5 Career Options for a Health Science Degree
Are you thinking of going to school for a health science degree? Check out these top career opportunities you will have upon degree completion.
The healthcare industry is undergoing a radical change in the United States. There is a higher demand for skilled healthcare workers and that demand is going to increase over the next several years.
If you want to take part in this rapidly growing industry, you have to have the skills and education to be able to find employment and get highly paid for your work.
That’s where a health sciences degree can help you. Read on to learn what a health science degree really is, how to obtain one, and the career paths you can take with it.
What is a Health Science Degree?
A degree in health science is a general degree in the healthcare field that can prepare you for a variety of positions.
In a nutshell, you learn about the science behind human and animal functions. You also learn more about diseases, how they spread, and how to manage them.
There are a number of different levels to a health science degree, ranging from associates to doctorates. Each level will have a different focus and career path.
An associate degree is a two-year program that will cover general medical information and terminology. This is usually a good fit if you want to go into healthcare administration or office work.
A bachelor’s degree is a four-year degree that covers more topics from healthcare finance to biomedical sciences. The coursework will vary from program to program. Some programs keep the coursework general, while others allow you to take a very narrow focus.
Some schools offer a master’s degree in health science. This is a two-year program that can help you advance your career. This type of degree isn’t for everyone. It depends on the area of healthcare, the program, and whether or not you’re at a point in your career where you can go up another level.
If you see yourself in academic research, then you would be a good fit for a doctorate degree in health science.
What Can You Do With a Health Science Degree?
Since health science is a very broad field, there is a wide variety of career paths that you can take. That’s a big reason why so many find a health science degree so appealing.
You can learn about and explore the many different areas of healthcare and then decide on a career path. Here are some of the career paths you can take with your degree.
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Physical or Occupational Therapist
Some people get into the healthcare field because they want to work directly with patients. They want to make the biggest difference possible with their time and talents.
Becoming a physical therapist or occupational therapist is a great way to work directly with patients. These jobs often have lower stress levels than a nurse or other healthcare practitioners.
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Veterinarian
How does a health science degree lead you to work with animals? Some health science programs are so broad that they cover applied science for human and animal health.
This could be a good first step if you’re not sure if you prefer to work with animals or people in your work.
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Academic Research and Instruction
If you love teaching in colleges and universities, you can do so with a health science degree. You’ll also be able to perform academic research as part of your work.
If you want to get to this type of job, you are likely to have to get a doctorate degree in health science. Some colleges will let you teach with a master’s degree, but it depends on the school.
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Healthcare Management and Administration
Healthcare managers and administrators play a very important role in the healthcare industry. Some will serve as office managers in doctor’s offices. Others will be the administrator of a large hospital.
You can pursue both career paths with a degree in health science. The type of degree will depend on the office environment you work in. For example, a small office or clinic may require only an associate’s degree. A hospital may require a master’s degree.
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Healthcare Technology
Two of the fastest-growing career paths are in healthcare and technology. What’s happens when you put them together? You can make a boatload of money.
The healthcare industry is struggling to adapt to technology and stay in compliance. There are strict privacy regulations that healthcare practitioners have to adhere to. Noncompliance can result in huge fines.
As an IT professional your job would be to manage the networks and information systems that allow healthcare providers to provide better patient care.
How to Get a Health Science Degree
Fortunately, there are many institutions that can give you a healthcare degree. You can take online courses to get your degree or you can enroll in a traditional institution.
If you’re interested in getting a health science degree, here are some tips to make that happen.
Why Do You Want to Get a Health Science Degree?
It’s a big commitment to go to school and get a degree. You have to know why you’re going to take the leap to make this commitment.
Write down what you would like to do with your degree.
There is no wrong answer. You might want to enroll in school to find your path or you have it already figured out.
Finding the Right Program
The reason why understanding why it’s important for you to get a health science degree is because it will help you narrow down your program options.
There are hundreds of different programs out there, and they’re all slightly different in their approach. The programs can be very general or have a defined focus.
A Health Science Degree Can Move Your Career Forward
A health science degree can be a great way to break into the healthcare industry. It has a lot of flexibility to learn about the healthcare field and it can give you a defined focus at the same time.
It all depends on the path you want to take and the program you enroll in. Check out this site often for more educational articles.
