A health sciences degree can lead to a multitude of careers within the healthcare industry. Many medical professionals hold this degree, especially those who work in administrative positions.
In the current competitive healthcare job market, it makes sense to be open to a variety of career opportunities. A health science degree will be particularly useful in the current job climate.
Today, many institutions offer health sciences courses, but you must enroll at a reputable institution. Read on to find out everything you’ll need to know to pursue a medical career with a health sciences degree.
What Can You Do With a Health Sciences Degree?
The number of job opportunities that will be open to you if you have a health sciences degree is immense. The specific area you choose to go into will depend on your interests and career goals. Nevertheless, getting this degree can be the first step toward landing your dream job.
Once you have your degree in health sciences, you will have the option to work with private and public institutions, or you might choose to be self-employed. You can choose to pursue a career in medicine, physical therapy, nursing, or as a pharmacist.
Since there are many specializations possible, you may want to pursue an area that is in high demand. Below are some of the jobs you can get with a health sciences degree.
Health Sciences Associate Degree Careers
An associate degree in health sciences will prepare you to enter a bachelor’s degree program in the same subject. Often, these are career-based training programs.
In the courses, you will learn all the technical skills required to enter an entry-level healthcare job. Below are some of the jobs you can get if you have an associate degree in health sciences.
Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare administrators are responsible for running a healthcare facility. A healthcare administrator can earn anywhere from $70,000 to $80,000 per year. To obtain this job, you must have strong leadership skills.
During your health sciences coursework, you will undergo training in general healthcare services. This will prepare you to coordinate with other healthcare professionals, such as registered nurses. You may also choose to acquire a specific healthcare administration degree if you want to work in this role. These jobs are in high demand and are well-paid.
Health Informatics
A health informatician is responsible for using technology to collect, process, and store medical records. In this role, your salary will increase alongside your experience. If you have one to four years of experience, you will earn an average salary of $64,000. If you have five to nine years of experience, you will earn an average salary of $75,000.
In a world where technology affects every aspect of our lives, the need for healthcare informaticians is rising. Medical records are vital to receiving proper treatment, and they must be stored digitally. Cloud storage and smart record collections diminish the chances that important information will be lost.
Medical Laboratory Technician
A medical lab technician is responsible for testing samples to learn more about what is affecting a patient. A medical lab technician can earn an average of $45,000 per year. Their salary will be influenced by many factors, including the type of facility you are working in.
The work in this position might include cleaning and sterilizing lab equipment, preparing reagents for sample testing, and collecting blood samples. Most healthcare facilities cannot operate without a lab technician.
There are also many opportunities for lab technicians to specialize. Some options include microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, blood banking, and clinical chemistry.
Health Sciences Careers at the Bachelor’s Degree Level
In a four-year bachelor’s degree in health sciences, you will complete courses in lab science, internships, and will learn about overall medical practices and theories.
As far as schools, you may choose to pursue your degree at The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, or many others. Below are some of the jobs you can get with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences.
Nutritionist
A nutritionist deals mainly with diet. As a nutritionist, you will help your patients choose the right foods that will help improve their health or treat an existing illness. A nutritionist can earn an average of $60,000 per year.
A nutritionist can work in many kinds of facilities, including government or private practices.
Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists provide oral care to patients. A dental hygienist is not a dentist, but they work under a dentist’s supervision. A dental hygienist can earn an average salary of $75,000 annually. In this role, you will mainly provide preventive oral care to patients, but will not engage in serious procedures such as tooth removal.
Besides attending to patients, this job also involves keeping patients’ records, scheduling appointments, and taking and analyzing X-rays.
Epidemiologist
An epidemiologist is a medical practitioner who studies the cause of a disease, how it spreads, and how it can be controlled. An epidemiologist can earn $70,000 per year.
In most cases, epidemiologists work in medical research facilities, which can either be private or government-owned. Their work mostly focuses on outbreaks and how to minimize and control them.
Another important role of an epidemiologist is to mobilize the public to improve public health. For example, at the international level, the World Health Organization employs many epidemiologists.
Health Sciences Careers at the Master’s Degree Level
A master’s degree in health sciences will give you plenty of background knowledge while you choose an area of specialization. These programs take around two years to complete. With a master’s degree, many lucrative job opportunities will open to you.
With a master’s degree, you may even choose to start your own practice. Some of the best master’s level health sciences programs include those at Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences and Ponce Health Sciences University. Below are some of the jobs you’ll qualify for with this highly-regarded degree.
Clinical Management
Clinical managers work as administrators in medical facilities. They coordinate all of the departments within a facility and can earn a salary of $100,000 annually.
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A clinical manager’s work includes delegating and supervising junior employees to ensure the patients they treat are satisfied. It is safe to say that a good clinical manager should also have strong leadership skills.
Informatician
An informatician uses information technology to research and develop healthcare solutions. Technology has led to huge medical benefits and informatics is one of the keys to solving health problems. been a great problem solver. As an informatician with a master’s degree, you can bring in an average salary of $98,000.
Informatics goes beyond conducting research and offering solutions. It also involves innovating healthcare tools and improving the health of patients. In health facilities, informaticians are responsible for analyzing data to develop electronic solutions.
Medical Project Manager
As the name suggests, a project manager is in charge of projects. This includes projects centered around both treatment and research. If you are a project manager, your average salary will be $116,000.
In this role, your main duty is to ensure that the objectives of a project are met. You will be expected to have extensive knowledge of health sciences to successfully lead a medical project.
Health Sciences Careers at a Doctorate Level
This is the highest degree level possible in health sciences. To earn a doctorate in health science, you must already have a master’s degree in the field. A doctorate will gain you access to the most lucrative job opportunities in health care.
Like other health care positions, the demand for doctorate-level health scientists is on the rise in the US. There will be many career opportunities available to you with this degree. A few of the possibilities are listed below.
Chiropractor
A chiropractor is a medical expert who specializes in alternative solutions to relieving muscles and joint pains. Being a chiropractor in the US can bring in an average salary of $80,000.
Chiropractic treatment often focuses on the spinal cord. In treating the spinal cord, a practitioner will carefully adjust the spinal discs to improve general health. This is a very highly skilled job that requires extensive training and practice.
Orthotic and Prosthetics Professional
As an orthotic and prosthetics professional, you will specialize in building artificial limbs and braces to improve a patient’s mobility. You will design and build these aids. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary in these professions is $88,010. But, you can earn much more if you are working in a popular practice.
Extensive study is required to become an orthotist or prosthetist. You can also pursue these careers with a health sciences master’s degree. However, getting a doctorate will lead to better career opportunities.
Medical Scientist
Medical scientists play an important role in the healthcare industry. They research the human body to discover new treatments. Medical scientists earn an average salary of $90,000.
Becoming a medical scientist is not an easy job. It requires extensive theoretical and experimental knowledge. Most doctorate holders are employed in research areas such as this.
Conclusion: A Health Sciences Degree Can Lead to Many Medical Careers
There are many attractive career paths out there for health sciences graduates. Choose one that’s right for you based on your interests and career goals. You may choose to become a nurse or a researcher, or even pursue occupational therapy.
So, if you are interested in entering the healthcare industry and having a wide range of options, you should enroll in a health sciences degree program today.
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