What are they?
Professional Associations are organizations comprised of members who share the same occupations or related occupations. They meet to promote their profession, to learn and network for personal / career and organizational success.

Why join them?
    - Meet people in your career interest field for networking purposes
    - Learn information and keep abreast of the trends in your interest field  Expand your classroom knowledge.
    - As a student you'll pay student member fees (usually $25 - $50 per year) and receive the full benefits as regular members.

Selected professional associations by majors/fields?

Below are links to a number of professional associations.  Take the time to find out more about them and consider a student or regular membership.  It could be your best career move!

ACCOUNTING

• National Society of Accountants
• National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
• Institute of Certified Management Accountants
• American Accounting Association
• New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants

• American Art Therapy Association
• American Institute of Graphic Arts
• American Society of Artists
• Society of Illustrators
• American Dance Therapy Association

• American Institute of Biological Sciences
• American Society for Cell Biology
• Ecological Society of America
• American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

• American Chemical Society

• American Association for Artificial Intelligence

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

• National Criminal Justice Association
• American Society of Criminology

• American Economic Association
• Financial Management Association
• National Economic Association
• National Association of Business Economists

• National Education Association
• There are many associations of teachers by specialty area. Check association directories listed below.

• National Council of Teachers of English
• Public Relations Society of America
• Association for Women in Communications
• Society for Technical Communication Inc.

• American Bankers Association
• National Association of Credit Management
• Association for Investment Management and Research (Chartered Financial Analyst Program)

• Ameircan Historical Association
• American Association for State and Local History

• Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
• American Society for Training &Development
• Labor and Employment Relations Association
• Academy of Management
  

• American Association of Language Specialists

MANAGEMENT

• American Management Association
• National Management Association

• American Marketing Association
• Sales and Marketing Services International
• Marketing Research Association

• American Mathematical Society
• Mathematical Association of America

• American Medical Student Association
• American Medical Association
• American Dental Association
• American Student Dental Association
• American Physical Therapy Association

• National Association of Music Education
• American Federation of Musicians of the US & Canada

• American Nurses Association

• American Philosophical Society
• Association for Sociology of Religion

• American Institute of Physics

• American Political Science Association

• American Psychological Assocation
• American Psychological Society

• American Therapeutic Recreation Association
• National Therapeutic Recreation Society

• National Association of Social Workers

• Americal Sociological Association

• American Planning Association

    - The National Trade and Professional Association Directory (available at the Career Center)
    - The Encyclopedia of Associations (available in most university or public libraries).
    - The Occupational Outlook Handbook.