Today's newspapers are splashed with headlines of massive corporate layoffs that could exceed 2 million jobs if the auto companies are allowed to fail or restructure.

I can only imagine the demand post-graduate schools are going to experience as hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers pursue a new skill set in order to get back into the job market as soon as possible. To that end, the post-grad education stocks look like a great trade as a pure play on this very near-term trend.

DeVry Inc. (DV) is the parent organization of DeVry University, Advanced Academics, Ross University, Chamberlain College of Nursing, U.S. Education and Becker Professional Review. DeVry University, which includes Keller Graduate School of Management, offers associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs in technology, healthcare technology, business and management. DeVry and its subsidiaries provide a buffet table of educational offerings including nursing, healthcare and accounting, positioning the company squarely in the sweet spot of a challenging job market.

Upon releasing earnings on Oct. 23, shares of DeVry gapped from $42 to $58 in four days. Imagine the enrollment figures they will be coming out with in January following this wave of newly unemployed professionals looking for a new career. The stock retraced back down to $48 and has been trading sideways, setting up for another big pop to the upside that I believe will again be triggered by monster earnings.

If you can pick up the DeVry May 60 Calls (DVEL) while the common stock is trading at or under $50; that would be ideal. Assuming these guys throw up some obscene numbers for the third quarter, I expect the stock to break out and trade up to $75 -- 20-points higher than its current price. At $75, the calls are worth a triple just on intrinsic value alone.

Caution! This trade is HIGHLY speculative. If you put this trade on for your own account, you have entered the no-mess-around-zone. The thing with these post-grad education stocks is that they all act similarly. They either skyrocket for a few weeks or flame out like a Roman candle. Take a partial position with this puppy, but take a position. It could be the canary in the coal mine for Christmas.

Trading Strategy:  Buy the DV May 60 Calls (DVEL) at market