Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Description

Career Cluster:

Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Education

Required Level of Education

• Bachelor's Degree = 32.26%
• High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate) = 32.26%
• Less than a High School Diploma = 16.13%
• Some College Courses = 9.68%
• Post-Doctoral Training = 3.23%
• Master's Degree = 3.23%
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree, but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master = 3.23%

Related Work Experience

• Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 21.88%
• Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years = 18.75%
• Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 18.75%
• None = 18.75%
• Over 10 years = 12.50%
• Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 3.12%
• Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 3.12%
• Up to and including 1 month = 3.12%

On-Site or In-Plant Training

• None = 68.75%
• Up to and including 1 month = 12.50%
• Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 6.25%
• Over 4 years, up to and including 10 years = 3.12%
• Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 3.12%
• Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 3.12%
• Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 3.12%

On-the-Job Training

• None or short demonstration = 43.75%
• Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month = 25.00%
• Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 18.75%
• Over 4 years, up to and including 10 years = 3.12%
• Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 3.12%
• Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 3.12%
• Over 10 years = 3.12%

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Tasks

Core Tasks Include:

• Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.
• Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.
• Plan project arrangements or outlines, and organize material accordingly.
• Prepare works in appropriate format for publication, and send them to publishers or producers.
• Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work.
• Write fiction or nonfiction prose such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
• Develop factors such as themes, plots, characterizations, psychological analyses, historical environments, action, and dialogue, to create material.
• Confer with clients, editors, publishers, or producers to discuss changes or revisions to written material.
• Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.
• Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication.
• Attend book launches and publicity events, or conduct public readings.

Supplemental Tasks Include:

• Write words to fit musical compositions, including lyrics for operas, musical plays, and choral works.
• Adapt text to accommodate musical requirements of composers and singers.
• Teach writing classes.
• Write humorous material for publication, or for performances such as comedy routines, gags, and comedy shows.
• Collaborate with other writers on specific projects.

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Knowledge

%	Subject	Description
92.00	English Language	Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
79.00	Communications and Media	Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
69.50	Fine Arts	Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
61.00	Sales and Marketing	Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Skills

%	Subject	Description
97.00	Writing	Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
78.00	Reading Comprehension	Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
68.75	Critical Thinking	Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
65.50	Judgment and Decision Making	Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
65.50	Active Learning	Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
65.50	Active Listening	Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
62.50	Complex Problem Solving	Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
62.50	Speaking	Talking to others to convey information effectively.
59.50	Social Perceptiveness	Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
56.25	Time Management	Managing one's own time and the time of others.
53.00	Monitoring	Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Abilities

%	Subject	Description
87.50	Written Expression	The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
84.50	Originality	The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
78.25	Written Comprehension	The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
78.25	Fluency of Ideas	The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
68.75	Near Vision	The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
65.75	Oral Comprehension	The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
65.75	Oral Expression	The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
62.50	Inductive Reasoning	The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
62.50	Deductive Reasoning	The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
59.50	Information Ordering	The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
59.50	Problem Sensitivity	The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
59.50	Speech Recognition	The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
56.25	Finger Dexterity	The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
56.25	Speech Clarity	The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
56.25	Visualization	The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
56.25	Category Flexibility	The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
50.00	Flexibility of Closure	The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
50.00	Selective Attention	The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Work Activities

%	Subject	Description
97.50	Thinking Creatively	Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
79.75	Getting Information	Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
76.75	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
73.25	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
70.75	Interacting With Computers	Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
68.25	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
66.75	Documenting/Recording Information	Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
66.75	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
65.75	Making Decisions and Solving Problems	Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
62.50	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
61.75	Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People	Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
60.75	Selling or Influencing Others	Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
59.25	Communicating with Persons Outside Organization	Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
55.00	Analyzing Data or Information	Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
54.25	Performing Administrative Activities	Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
54.25	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
52.50	Scheduling Work and Activities	Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
50.75	Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Work Styles

%	Subject	Description
97.00	Persistence	Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
93.75	Initiative	Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
93.00	Innovation	Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
92.25	Independence	Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
91.50	Achievement/Effort	Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
83.50	Attention to Detail	Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
76.50	Dependability	Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
72.00	Integrity	Job requires being honest and ethical.
71.00	Stress Tolerance	Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
69.50	Adaptability/Flexibility	Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
64.00	Analytical Thinking	Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
57.75	Self Control	Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
52.25	Cooperation	Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
51.50	Concern for Others	Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
50.75	Leadership	Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Work Values

%	Subject	Description
83.33	Achievement	Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
77.83	Independence	Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
66.67	Recognition	Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
63.83	Working Conditions	Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Work Context

%	Subject	Description
98.80	Freedom to Make Decisions	How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
95.60	Level of Competition	To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
95.60	Structured versus Unstructured Work	To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
89.40	Spend Time Sitting	How much does this job require sitting?
88.20	Electronic Mail	How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
79.40	Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions	How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
79.40	Telephone	How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
77.60	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate	How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
73.20	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls	How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
70.00	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results	How do the decisions an employee makes impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company?
67.60	Letters and Memos	How often does the job require written letters and memos?
66.80	Time Pressure	How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
65.60	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks	How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
64.40	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled	How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
61.20	Contact With Others	How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
60.60	Frequency of Decision Making	How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
59.40	Face-to-Face Discussions	How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
50.00	Work With Work Group or Team	How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

• Overall Experience
  • A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
• Job Training
  • Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
• Examples
  • Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, sales managers, database administrators, teachers, chemists, environmental engineers, criminal investigators, and special agents.
• Education
  • Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Earnings Benefits*

Region	Entry Level	Average	Experienced
United States	$27,770.00	$68,420.00	$81,200.00
Virginia	$37,350.08	$63,182.11	$76,098.13
Region	Entry Level	Average	Experienced
Bay Consortium	$27,582.53	$67,695.12	$87,750.90
Capital Region Workforce Partnership	$38,532.27	$64,752.29	$77,862.81
Central VA/Region2000	$26,042.74	$40,485.38	$47,707.20
Crater Area	No Data	No Data	No Data
Greater Peninsula	$34,343.43	$52,246.55	$61,197.60
Hampton Roads	$30,156.62	$50,985.34	$61,399.19
New River/Mt. Rogers	$33,541.12	$44,622.55	$50,163.78
Northern Virginia and Alexandria/Arlington	$44,478.71	$68,995.84	$81,254.40
Piedmont Workforce	$35,118.39	$63,698.75	$77,989.43
Shenandoah Valley	$30,395.69	$46,984.92	$55,280.55
South Central	No Data	No Data	No Data
Southwestern Virginia	No Data	No Data	No Data
West Piedmont	No Data	No Data	No Data
Western Virginia	$33,592.78	$46,220.09	$52,533.23

* Earnings Calculations:

 State and Regional Earnings:
   Entry = Annual mean of the lower 1/3 wage distribution;
   Experienced = Annual mean of the upper 2/3 wage distribution.

 National Earnings:
   Entry = Annual 10th percentile wage;
   Experienced = Annual 75th percentile wage.

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Employment Projections

National	2010	2020	% Change
United States	145,900	155,400	+ 6.5%
State	2010	2020	% Change
Virginia	5,172	5,614	+ 8.5%
Region	2010	2020	% Change
Bay Consortium	No Data	No Data	No Data
Capital Region Workforce Partnership	631	745	+ 18.1%
Central VA/Region2000	No Data	No Data	No Data
Crater Area	No Data	No Data	No Data
Greater Peninsula	140	151	+ 7.9%
Hampton Roads	452	500	+ 10.6%
New River/Mt. Rogers	143	144	+ 0.7%
Northern Virginia and Alexandria/Arlington	2,812	3,003	+ 6.8%
Piedmont Workforce	295	339	+ 14.9%
Shenandoah Valley	208	236	+ 13.5%
South Central	No Data	No Data	No Data
Southwestern Virginia	No Data	No Data	No Data
West Piedmont	No Data	No Data	No Data
Western Virginia	180	177	- 1.7%

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Workforce Connection.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Related Occupations

Related Occupations

• Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
• Actors
• Music Composers and Arrangers
• Singers
• Radio and Television Announcers
• Broadcast News Analysts
• Reporters and Correspondents
• Editors
• Technical Writers
• Film and Video Editors

 

Careers in Performing Arts Pathway:

• Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
• Actors
• Producers and Directors
• Producers
• Directors- Stage, Motion Pictures, Television, and Radio
• Program Directors
• Talent Directors
• Technical Directors/Managers
• Dancers
• Choreographers
• Music Directors and Composers
• Music Directors
• Music Composers and Arrangers
• Musicians and Singers
• Singers
• Musicians, Instrumental
• Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other
• Public Address System and Other Announcers
• Writers and Authors
• Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
• Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture
• Film and Video Editors
• Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

View Videos

The following videos are available for this occupation:

• Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications (7.85 Mb)
• Writers and Authors (2.68 Mb)



Macromedia Flash is required for viewing the videos. If you do not have the Flash plugin, it is freely available for download.

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: New York State Department of Labor; New Jersey Department of Labor; California Occupational Information Coordinating Committee.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Military Training

The following military job classifications are available for this occupation:

• Information
• Not Occupationally Qualified, General

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: Defense Manpower Data Center.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Proficiency Ratings

These proficiencies are scored on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being not
important to the job and 5 being extremely important to the job.

Proficiency	Rating
Thinking Creatively	5.0
Getting Information	4.0
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.0
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.0
Interacting With Computers	4.0
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.5
Documenting/Recording Information	3.5
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.5
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.5
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.5
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People	3.5
Selling or Influencing Others	3.5
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization	3.5
Analyzing Data or Information	3.0
Performing Administrative Activities	3.0
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.0
Scheduling Work and Activities	3.0
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.0
Developing Objectives and Strategies	3.0
Processing Information	3.0
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	3.0
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others	3.0
Monitoring and Controlling Resources	2.5
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others	2.5
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	2.5
Training and Teaching Others	2.5
Coaching and Developing Others	2.0
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information	2.0
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others	2.0
Developing and Building Teams	2.0
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material	2.0
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates	2.0
Performing General Physical Activities	2.0
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment	2.0
Controlling Machines and Processes	1.5
Handling and Moving Objects	1.5
Assisting and Caring for Others	1.5
Staffing Organizational Units	1.5
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment	1.0
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment	1.0
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment	1.0

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Titles

• Author
• Biographer
• Book Reviewer
• Business Writer
• Children's Author
• Columnist/Commentator
• Comic Book Writer
• Comic Writer
• Continuity Writer
• Creative Writer
• Critic
• Crossword Puzzle Maker
• Documentary Script Writer
• Dramatist
• Editorial Writer
• Fiction and Nonfiction Prose Writer
• Fiction Writer
• Film Writer
• Free Lance Writer
• Freelance Journalist
• Freelance Writer
• Gag Writer
• Game Author
• Ghost Writer
• Greeting Card Maker
• Greeting Card Writer
• Humorist
• Librettist
• Literary Writer
• Lyricist
• Magazine Journalist
• Magazine Writer
• Motivational Speaker
• Movie Writer
• Music Critic
• Music Journalist
• Novelist
• Play Writer
• Playwright
• Poem Writer
• Poet
• Program Writer
• Publications Writer
• Radio Script Writer
• Scenario Writer
• Screen Writer
• Screenplay Writer
• Script Writer
• Short Story Writer
• Song Lyricist
• Song Writer
• Songwriter
• Speech Writer
• Sports Writer
• Story Writer
• Television Script Writer
• Television Writer
• Travel Writer
• Verse Writer
• Video Game Script Writer
• Video Games Storywriter

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Related Schools

• Averett University
• Bluefield College
• Bridgewater College
• Christopher Newport University
• Emory & Henry College
• George Mason University
• Hampton University
• Hollins University
• James Madison University
• Liberty University
• Longwood University
• Lynchburg College
• Mary Baldwin College
• Norfolk State University
• Radford University
• Regent University
• Shenandoah University
• University of Richmond
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Virginia State University
• Virginia Union University
• Virginia Wesleyan College
• Washington and Lee University

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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.