Types of healthcare degrees: (1)
People who love to help others and have curiosity in the field of medicine with a great sense of science should choose the best suitable healthcare degree to achieve their career goals.
There are several professions in the healthcare field and it is not only limited to DENTISTRY, NURSING, PODIATRY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, and OPTOMETRY. Many courses are available in healthcare degrees such as social sciences, biology, anatomy, psychology, or other physical sciences. These fields require students to do clinical experiences so they can learn from the perspective of the real world. Demand is continuously increasing for healthcare degrees as the population is growing. Jobs in the field of healthcare will grow up to fourteen percent from 2008 to 2028 according to the BUREAU OF LABOUR STATISTICS. This is the fastest growth percentage when compared to other occupations. Here is the guide to types of healthcare degrees you can select:
Associate degrees in Healthcare
Students with an associate degree can pursue their career in different healthcare careers such as
- Dental hygienist
- Registered nurse
- Radiologic technologist
- Medical sonographer.
It usually takes two years and 60 credits to complete an associate degree in healthcare. Students can select their field according to their in which they want to do specialization such as ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE IN NURSING AND DENTISTRY. Students can also consider their field in general science such as ASSOCIATE IN ALLIED HEALTH. This will help students to deliver primary patient care when they became assistants to physicians. Some associate degrees require licensure or certification from the state. GED transcripts and high school graduation is necessary to apply for an associate degree. Here are some options you can choose from:
- Healthcare management
- Healthcare administration
- Dental assistant
- Medical administration
- Health service administration
- Medical office transcribing
- Medical billing and coding
- Clinical medical assistance
- Medical office administration
- Massage therapy
Associate degree in healthcare will help students to make their entry in medical offices, administration, management, and many more.
Bachelor’s degrees in healthcare:
This degree requires four years with 120 credits. It includes courses of general education and major core subjects to complete this degree. A variety of disciplines are present at the level of bachelor’s degrees in healthcare such as
- Public health
- Nutrition
- Nurse
Fundamental courses are required in bachelor’s degree such as
- Pathophysiology
- Biochemistry
- Anatomy
- Organic chemistry
Students require college credits to apply for an internship in different healthcare settings. To fulfill the requirements of the state for licensing some students may require PRACTICUMS and CLINICAL LABS. For example, a student who is doing a bachelor’s in nursing has to prepare for the NCLEX exam so they can get registered in that state. Bachelor’s degree in healthcare also helps students to qualify for a master’s degree in healthcare or to attend any medical school. For instance, pre-medical students who done their majors in biology or chemistry need this degree to apply for medical programs. Transcripts of high school with good scores in SAT and ACT are required to apply for this degree. Different programs you can choose are:
- Long term care
- Healthcare administration
- Health information system
- Registered nurse
- Systems health administration
- Healthcare management
- Health service management
Masters degree in healthcare
Students who wish to work in a leadership post in healthcare institutions should pursue their master’s degree in healthcare. It is also best for candidates whose companies require a master’s degree for a job. It takes about one to two years with typically 30 to 40 credits to complete a master’s degree. Online classes for a master’s degree are also available for students who are doing the job but want to advance their studies. Masters degree help students to pursue their career as a:
- Managers in health services
- Chief operation officers
- Healthcare consultants
- Managers in clinical settings
Some professions demand a master’s degree to step into the field. For example, a person who is an assistant to a physician must earn his bachelor’s and master’s degree then pass the exam that is important for licensing. Students need to complete their bachelor’s degree from the authorized institution and good score on the GRE test. Master’s programs available are:
- Health administration gerontology
- Health administration informatics
- Health administration
- Health Care Management (MBA)
Doctoral degree in healthcare
Students can choose M.D or Ph.D. according to their interests. If you want to become a Physician or doctor then you have to choose M.D in the United States. It requires four years to complete post-baccalaureate study and then students prepare for a residency program to start their career as a doctor. If students want to conduct research or teach at any college, a Ph.D. is necessary. Four to six years with 90 credits are required to complete this program. Students must complete their thesis work and oral exam to graduate. Bachelor’s or master’s degree program is necessary to complete from a recognized university to apply for the doctoral degree. A good score in GRE and GMAT is also important. Program options available for the doctoral program are:
- Community health promotion and education
- Health services
- Counseling studies
- Doctor of occupational therapy
- Doctor of health education
- Public health
- Health care administration
- Doctor of health science
- Management of nonprofit agencies
- Transitional doctor of physical therapy.
- Health management and policy
Certificate in healthcare
This program is offered to graduate or undergraduate level students. More coursework is required in certification and additional credential is given to students when they graduate. Students when they complete their certificate in healthcare usually required to be registered in a bachelor’s or associate program. Students can earn their certificate graduation concurrent to graduate or independently. Common programs available for the certificate in healthcare are:
- Global healthcare administration
- Healthcare informatics
- Healthcare administration
It usually takes half a year with 15 credits to complete this program. Coursework includes:
- International health and development
- Healthcare policy
- Ethics in healthcare administration
- Population health
- Quantitative research methods in healthcare
After completing this program students can pursue their career in
- Healthcare analytics
- Health service management
- Healthcare policy
- Facility management
- Emergency health management
- Population health.
Salaries in healthcare departments (2)
Respiratory therapist: $60,280
MRI technician: $61,240
Prosthetic professionals: $69,120
Occupational health: $69,370
Chiropractors: $71,410
Registered nurse: $71,730
Dental hygienist: $74,280
Nuclear medicine technologist: $76,820
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