A career focusing on the health sciences seems right for you, but to get started, do you really have to devote four years of your life to school? Today, there are many other educational options, and the first step could be to earn an Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Biological Sciences degree. It’s a smart step that gives you a great start to college.
Two Years to Your Degree
Just think, in half the time you spent in high school, you could earn a college degree that fits this top growth job category. Still, why consider a focus on the biological sciences for your two-year associate’s degree? It has to do with matching educational options to career realities.
Healthcare and health sciences are now the second-largest growth areas for jobs, representing 11% of the U.S. economy. More than 16.2 million people are working in healthcare occupations, and many of them require biological science skills and knowledge.
An Associate of Arts (A.A. degree) in biological sciences usually covers approximately 20 courses totaling a minimum of 60 credit hours. These basic courses include science classes that set the foundation for more specialized study later. Traditionally, A.A. degrees provide minimal science hours in their class mix.
By taking a full-time load of 12-15 credits per semester, you could earn a biological sciences degree in less than two years. Many of the courses in the A.A. in biosciences degree plan will give you the prerequisite (preliminary) classes you need to take your health sciences education to the next level.
This step could lead to the Doctor of Chiropractic degree, becoming a medical doctor (M.D.), or earning a master of science degree in exercise science or exercise physiology.
What to Expect in Biological Sciences
Most associate of arts degrees, especially from universities specializing in health sciences degrees, will include English, math, psychology, plus health science terminology and topics.
As you can imagine, these classes provide foundational knowledge that improve you as a person by deepening your knowledge, sharpening your ability to communicate effectively, and equipping you to solve complex problems.
Note: Often, prerequisite classes like these are available through remote learning, giving you opportunities to get started in college without disrupting your home or work schedule. (Check out this guide to ensuring a satisfactory online learning experience from home.)
How Biological Sciences Classes Benefit You
With first-year classes covering the basics, the second year of an A.A. in biological sciences degree includes courses in
Your overall experience in these classes will give you the confidence to know that a health science education fits your personality, talents, and passion.
Biological Sciences = Occupational Options
If your goal is a two-year college degree, many occupational areas use the skills of those who’ve chosen a biological science degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this job market will increase by 7% from 2018 to 2028.
Many of these roles are in the category of biological technicians, who are needed by state and federal governments, hospitals, in pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing, and food science industries.
As an example, demand for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to increase by 11% from 2018 to 2028, nearly doubling the growth for all occupations.
Perhaps, best of all, earning a degree in biological sciences helps you find the healthcare area that speaks to you. You might prefer to work alone in a lab, do team-based research on medical issues and conditions, or concentrate on taking care of patients through a healthcare specialty.
The A.A. in Biological Sciences Degree: Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC)
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, chiropractic and health sciences university in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of the Kansas City metro. CUKC offers an accelerated Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Biological Sciences degree. The two-year program includes prerequisite science courses in accelerated eight-week blocks, both online and on campus.
To learn more about the A.A. in Biological Sciences degree at CUKC, click this request information link and let an academic advisor give you more details.
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