If you’re a scientist interested in pursuing a career path in the health sector, having a bachelor’s degree in health science could be a good choice.
What Is Health Science?
Health science is distinct from the basic sciences like the sciences of physics, biology and Chemistry because these disciplines typically focus on topics that are not related to health. While this kind of science focuses on health issues and outcomes, it’s an expansive multidisciplinary field that covers behavioural and natural science.
Health science courses combine lab science courses with classes crucial to understanding the population’s health, why people make bad choices and other things outside of a person’s control that affects their health.
These programs typically require a course in health-related social science areas like sociology, epidemiology, and psychology, per the health sciences faculty. The degrees in health science usually include studies in exercise and nutrition science and often require a variety of health-related classes for public health science professors to provide explanations.
Additionally, this discipline may permit students to study health policy and the business aspect of health healthcare. According to professors, health science courses can include specific health issues like infectious diseases.
Gary Liguori, dean of the University of Rhode Island’s College of Health Sciences, states that the study of health sciences is typically much more expansive than the formal education required for becoming a particular kind of health professional. The programs usually include a lot of health education courses, in addition to information on the treatment of diseases, says Liguori.
As per experts, the primary advantage of getting a health sciences degree in contrast to other types of health-related college is that it exposes a person to various aspects of health that can assist them in deciding what health professionals to pursue.
Health Science Careers
According to experts in health science that a degree in health science can be applied to a range of health-related professions, which is why there are so many that there are way too numerous jobs to be included in a shortlist. Certain occupations like physical therapy, medicine and occupational therapy require clinical training and advanced education beyond the health science bachelor’s degree could provide. Additionally, many positions in this area require certification.
- Behaviour analyst.
- Public health or health community worker.
- Specialist in hearing aids.
- Health educator.
- Counsellors for mental health.
- Patient care advocate.
- Pharmacy sales representative.
- Therapy for occupational or physical.
- Diagnostic medical sonographers who are registered.
- Radiologic Technologist registered with the RADIOLOGIC TECHNOL.
- I am assisting a researcher or assistant.
- Registered dietitian.
“Often health science graduates are known as ‘technologists’ in the professional world, though each has a more formal title in their specific discipline,” Karen Dielmann, dean of sciences, health, and humanities at the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, via email.
PayScale estimates that the average wage for a U.S. worker with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences is $63,000.
How the Health Science Field Is Evolving
Stefan Czerwinski, director of the health sciences division in Ohio State’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Czerwinski, says that health sciences are a relatively new academic field that came into existence at the beginning of the 20th century and has grown in its popularity since the time it was first introduced. A lot of the health science-related programs available in the present weren’t even a few decades ago. Czerwinski says.
“They’re starting to pop up around the country, but it’s not something that is long established in many universities,” the professor declares. “So I think one of the issues is just getting the word out about these programs and that they’re strong preparation for the graduate study and careers in health.”
Bachelor’s degrees in health sciences are more prevalent than graduate certificates in the field because health doctoral degrees tend to concentrate on specific aspects of health, such as occupational therapy, rather than an interdisciplinarity approach, according to experts. There are, however, some general health science master’s and doctoral programs.
“It tends to be more of a general degree which our students kind of design on their own based on their interests,” Czerwinski states about OSU’s health sciences M.S. and PhD degrees.
However, some heads of health science institutions declare that their courses tend to focus on a specific area of the health sciences.
Rivka Molinsky, associate dean of student and innovation for Touro College’s School of Health Sciences in New York, notes that Touro’s school of health sciences offers a range of graduate degrees that concentrate on particular clinical fields like medical counselling and assistance.
Who Should Get a Health Science Degree?
The experts say that health science degrees are ideal for students with a wide range of academic pursuits. Doctor. Kenneth A. Geller is a doctor as well as director of the office of pre-health advice at the University of Southern Cal’s Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. He suggests that an undergraduate health sciences program is ideal for students at universities who love mathematical fields and social sciences, such as the study of anthropology.
“More important, however, is that the individual must have a genuine heartfelt desire to use this knowledge for the betterment of the lives of the community in which they will practice: be it local, national, international or global,” Geller is Associate Professor at the USC’s Keck School of Medicine sent an email.
Experts have explained that the field of health science concentrates on applying research findings to solve real-world problems and requires a hands-on method that is hands-on. Geller says that the training offered in this field is highly beneficial. “Unfortunately, there will always be health care issues that confront us, so there will always be a need for health care workers and people with health science backgrounds in all segments of society.”
Students of health science degrees claim that the programs offer the foundation needed for a successful career as a therapist. AdeebKhalfe, the Houston-based sports physical therapy Therapist who graduated with an associate’s degree in health sciences before completing his PhD in physical therapy, says that undergrad health sciences provide excellent training for advanced health care professional schools.
“It is a great way to earn all your prerequisites for medical school, dental school, and physical therapy school,” Khalife wrote in an email.
Liguori from Liguori of the University of Rhode Island encourages prospective students in health sciences to consider whether they are interested in being employed in a service-related field as that type of motivation for service is crucial for the job of a health professional. He also advises prospective health science students to consider whether they are interested in solving problems, working in teams and analysing data because these abilities are commonly required in the health sector.
