Many times, when people think of careers in healthcare, they think of surgical procedures, an annual physical, a school nurse, or maybe a trip to the emergency room for an unexpected injury. All are aspects of health care, but there is so much more! There’s a multitude of employment opportunities for thousands of people who impact healthcare outside of the clinical environment.
No longer do you have to go to medical or nursing school to have a role in better health for all. Nor do you have to work in a hospital, a clinic, or work with blood every day. A health science degree will allow you to do various things you may not have considered. It can provide you with a baseline of knowledge about the body that will prepare you for graduate school or to move right into the workforce.
A degree in human biology, or a similar health science degree, can provide you with a baseline of knowledge that will open the door to jobs in several different areas of healthcare. A sampling of some of the coursework includes anatomy, genetics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, nutrition, embryology, and more. There is also extensive lab work involved to round out the curriculum.
So, what does all this mean? It means that opportunities are available in health care for non-clinical employment if you have a health science degree. What is learned will allow you to be marketable in a variety of fields where you can make a difference in the health of others. Here are just a few of the directions you can go.
Exercise
You may be able to use your health science degree as a springboard into different areas of fitness or exercise. Examples include personal training, sports medicine, biomechanics, occupational therapy, corporate wellness, or other similar areas. If you already have a love of fitness, this might be a good option for you.
Nutrition
There are possibilities for employment in health and nutrition. They may involve positions in nutritional education or public policy regarding nutrition. It could involve different food industries or perhaps testing for the agriculture companies whose products end up on your table.
Education
There are teaching and training jobs to pursue…perhaps a classroom of a middle school or as a tour guide for a science museum. Maybe you’ve always wanted to write about healthcare. If that’s the case, you could be a science journalist who works for a scholarly journal or a public relations officer promoting your company’s newest product or service.
Research
You may be someone who loves to spend time in a laboratory. If so, a health science degree might be perfect for you. There are jobs available doing testing for any number of chemical or biological products. You could have a role in developing consumer goods that will affect our lives in the years ahead.
There are many fabulous opportunities out there, and the great part is that you don’t have to choose just one. You could pursue all of the above until you find the right fit for you.
Regardless, you are still having an impact on healthcare, but far away from needles, blood, and a doctor’s office. In fact, a health science degree might be just what the doctor ordered!
To learn more about earning your healthcare degrees in the Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) College of Health Sciences, request information today! CUKC is located in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of the Kansas City metro.
While you’re adding to your knowledge base, get up to date on the options available regarding how to pay for college. We have a free eBook on that: Your Guide to Navigating College Financial Aid.
