Chatham Blog

Explore this blog for articles featuring stories and news about Chatham University.

Chatham Interior Architecture student gives a presentation on his interior design projectInterior Design vs. Interior Architecture: What’s the Difference?
8 July 2026

Interior design and interior architecture both shape how people experience the spaces around them, but they focus on different parts of that work. One field is more closely tied to structure, building systems, code requirements, and spatial planning. The other focuses more on materials, furnishings, mood, and the visual experience of a finished environment. 

 

Chatham student athlete runs trackIs Exercise Science a Good Major for Health Careers?
7 July 2026

Exercise science can be a strong major for students interested in how movement supports health, recovery and performance. The degree helps students understand how the body responds to exercise and how that knowledge can apply to fitness, wellness, rehabilitation and clinical career paths. Its value depends on the career a student wants to pursue. Some graduates enter the workforce after earning a bachelor’s degree, while others use exercise science as a foundation for graduate study in fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy or athletic training.

 

Food Studies and Food Policy student in a kitchen on Eden Hall FarmCareers in Food Policy and Sustainability: Roles, Skills and Pathways
7 July 2026

For people drawn to the connection between food, environmental stewardship, and public health, careers in food policy and sustainability can offer a meaningful way to improve the systems that shape everyday life. Careers in this field call for people who can see those connections clearly, listen to community needs, and help turn complex challenges into practical solutions.

 

Sustainability student digging for potatoes on Chatham's Eden Hall FarmIs A Sustainability Degree Worth It? How It Can Shape Your Career
6 July 2026

A sustainability degree gives students a way to turn care for people, communities, and the planet into practical, career-connected work. When environmental knowledge is paired with business, data, policy, and technical skills, students build the kind of background employers value in roles focused on impact, problem-solving, and long-term change.

 

Counseling Psychology graduate student works with an instructorWhat Can You Do With A Psychology Degree?
24 June 2026

On average, more than 129,000 grads earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology every year, making it one of the most popular majors in the U.S., and for good reason. A psychology degree opens doors across healthcare, business, research, social services, and more. It’s a foundational degree for many career paths, particularly careers that involve people leadership and interacting directly with others, whether they’re clients or patients, customers, or colleagues.

 

Chatham online student works on her laptop outsideAre Online Degrees Worth It? Key Factors to Consider
23 June 2026

For working adults considering a degree, the challenge usually is not whether education matters. It is figuring out how to fit school into an already full life. But choosing an online degree program is about more than convenience alone. The best online programs for working adults are designed to support career advancement while accommodating real-world responsibilities. That means flexible course formats, transfer-friendly policies, faculty support, and programs aligned with professional goals.

 

Two physical therapy doctorate students working with an elderly manIs a Doctor of Physical Therapy Worth It? A Cost-Benefit View
23 June 2026

A Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) opens the door to full clinical independence, which many aspiring clinicians value. The degree requires seven years of education and requires a significant financial investment. The return on this investment depends on where you work, how you manage debt, and what you want your career to look like. Most people drawn to physical therapy already know they want to help people live healthy, active lives with improved mobility. The harder question is whether the DPT's cost and time commitment make sense compared to career satisfaction and salary potential.

 

Two physician assistant graduate students testing reflexes togetherIs Becoming a Physician Assistant Worth It for You?
22 June 2026

Becoming a physician assistant can be an excellent choice for anyone who wants to pursue clinical patient care outside the career paths of nursing or physician. This path involves its own training, level of autonomy, and long-term earning potential. This article covers all of those distinctions, so if you’re considering becoming a PA and wondering if it’s worth it, you can make an informed decision. Whether the PA path fits your goals depends on more than job outlook and salary. It depends on what you actually want from daily clinical work and how you define a meaningful career in healthcare.

 

Two counseling psychology graduate students working togetherHow to Become a Licensed Counselor in Pennsylvania
16 June 2026

Licensed counselors are in high demand across the United States. In fact, the career is projected to grow by 17% through 2034, significantly faster than the national average of 3%. Licensure requirements vary by state, so it’s helpful to pursue a graduate counseling program where you want to establish your practice. If you want to practice counseling independently in Pennsylvania in a private practice, hospital setting, or community organization, you need a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential, and the path to earning one is structured.

 

Two men walk through a community garden in an urban environmentWhat You Can Do With a Master's in Sustainability
3 June 2026

A master's degree in sustainability positions you for roles in corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, environmental consulting, and climate policy, as well as many roles in community leadership and public health. But sustainability is a fast-growing discipline, and finding your program and pathway can be as meaningful as the work it prepares students to do in the world.

 

Chatham student works on laptop and drinks coffee in Café RachelAre Online Degrees Worth It? Key Factors to Consider
2 June 2026

Online degrees have become a mainstream path to achieving both higher education and career advancement. They can be a very valuable investment toward a student’s goals, with financial, career-building, and personal benefits in addition to the skills and knowledge they help build. Most people asking whether an online degree is worth it are really asking something more specific: Will employers take it seriously in my field? That depends on a few things you can investigate before enrollment.

 

Chatham Pathways to Nursing students practice on a dummy patientPhysician Assistant vs Nurse Practitioner: Key Career Differences
1 June 2026

Physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) both provide advanced patient care, but they train differently, specialize differently, and practice differently. The distinctions between them matter if you're choosing between starting a PA program or advancing your nursing career. The decision between them comes down to how you want to train, how much flexibility you want in your career, and what kind of practice environment you're working toward.

 

Physical Therapy student walking with an amputeeHow Long Does It Take to Become a Physical Therapist?
28 May 2026

Physical therapists are in high demand, with 11% job growth projected through 2034 and a median salary of more than $100K per year. Add in the daily opportunities to improve people’s lives through mobility and this career path becomes even more meaningful. But before committing to a career path, it helps to find out how long preparation and education will take with realistic expectations about grad school, licensure, and required experience. Becoming a physical therapist typically requires about six and a half to eight years of education after high school, but the right planning can put you on the shorter end of that range and into practice sooner than you might expect.

 

Physician Assistant Studies student testing reflexes in a labWhat Does a Physician Assistant Do?
28 May 2026

Physician assistants serve an essential role in healthcare, collaborating with physicians and providing patient care across specialties. They treat patients in diverse medical settings, such as primary care, urgent care, and emergency departments — often being the first provider patients meet when they need a diagnosis. For anyone drawn to a healthcare career, it’s helpful to clearly define what PAs do and what sets their work apart from other clinicians such as nurse practitioners. This career guide does just that and gives insights on salary, job outlook, and training needed to succeed in this career path.