacted student learning negatively.
For many educators, the hesitation isn’t about rejecting technology altogether. It’s about the following challenges:
Yes, students can misuse AI.
AI can blur the line between using a tool to support understanding and asking it to do the work outright. When that line isn’t explicitly defined, students are left to guess—and those guesses don’t always align with learning goals.
That’s why it’s crucial to establish clear classroom policies from day one. What counts as acceptable AI use, and what’s considered academic misconduct? It’s equally important to encourage open conversations with students about why those boundaries exist and how AI should support—not replace—their thinking.
AI tools are trained on massive datasets, and those datasets aren’t always neutral.
That means:
Without digital literacy, students may confuse confidence with correctness. For instance, an AI-generated explanation may sound polished and authoritative while still containing factual gaps or oversimplifications.
That’s why teachers play a critical role in helping students learn how to question AI outputs, evaluate sources, and verify information, not just how to use the tools themselves.
Here’s an issue that often goes unspoken: Many educators are being asked to navigate AI tools without formal training or consistent guidance.
If AI is going to play a role in learning, educators benefit most when the right tools and supports are already in place. This includes:
AI in classrooms is best approached as an evolving instructional tool—one that benefits from thoughtful preparation, shared expectations, and ongoing support, rather than feeling like an unfunded requirement.
You don’t need to be an AI expert; you just need a starting point.
Here’s what matters most:
AI functions best as a support for instruction rather than a replacement. The teacher-student relationship still shapes learning and feedback in ways technology can’t replicate, especially when it comes to empathy and nuanced understanding.
Be clear with students about when and how AI is allowed. Invite questions, set expectations, and model ethical use so students understand why guidelines exist.
Ask students to explain or reflect on how they used AI during an assignment. Understanding their thought process often reveals more about learning than the final output alone.
Choose one assignment or activity to incorporate AI into. For example, you might allow AI for brainstorming ideas or outlining a response while requiring students to write the final draft independently. You don’t have to overhaul everything at once.
As schools continue adapting, the future of AI in education will depend largely on how well we prepare educators to use it. That preparation starts with having the right tools and training in place.
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers fully online graduate programs designed for educators navigating real-world challenges, including emerging technologies like AI:
Curious what that looks like in practice? Check out student success stories from UTPB’s online programs.
Gamification in education uses game-like elements such as points, badges, challenges, and leaderboards to make learning more engaging and motivating for students. By bringing familiar features from games into the classroom, educators can encourage participation and support stronger student buy-in. From elementary school to college classrooms, you can use gamification in different ways depending on students’ needs and learning…
Transitions during a typical school day—like moving from one subject to another—can be challenging for many students. But for special education students, these transitions can be particularly stressful and frustrating. Whether in mainstream classrooms or special education programs, students with special needs often struggle with adapting to change. To address this issue, a team of faculty…
Since its designation by the United Nations on April 2, 2007, World Autism Awareness Day has helped foster a greater understanding of people with autism, highlighting their achievements, contributions, and unique perspectives. World Autism Month, initiated by the American nonprofit organization Autism Speaks and observed throughout April, shares similar aims. Both observances provide an opportunity…
When people picture women who reshaped American politics, Ruth Bader Ginsburg often comes to mind first—and for good reason. RBG changed how the law sees gender equality from the inside of the Supreme Court.
But here’s the thing: she wasn’t in Congress.
Long before women were reliably winning elections—long before it was even legal for most women to vote—there was another woman quietly laying the groundwork.
So, who was the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress? The answer takes us back more than a century, to a moment when the idea of a woman in federal office felt almost unthinkable. That woman was Jeannette Rankin, and her story feels surprisingly relevant today.
Jeannette Rankin was born in 1880 in Montana, back when the American West was still shaping its political identity. She studied at the University of Montana and later worked as a social worker, where she saw firsthand how laws affected everyday people, especially women and children.
That realization pulled her toward activism. Rankin became deeply involved in the women’s suffrage movement. She traveled, organized, and lobbied lawmakers at a time when political advocacy by women was still considered unheard of. By the time she ran for office, she wasn’t new to politics. She understood how policy worked (and how much power was locked behind closed doors).
In 1916, voters in Montana elected Jeannette Rankin to the U.S. House of Representatives. That made her the first U.S. congresswoman in history: a milestone that came four years before women nationwide gained the right to vote under the 19th Amendment.
The answer to “who was the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress” matters not just because it was historic, but because it happened before the system was designed to include women at all.
Rankin accomplished a feat that no other woman in the U.S. had before, taking her seat in 1917 and entering a legislative body that had been entirely male since its founding. According to the U.S. House of Representatives’ historical archives, her election fundamentally challenged assumptions about who belonged in federal decision-making spaces.
Rankin didn’t just show up to make a statement. She showed up with strong opinions.
Just days into her first term, Congress voted on whether the U.S. should enter World War I. Rankin, a committed pacifist, voted against the declaration of war. The decision was controversial (and didn’t win her any favor with other members of Congress). But it reflected her belief that moral conviction should guide policy, even when it comes at a personal cost.
That vote likely contributed to her losing reelection in 1918. But instead of stepping away from public life, Rankin stayed politically active. She advocated for peace and social reform for decades.
Rankin returned to Congress in 1941, just in time for another defining moment in U.S. history: the attack on Pearl Harbor. Shortly after the attack, Congress voted on declaring war against Japan.
Jeannette Rankin cast the only vote against the declaration—the sole dissent.
According to the National Park Service, Rankin believed that entering war, even under extreme circumstances, violated her lifelong commitment to nonviolence. The backlash was swift. Her political career ended soon after, but her reputation as a leader guided by principle continued to grow over time.
When we talk about trailblazers like RBG, we’re often referring to the impact of women in power. Jeannette Rankin represents something slightly different: the moment women first claimed space in federal politics.
She wasn’t polished by modern media cycles. She didn’t benefit from decades of precedent. She operated in a political world that wasn’t built for her—and still reshaped it.
Her legacy reminds us that political change doesn’t always require popularity—just people willing to participate before the system is ready for them.
Jeannette Rankin’s story offers more than a historical milestone. It shows how political systems evolve and how individual choices can shift national conversations.
These are the kinds of topics you’ll explore in UTPB’s online Bachelor of Arts in Political Science: how power works, how policy gets made, and how people influence outcomes far beyond their own moment in history.
If stories like Rankin’s spark questions about representation, leadership, or how laws shape everyday life, this program can help turn that curiosity into real-world insight.
Ready to study the system—and maybe shake it up a little?
Check out UTPB’s online BA in political science and develop the research, analysis, and communication skills that drive political change.
From Congress to the White House to the Supreme Court, America’s political institutions shape every part of our lives. They decide how much you pay in taxes, whether your vote counts, and what rights you have. But are they working the way they’re supposed to? What Is a Political Institution? Political institutions are the organizations…
When people picture women who reshaped American politics, Ruth Bader Ginsburg often comes to mind first—and for good reason. RBG changed how the law sees gender equality from the inside of the Supreme Court. But here’s the thing: she wasn’t in Congress. Long before women were reliably winning elections—long before it was even legal for…
Ever wonder how elections actually work? The answer lies in electoral systems. Not to be confused with the Electoral College, an electoral system is a set of rules for casting and counting votes and determining who wins. Different countries use different methods to choose their leaders. Some systems can declare a winner with just 34%…
Lunar eclipses don’t happen often, but when they do, everything seems to slow down. People step outside. Neighborhoods get quieter, tuned in to the skies above. Suddenly, something outside of our control brings us all together for a shared moment of collective awe.
Eclipses remind us that we’re all living under the same moon, no matter where we call home. Below, we explore four ways lunar eclipses bring communities together around culture, curiosity, and shared experience.
Lunar eclipses turn everyday spaces into informal classrooms. A few times a year, public places like libraries and parks will host viewing nights where people can ask questions, compare observations, and share what they know (or don’t) about what’s happening in the sky.
The basics are pretty simple: A lunar eclipse happens when Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon. That alignment casts a shadow over the lunar surface, and as the shadow shifts, you can see the different stages of a lunar eclipse, from the first dimming to the otherworldly reddish glow of totality.
But most people don’t learn this by reading a definition. They learn it by standing outside with others and pointing things out or asking the kinds of questions they might normally avoid in a classroom.
Moments like these highlight why lunar eclipses are important from a social perspective: They create opportunities for shared curiosity. Education becomes a community activity rather than a solo experience, and people feel more connected simply because they’re learning together.
One reason lunar eclipses continue to draw crowds around the world is that they’re easy to view. Unlike solar eclipses, you don’t need special equipment (thankfully, no cereal-box viewer required). Anyone can step outside and look up safely, assuming the weather cooperates. That simplicity alone makes the experience feel communal.
Whether you’re at home, out to dinner with friends, or walking across campus, you can pause whatever you’re doing to catch the moment. For many people, seeing that transformation in real time creates a shared sense of awe: a small moment when strangers feel a little less like strangers.
In some cultures, eclipses were understood as moments to restore social harmony. Among the Batammaliba people of Togo and Benin, for instance, a lunar eclipse was seen as a disagreement between the sun and moon. The expectation was simple: People should resolve their own disputes so the sky could return to balance.
This exact practice isn’t common today, but the underlying idea makes sense—big, unusual events can give people a reason to pause and reconsider what feels worth holding onto.
Today, the “bonding” is usually more relaxed. Middle school nemeses might not be calling each other up to hash out their unresolved issues, but you might discover neighbors standing in the same spot to watch the sky. Friends might even organize a casual meetup to watch the eclipse, simply because they know everyone will be outside watching anyway.
When everyone is paying attention to the same rare event, it creates a brief sense of shared experience … even without words.
Not everyone watches a lunar eclipse from the same location, but that hasn’t stopped people from experiencing it together. Livestreams, group chats, and social media posts make it easy for friends (and plenty of strangers) to share the moment across time zones.
So how are people bonding over lunar eclipses and other natural phenomena online? A few patterns show up repeatedly:
Digital platforms turn what used to be a place-bound experience into a global one. Instead of a single neighborhood stepping outside to watch the sky, millions of people end up participating in the same event, just from different corners of the world.
Looking for the TL;DR version? Here are answers to some common questions about lunar eclipses and the role they play in bringing communities together.
Events like lunar eclipses remind us that community can form in unexpected ways—through shared curiosity, cultural meaning, and the simple act of looking up at the same sky. These moments reveal the social patterns that shape connection: tradition, storytelling, and collective learning, to name a few.
Understanding these patterns is at the heart of sociology. At The University of Texas Permian Basin, our online Bachelor of Arts in Sociology helps students explore how communities form, adapt, and thrive, whether that’s through celestial events or everyday interactions.
With flexible, fully online coursework, you can deepen your understanding of social behavior and prepare for careers that rely on cultural insight, community engagement, and analytical thinking.
Want to learn more about the online BA in sociology? Here’s everything you need to know in two minutes or less. If you’ve got any lingering questions, we’re happy to help!
When someone struggles with depression, homelessness, or discrimination, who steps in to help? A psychologist? A social worker? A sociologist? These three fields all address human challenges, but they explore humanity from very different angles: one from society, one from the mind, and one from the front lines. So what are the similarities and differences between sociology, psychology, and social work? This guide clears up…
Lunar eclipses don’t happen often, but when they do, everything seems to slow down. People step outside. Neighborhoods get quieter, tuned in to the skies above. Suddenly, something outside of our control brings us all together for a shared moment of collective awe. Eclipses remind us that we’re all living under the same moon, no…
How many times a day do you unlock your phone to scroll through your favorite feed? Ten? Twenty? Lost count after breakfast? You’re not alone. The average American checks their phone 205 times a day and spends about two and a half hours of that time on social media. Whether you’re catching up on family…
Entrepreneurship can take many forms. Sometimes, it looks like building software companies from scratch; other times, it involves reshaping an entire culture, changing how we experience entertainment, or turning one big idea into a brand that ends up everywhere.
Black entrepreneurs have been doing all of that for decades. From media and tech to sports and consumer products, they’ve pushed entire industries forward in ways that are both influential and incredibly profitable.
The five people below are examples of what can happen when creativity, leadership, and smart business decisions collide. But before we dive into their stories, let’s talk about a few traits they all seem to share.
While each person on this list forged a distinct path, several qualities unite them:
Success doesn’t follow a straight line. These five entrepreneurs are a reminder that careers—and entire industries—can look completely different once someone decides to do things their own way.
Oprah Winfrey transformed television and media production through Harpo Productions and the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). I mean, really. Who doesn’t remember the iconic, “You get a car! You get a car! Everybody gets a car!” moment?
But behind the viral cultural moment is an equally groundbreaking business story.
Winfrey became one of the first daytime hosts to own her show outright, which paved the way for her to launch Harpo Productions and eventually co-found OWN as a majority owner. That ownership model—rare at the time—became the foundation of her billion-dollar media empire.
Her success grew from her remarkable ability to:
Winfrey’s influence reshaped the talk-show format and helped launch countless authors, experts, and entrepreneurs into mainstream visibility.
Okay, sure. Beyoncé is a cultural icon to multiple generations of fans. (She is queen of the BeyHive.) But she’s more than that; she’s also a strategic entrepreneur who understands ownership, branding, and the power of creative control better than almost anyone in entertainment.
Through Parkwood Entertainment, she oversees:
Beyoncé’s athleisure line, Ivy Park—previously in partnership with Adidas—showed how celebrity-led brands can reach international scale while prioritizing authentic representation. And her business decisions continually reset industry standards.
Think:
Beyoncé isn’t just creating art. She’s building an ecosystem where she owns her work and expands what entertainment entrepreneurship can look like.
When Jordan Peele broke into Hollywood, he flipped an entire genre on its head. As the founder of Monkeypaw Productions, he wasn’t aiming to make “just another horror movie.” He wanted to build stories that blended social commentary with psychological suspense in a way the industry had never seen.
“Get Out” became the proof of concept. A cultural phenomenon. An instant classic. A new blueprint for elevated horror.
But here’s the entrepreneurial part: Peele didn’t stop at directing. Through Monkeypaw, he expanded into:
Peele’s strategy revolves around creative autonomy (hello, ownership), calculated risk-taking, and building a brand that audiences recognize instantly. He proved that horror can be both entertaining and meaningful.
You might know him as the comedic grandmother Madea from his wildly popular stage plays and films. But in addition to a successful career built on humor and character work, Tyler Perry is also a powerhouse entrepreneur—with an entire film lot (literally) to show for it.
Perry is the first Black person to own a major film studio outright, and not just any studio.
Tyler Perry Studios spans 330 acres in Atlanta and features sound stages, backlots, production offices, and filming environments that rival (and in some cases surpass) the facilities of Hollywood’s biggest players. It sits on the grounds of a former Confederate Army base, turning a piece of painful history into a center for opportunity.
Perry’s entrepreneurial empire includes:
Perry built his success by creating stories for underserved audiences and keeping production in-house. His model shows how entrepreneurship extends beyond a single product and includes owning the operations that bring those stories to life.
You might know Serena Williams as one of the greatest athletes of all time, but her business game is just as legendary. Through Serena Ventures, she’s invested in more than 60 companies, many led by women and founders of color.
Why? Because she’s determined to change who gets funding and who (no longer) gets left out.
Her portfolio spans:
Add in her inclusive fashion line, S by Serena, and you’ve got a powerhouse who’s building businesses with the same strengths she brought to the court: precision, grit, and zero hesitation.
Curious about how entrepreneurship shows up across different industries—or what defines a successful founder in the first place? These quick answers break down some of the most common questions about Black entrepreneurs and the impact they’ve had across business and culture.
These Black entrepreneurs prove that innovation can come from anywhere, and that with the right skills and strategy, one idea can reshape an entire industry. Whether you’re dreaming of launching a brand, leading a team, or taking your organization to the next level, the foundation you build now matters.
The University of Texas Permian Basin’s 100% online MBA programs help you gain the tools today’s business leaders rely on:
And with concentrations in accounting, business analytics, energy business, international business, or marketing, you can tailor your degree to the path you want to create.
Your next big move starts here. Explore which path might be the right one for you.
Most MBA graduates don’t end up in the C-suite by accident. They got there because of decisions they made long before they reached it, starting with the first one. A Master of Business Administration looks great on a resume, but it also gives you something more lasting: a strong foundation that evolves with you, from your first post-graduate role all the…
Entrepreneurship can take many forms. Sometimes, it looks like building software companies from scratch; other times, it involves reshaping an entire culture, changing how we experience entertainment, or turning one big idea into a brand that ends up everywhere. Black entrepreneurs have been doing all of that for decades. From media and tech to sports…
Meetings. Emails. Last-minute requests. Some days, it feels impossible to knock anything off the to-do list. If this sounds like you, you might be in need of some time management tips and tricks. Time management is a skill like any other, and it can be honed with practice and patience. We’re here to show you…
You know that feeling right after a good workout? The addictive mix of pride, exhaustion, and the sudden realization that climbing stairs is a “tomorrow problem”?
Most of us think workout recovery ends with a quick stretch and a protein shake. But in kinesiology, recovery isn’t the end of your workout. It’s where the real transformation begins.
Muscles repair. The nervous system resets. The cardiovascular system redistributes oxygen and nutrients.
The better you understand what’s happening in this window, the smarter (and more effective) your recovery becomes. Below, we’ll break down the core recovery essentials, along with kinesiology-backed techniques that allow your body to work its hardest for you every time you train.
When you go for a run or push through a challenging high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session, your body is pushed into exercise-induced stress. Think of it as a short-term overload your muscles and nervous system are built to adapt to.
During this time, a lot of things happen at once:
In athletic recovery, your body is like an airport after a busy wave of flights. The planes (your muscles) need repairs and maintenance. The control tower (your nervous system) needs to recalibrate. And the ground crew (your cardiovascular system) needs to clear out waste and restock for the next departure.
These are the foundational pieces of smart recovery. They may seem simple, from the perspective of a kinesiologist, each one plays a crucial role in how the body rebuilds and adapts.
During deep sleep, hormones involved in tissue repair and muscle protein synthesis are at their peak. This means your body finally gets the uninterrupted time it needs to rebuild, repair, and prepare for the demands of your next workout.
While you’re asleep, your nervous system also resets, which is crucial for regaining coordination and power.
After a workout, your body is primed to use nutrients more efficiently. Protein supports muscle repair, while carbohydrates replenish glycogen. Consider eating within one to two hours after exercise to maximize muscle protein synthesis.
And don’t forget about staying hydrated! Hydration and electrolytes also play a major role in relieving soreness after workouts by improving muscle function and restoring fluid balance.
Slow-paced walking, light cycling, or gentle yoga can be some of the most effective methods for relieving soreness after workouts. These light movements increase circulation, remove metabolic waste, and maintain mobility.
To take your recovery a step further, here are five techniques rooted in kinesiology that explain not just what to do, but why each method helps your body bounce back.
Foam rolling works on the fascia—the connective tissue web surrounding your muscles. When your fascia is tight, it can limit your range of motion and contribute to stiffness. Foam rolling helps:
Compression garments create gentle, consistent pressure that helps blood move back to the heart more efficiently. Research shows this simple mechanism can lead to several recovery benefits, including:
Cold therapy reduces inflammation and numbs soreness. It’s especially helpful within the first 24 hours after intense or unfamiliar exercise.
Heat therapy, on the other hand, increases blood flow and mobility, making it a perfect way to treat stiffness the day after a workout.
A quick rule:
Kinesiology tape creates a gentle lifting of the skin that can enhance lymphatic flow and improve proprioception, or your body’s sense of position and movement. Some studies suggest it may reduce soreness and swelling.
Your autonomic nervous system has its own recovery timeline. Slow breathing, mindfulness, and heart rate variability (HRV)-centered cool-downs (which track the variation between your heartbeats) may help shift your body from stress mode to restorative mode.
When your nervous system recovers, it primes the rest of your body for swift recovery, including muscle repair and energy levels.
Not all workouts demand the same recovery strategy. Here’s a simple kinesiology-based guide to the best recovery workouts and methods based on your activity:
| Workout Type | Best Recovery Methods | Why It Helps |
| Strength Training | • Protein + carbs • Foam rolling • Light active recovery • Cold therapy for soreness | Supports muscle repair, reduces stiffness, and helps manage inflammation after heavy mechanical stress |
| Endurance Training | • Hydration + electrolytes • Compression gear • Gentle stretching | Replenishes fluids, enhances circulation, and restores mobility after long-duration cardiovascular efforts |
| High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) | • Prioritize sleep • Contrast therapy (hot/cold) • Breathwork • Low-intensity movement the next day | Calms the nervous system, improves circulation, and restores energy after high neuromuscular and metabolic stress |
Smart recovery isn’t just about using the right techniques. It’s about understanding how the body responds and rebuilds.
When you know how to interpret these unique cues, you can support athletes, clients, and students more effectively. And if you’re someone who loves understanding the “why” behind movement and performance, The University of Texas Permian Basin’s online Master of Science in Kinesiology takes you even deeper.
In as few as 30 credits, you can level up your expertise in sports performance, fitness, coaching, and wellness. Choose from one of three study tracks aligned with your long-term goals:
Where does your future lie? Explore the program and connect with us if you have questions.
Have you ever seen wheelchair rugby players slam into each other at full speed? How about sitting volleyball players, as they cover the court with explosive movement generated entirely from their upper bodies and core? These are serious athletes doing serious athletic work. And behind a lot of that performance is a science: kinesiology, the study of human movement. Kinesiology…
You know that feeling right after a good workout? The addictive mix of pride, exhaustion, and the sudden realization that climbing stairs is a “tomorrow problem”? Most of us think workout recovery ends with a quick stretch and a protein shake. But in kinesiology, recovery isn’t the end of your workout. It’s where the real…
When you think of a great athlete, you might picture strength, speed, or agility. But what often separates the good from the great is more than physical skill; it’s the ability to stay focused under pressure, recover from setbacks, and trust in hard-earned preparation. That mental edge comes from sports psychology. This key area within…
When you hear the word “accountant,” who comes to mind? Someone balancing spreadsheets and filing taxes? If so, you’re on the right track. But there’s more to it.
Within the field of accounting, one credential stands apart: the Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
While both accountants and CPAs manage finances, advise clients, and ensure the accuracy of tax documents, the paths to get there—and the responsibilities that follow—can look very different. Understanding these differences can help you make a career decision that aligns with your goals, budget, and timeline.
In this article, we’ll explore:
All CPAs are accountants, but not all accountants are CPAs.
(Still with us? Don’t worry—we’ll make the differences crystal clear.)
Accountants typically hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance and work with individuals or organizations to record, analyze, and report financial information. They often prepare tax returns, manage budgets, or oversee day-to-day bookkeeping.
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), on the other hand, have additional education and licensing that qualify them for higher-level work. This credential signals a higher standard of expertise and ethics. It also grants legal authority to perform tasks that standard accountants cannot.
In short: Accountants are financial experts. CPAs are licensed professionals who can represent clients, audit companies, and verify public financial statements.
To become an accountant, most professionals earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. From there, many gain experience in corporate finance, auditing, or tax preparation.
Becoming a CPA requires going a few steps further. Candidates must:
As of August 1, 2026, Texas will have two pathways to becoming a CPA:
If you’re researching how to become a CPA, understanding these education and licensing benchmarks is essential. While the path to CPA status requires more upfront time and effort, it often opens doors to senior positions and higher earning potential.
Both accountants and CPAs can handle financial reporting, tax preparation, and budgeting, but CPAs have special privileges that set them apart.
CPAs can:
Accountants can:
The key difference: CPAs have legal authority and public accountability. Their work is regulated by state boards, which adds a layer of trust and professional recognition. This is one reason the CPA vs. accountant salary gap continues to favor licensed CPAs.
With so many specializations in the accounting industry, choosing the right path can feel overwhelming. The best choice ultimately depends on your goals, lifestyle, and how much time and money you want to invest upfront.
Here’s a breakdown of common accounting career goals and which professional path might fit best:
| Career Goal | Recommended Path | Why It Fits |
| Working in public accounting or auditing | CPA | Required for attestation and audit services |
| Running a bookkeeping or small tax business | Accountant | Lower entry barrier and faster setup |
| Advancing to senior corporate roles | CPA | Adds credibility and promotion potential |
| Transitioning into consulting or advisory work | CPA | Broad recognition and client trust |
| Maintaining flexibility or part-time work | Accountant | Quicker start and greater autonomy |
One of the biggest questions for prospective CPAs is, “Is becoming a CPA worth it?” Ultimately, it depends on your long-term goals and how quickly you want to grow in the field.
The path to CPA licensure comes with an additional investment of time and money. Most candidates complete extra coursework beyond their bachelor’s degree, often through a master’s in accounting or a professional accountancy program.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what those costs might look like in practice:
Despite the upfront investment, the financial payoff happens quickly for most CPAs. On average, CPAs earn 15–25% more than non-CPA accountants and often see faster promotions to management-level roles.
In addition, most CPAs recover their educational investment within three to five years of licensure, especially those pursuing careers in auditing or corporate leadership.
Not quite ready for CPA licensure? Starting as a non-CPA accountant can also be a smart move. You’ll:
In accounting, there are many paths to success. In some settings, however, having a CPA license isn’t optional.
A CPA credential is essential for:
It’s helpful (but not required) for:
It’s optional for:
The takeaway: Credentials matter most in regulated environments or roles that involve public accountability. In private or specialized niches, experience and technical skills can carry equal weight.
While licensing remains valuable, technology and strategy are quickly reshaping the future of accounting.
Modern accountants are expected to use cloud-based tools, automate data collection, and interpret financial insights that drive smarter business decisions. In addition, a new set of tech-savvy skills is becoming increasingly essential, including:
Tomorrow’s most successful accountants will blend financial expertise (the knowledge) with innovation and adaptability (the skills).
Both accountants and CPAs play crucial roles in today’s financial ecosystem. The best path for you depends on your goals, your timeline, and how far you want to grow in the profession.
If you’re just starting your accounting journey, check out UT Permian Basin’s online BBA in accounting. It provides a strong foundation in financial principles, business strategy, and analytical skills, preparing you for entry-level roles or for future graduate study.
If you’re ready to deepen your expertise and qualify for the CPA exam, UTPB’s online AACSB-accredited Master of Professional Accountancy program can help you take the next step. It’s designed to open doors to senior-level opportunities in accounting and finance. This flexible, cost-effective program helps you meet CPA exam requirements and advance your career — on your schedule and from wherever you are.
In accounting (and life), the best decisions start with knowing your options. Chat with an advisor to find the right path for you.
When you hear the word “accountant,” who comes to mind? Someone balancing spreadsheets and filing taxes? If so, you’re on the right track. But there’s more to it. Within the field of accounting, one credential stands apart: the Certified Public Accountant (CPA). While both accountants and CPAs manage finances, advise clients, and ensure the accuracy…
Picture this: You’re a junior accountant, and your manager asks you to tweak a report to make the numbers look better. The request sounds harmless enough—just a small tweak—but you know it’s not above board. Now you’re stuck. Do you follow orders and risk crossing an ethical line, or do you push back and risk…
You’ve always been an analytical thinker. A problem solver. Maybe a math whiz, too. There’s a career that matches your strengths. Certified Public Accountants—or CPAs—excel in these qualities. Let’s explore why a CPA is no ordinary accountant and what it takes to become one. Want to Be a CPA? Here’s What You Need to Know …