Recently, we came across an article from Global News – a significant news source here in Canada – that had this title: “Want a high-paying job in your field? Study engineering or nursing, says the census.”

Citing the Canadian census, the article asserts that the two bachelor’s degrees with the highest median salaries and returns on investment (ROI) are nursing and engineering. It’s an interesting read, especially for students eager to make money quickly after school. And it isn’t just Global making the claim. Several authoritative outlets – like Investopedia, Indeed and others – also list the two programs in their ranking of high-ROI degrees.

But the almighty dollar – however compelling a motivation – isn’t the only thing that nursing and engineering share in common. On a fundamental level, the two disciplines are about helping.

Nursing is a field of study primarily built around helping people, often during challenging times, ensuring that patients feel comfortable, respected, informed, accommodated and healthy. Meanwhile, engineers help people by improving various systemic processes that we live with every day, whether it’s enhancing infrastructural quality, creating more efficient manufacturing processes for a greener planet, or developing technologies to aid people in need.

If you’re a student who’s interested in one of these lucrative, helpful career paths, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explore how OES empowers future nurses and engineers by maintaining student engagement and offering relevant courses, robust support, a favourable academic model, and more.

OES Courses for Future Helpers

To start, let’s review a few popular courses for engineers and nurses. You won’t find a 100% overlap between the prerequisites required for the two disciplines; however, there are similarities. Both engineering and nursing programs tend to require grade 12 science-related courses, as well as English proficiency.

Please note, this section is for illustrative purposes only. If you want to determine exactly what courses to take for an academic track toward a good engineering/nursing program in Canada, please book a guidance appointment with one of our experienced staff members. They will collaborate with you to devise a course load directed toward one of these fields of study.

Grade 12 Advanced Functions

Grade 12 Advanced Functions is one of the highest-level math courses a high school student can take, covering complex topics like polynomial, rational, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. As such, this course holds immense water on university and college applications, especially for science-related programs like engineering and nursing.

As we’ll see below, it’s advantageous to take challenging courses like Grade 12 Advanced Functions online. The flexibility, time, and robust support you receive will help you work through this difficult course smoothly – setting you up for success.

Grade 12 Chemistry

According to World Scientific Journal, “Engineering requires applied science, and chemistry is the center of all science. The more chemistry an engineer understands, the more beneficial it is.” Likewise, nurses use chemistry every day on the job, whether it’s dealing with drugs or understanding the complex world of human biochemistry.

In Grade 12 Chemistry, students reach further into the subject than ever before, investigating properties of matter, energy changes and rates of reaction, equilibrium in chemical systems, and electrochemistry. These fundamental tenets of chemistry will set you up for success in your post-secondary education, introducing you to concepts that nursing and engineering routinely apply. It’s one of the most popular courses for future healthcare workers and engineers.

Grade 12 Biology

Here’s where things break away slightly. Biology is undoubtedly more relevant for students approaching a nursing stream, as biology underpins so much of the medical training you will receive.

Having said that, depending on the type of engineering you pursue, biology is a good course to take. For instance, students in biomedical engineering – and other branches of bioengineering – need their high school biology training.

In any case, what you’ll find here is an engaging, absorbing dive into this wild subject we call “life on earth.” You will study biochemistry, metabolic processes, molecular genetics, homeostasis, and population dynamics, among other topics. It’s a thrilling start to your life’s pursuit.

Grade 12 Physics

Physics is the study of matter – its motions, energy, interactions, and more. To paraphrase one popular definition, it’s the study of everything physical in the universe. Now, that’s a big topic.

Certainly, Grade 12 Physics is a major admission requirement in engineering, as evidenced by this UofT “Academic Requirements” page. And in your first year of any pots-secondary engineering program, you will encounter several physics classes, so it’s in your best interest to pay attention during Grade 12 Physics! Meanwhile, physics is not a required course for most nursing programs. However, you may elect to take it, since many nursing programs ask for “One other Grade 11 or 12 level science.”

Grade 12 English

English is an admission requirement for virtually every post-secondary program. Engineering and nursing are no different. To excel in interpersonal fields, one needs the written skills, oral communication skills, media literacy, and critical thinking skills taught in the online English classroom. It might not seem like English has much to do with these science-related career paths, but it does.

If you’re apprehensive about your performance in English classes, just know that our knowledgeable teachers and flexible self-paced model are here to benefit you. We want to see you succeed.

Grade 12 Kinesiology

As OCAS notes in their article on college nursing programs, “Specific science and math credits may be required for different programs, and are always seen as an asset.” One such asset is kinesiology courses, the study of human movement.

Incorporating anatomy, physiology, psychology and even sociology, these fundamental health science courses tackle big topics pertaining to health and wellbeing. Together with nutrition and health 12, these courses feature several concepts that future nurses will apply in their career.

While not strictly necessary for (most) engineering programs, an engineering-bound student may elect to take kinesiology as a required science credit.

As mentioned, these courses are indicative of admissions requirements for nursing and engineering courses, but they don’t tell the full story. To learn more about what courses you need to follow your dream, visit individual faculty pages, or book a guidance appointment with one of our knowledgeable staff.

How OES Empowers Its Students

Beyond OES’ varied course offerings, our online school features several assets for the up-and-coming nurse or engineer.

In the previous section, we highlighted some common prerequisites on the road to post-secondary success. In this section, let’s take a moment to discover why they’re better online. Here’s how OES can be your ideal stepping stone to a fulfilling, lucrative career.

Flexible Courses Allow You to Pursue Your Passions, Juggle Your Obligations

Grade 12 is “go time” for students, especially those with a clear calling. Students must research programs, gather their admissions materials, prepare for the transition to post-secondary life, complete their community service, attend their extracurriculars, and still shoulder a full course load! It feels exhausting just typing it out.

Amidst this frenzied activity, OES can be your calm space. Our flexible courses allow you to start when you like, finish when you please, and study when it’s possible. If you need to study on the weekends or evenings, that’s your prerogative.

This flexible approach speaks to our confidence in you as a motivated adult. We will not put kid-like constraints on your time and whereabouts – because you aren’t a kid anymore. You are a busy young adult juggling multiple life experiences on the road toward your calling.

Self-Paced Courses Enable Students to Work Ahead or Take Your Time

As mentioned, our self-paced courses allow you to work when you like. They also enable you to work at your own speed. If you’re confident you can race through an English course and maintain a high GPA, you go for it! Conversely, if you want to slow down, read over everything twice, and make certain that you’ll leave with a great grade, you go for it!

This “self-paced” model has a few benefits. One, it can allow you to work ahead and finish high school sooner; by condensing your course durations, you can truncate your secondary school career, applying for competitive programs ahead of your peers. Two, it can help you strengthen your grades; by taking your time with challenging courses, you give yourself a better shot at high marks that look attractive to post-secondary admissions officers.

Third, you may use our self-paced model to catch up. If you’ve recently fallen behind in your studies – for whatever reason – leverage our innovative model to make up lost ground.

OES’ Engaging Approach to Support Helps Ensure Student Success

When you take online courses at OES, you’ll feel supported the entire way — from your first meeting with a guidance expert, to your online courses with expert teachers.

Your teachers will be there to field questions, address concerns, and provide elaboration on course concepts. They’re your primary point of contact at OES, and are more than happy to pass along their knowledge.

However, if you’re need help outside of typical school hours, OES also offers complimentary 24/7 tutoring for all its students. You read that right: 24/7. If you’re studying for a test at 2 AM; if you’re taking a course from a time zone on the other side of the globe; if you need help with the final exam on Easter Monday… whatever the case may be, you can access professional tutoring.

Why do we offer layers of accessible support? Because we firmly believe that every student can succeed if they’re given the resources and tools to succeed. Plus, we love that we can empower a new generation of nurses, engineers and other helpers to pursue their calling.

Our Upgrade Courses Allow You to Beef Up That Program Application

Admissions officers (i.e., those in charge of accepting or denying students for enrollment in post-secondary program) look at your application holistically. However, they place disproportionate emphasis on marks.

For instance, Ontario Universities Info writes that, for one of the province’s most popular nursing faculties, “last year the minimum average accepted was 85% for the top 6 Grade 12 U/M courses.” Meanwhile, the University of Waterloo states that, for a 63% probability of receiving an offer in “Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, and Systems Design” engineering, students should have a 95+% average in required courses.

Don’t let these intimidating grade minimums worry you. At OES, you have the option to take “upgrade courses” to improve your marks and overall average. Essentially, upgrade courses are shortened versions of regular classes; if you didn’t like your mark in a complete course, or feel like you can do better, you can take a quick upgrade course. It’s a fantastic option for dedicated students looking to beef up their transcript before applying to competitive programs.

Our Remote Courses Allow You to Follow Your Dream – Wherever You Are

Lastly, one of the most significant benefits of online schooling is its remoteness. You can pursue your dream wherever you are.

Whether you’re a student abroad hoping to procure a world-class engineering education in Canada, or a Canadian student looking to cut out the commute as you prepare for nursing school, OES is a brilliant solution. Complete our courses from the comfort of your home, on the road, internationally – wherever you are.

To summarize, if you’re looking for a lucrative, high-ROI career path out of post-secondary school, the experts point to engineering and nursing. At OES, we’re proud to empower future job seekers in these fields by offering varied courses, strong support systems, flexibility, engagement, and remote opportunities.

Please take some time to peruse the course descriptions on our website. Similarly, connect with our guidance experts to establish a game plan for realizing your career goals. We can’t wait to see what you can do – at our online school, and for the good of humanity.