Launch a Career in Healthcare with a Health Sciences Degree

Rather than preparing graduates for one occupation, a health science degree opens the door to many career possibilities. Depending on their concentration, a health science degree graduate could work in fields as diverse as health educator, community health organizer, lab manager, or health services manager.

Students earning a health science degree benefit from an interdisciplinary field that provides foundational knowledge in healthcare and involves both natural and behavioral science. A Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) program offers knowledge in physical, biological, social, and behavioral fields.

Health science graduates draw on this knowledge to work in various important positions in healthcare. Many involve health promotion and community health education. Health science majors also have the skills to work as managers and administrators in a healthcare setting.

The high demand for health science graduates is part of the overall rapid growth in the U.S. healthcare industry. The federal government projects 2.6 million people will join the healthcare workforce by 2030.

What Can You Do With a Health Science Degree?

The common theme with every health science-related job is to improve patient outcomes, including giving people the resources and knowledge they need to lead healthier lives. In management roles, they also focus on making medical operations more efficient and effective.

Most of the popular career choices for health science graduates have population and community health components. They include the following four careers, all attainable for those who earn a BSHS degree.

Health Educator

Health educators work in many healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Professionals working in health education focus on examining health behaviors across various patient populations. A health educator seeks to promote better health hygiene and prevent the spread of disease. They also advocate for social change that leads to higher levels of wellness for all people.

Community Health Organizer

This job is part of a rapidly growing sector of the healthcare industry. Nonprofit agencies and government-run community and social service centers provide support and care for those in underserved communities. Those in public health and community health work in or manage such facilities. They may also study broader health trends that impact the population as a whole or focus on specific patient populations (such as children or the elderly).

Lab Manager

Lab managers bring both administrative skills and health knowledge to their jobs. They oversee lab operations, including hiring personnel, creating staff schedules, managing the lab budget, and ensuring a lab meets all security and regulatory standards.

Health Services Manager

Health service managers work in every type of healthcare operation, including large departments in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and physician groups. They also work for consulting services, nursing homes, mental health organizations, and public health departments. In all cases, successful health service managers combine clinical health knowledge with competence in the financial and regulatory issues that impact the healthcare industry.

Touro University Worldwide’s BSHS Degree

Touro University Worldwide offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree program that provides students the education needed to start a successful career in healthcare. The undergraduate program prepares students for careers in healthcare fields and health education and allows working professionals to advance in their careers.

TUW offers three tracks within the BCHS program. In all concentrations, students explore theories relevant to contemporary health science practices.

Health Education

Students develop skills in needs assessment, organizing communities, and identifying and implementing educational strategies. Graduates of the program are eligible for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination from the National Commission for Health Credentialing. Courses in the health education concentration include Health Problems in the Life Cycle, Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and Health Care Communication and Advocacy.

Health Care Administration

TUW designed this program for working adults. Graduates possess the skills and knowledge required to apply for entry-level management positions. Graduates are prepared to apply healthcare management concepts to decision-making and adhere to legal and ethical practices as an administrator. Courses in this concentration include Strategic Planning in Healthcare, Developing Working in Teams, and Project Management in Health Care Administration. Students on this track may concentrate on nutrition and health or management.

Long-Term Care Administration

Graduates in this area are prepared for administrative positions in long-term care facilities. This is a rapidly growing area of the healthcare field as the nation’s population ages, especially in areas where the population is multi-ethnic and bilingual. Courses in this concentration include Organizational Behavior, Cultural Competence in Healthcare, and Gerontology.

There’s never been a better time for those interested in starting a career in healthcare to make their move. Earning a BSHS degree is a smart first step toward establishing a successful health science career.

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