A Healthcare degree in bachelor does often require 120 credit hours to be completed. It includes general education and core courses to study in four years.
What kinds of healthcare degrees are available?
The Healthcare degree program is comprised of many professions. It is not only associated with nursing, dentistry, podiatry, physical therapy, and optometry. Courses that are included in a healthcare degree program are biology, anatomy, and other social sciences. Significant clinical practices are also necessary so students can learn from the perspective of the real world. As our population grows and ages, demand for this degree is increasing day by day. BLS (The BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS) shows that this profession will grow fourteen percent between the years 2018 to 2028 which is the highest rate of growth for any profession. There are many types of healthcare degrees as there are many specializations and sub-specialization in the field of healthcare. It is very difficult for anyone to figure out that what profession they should choose and what degree they want to pursue. Some most common options are given below:
- Associates degree (1)
Several kinds of degrees exist in the field of associate degrees; it requires two years and sixty credit hours to complete this degree. Some associate degrees can lead to certification in the state. Requirements to apply for the healthcare care degree need GED transcripts or High School. Some specializations in the associate degree of healthcare are:
- Clinical medical assisting
- Healthcare administration
- Health services administration
- Healthcare management
- Massage therapy
- Dental assistant
- Medical administration
- Medical office administration
- Medical billing and coding
- Medical office transcribing
After completing an associate’s degree you can easily find a job in management associations, clinics, hospitals, and many more. An associate degree enables you to make an entry into the medical or healthcare field. But still, ADN that is an associate degree in nursing is available at colleges but this has phased out because the federal government commits to improving the quality of education in administrative and clinical departments.
- Bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor’s degree requires four years and one hundred and twenty credit hours to complete. It is more advanced than an associate degree. You can shorten your bachelor’s degree if you are already holding an associate degree. Several fields are present in this category and you can choose any field but some most popular healthcare degree in bachelor is:
- Registered nursing or BSN (BACHELORS OF SCIENCE IN NURSING)
- Healthcare administration
- Health service management
- Health information system
- Healthcare management
- Long term care
- Systems health administration
Foundational coursework is required in the field of biochemistry, genetic, organic chemistry, and anatomy. Internships in the setting of healthcare settings and practicums are necessary for some healthcare degrees to fulfill the requirements of the state for licensing. As NCLEX exam is necessary for the nurse to pass for becoming a registered nurse. Bachelor’s degrees program also prepare their students to study for master’s degrees. Pre-medical students who have done major in biology can apply to medical programs. A high school transcript and score of SAT or ACT is required for the application in the bachelor’s degree program of healthcare.
Masters degree in healthcare
If anyone is interested in advancing their skills and knowledge, achieve better job opportunities, or wants a great increase in their salary they should go for a master’s degree. The duration of a Master’s degree usually depends on the subjects you choose and the school you want to go to. On average it took two years to complete a master’s degree program. There are many courses in master’s degree for specialization.
- Masters of business administration with a specialization in healthcare management
- Masters of public health
- Health administration gerontology
- Healthcare MHA ADMINISTRATION
- Nursing MSN Or masters of science in nursing
It is the most popular degree that people are doing to build their careers as it is the most emphasized degree in healthcare these days. It takes one to two years to complete this degree and requires 30 to 40 credit hours. Such degrees help students to pursue their careers as clinical managers, health services managers, chief operations officers, and many more. Many professions need a master’s degree to enter the field for example physician’s assistants must pass a bachelor’s and master’s degree in healthcare and then pass the licensing exam to get the job. You need a bachelor’s degree from a reputed college and a good test score on the GRE test to apply for a master’s degree.
Doctoral degree in healthcare:
The most advanced degree in healthcare is a doctoral degree. To do this degree you must have a master’s degree completed. In doctoral degrees, there are two types of degrees one is M.D, and the second one is Ph.D. If you want to become a physician in the United States, you must go for an M.D degree. It takes four years to complete this degree and this degree prepares students for the residency program and pursues their career as a doctor.
Research is required for Ph.D. students and or they can teach at any college. A doctoral degree required ninety credit hours and four to six years to complete. Written dissertation and oral defense are necessary to pass to graduate doctoral degree. Bachelor or master’s degree from an accredited college or school and good scores on GRE or GMAT are required to take admission in a doctoral degree. The most common and popular doctoral healthcare degrees are:
- D. in community health promotion and education
- Doctor in counseling studies
- D. in health management and policy
- D. in Health Services
- D. in public health
- D. in psychology
- D. in leadership
- Doctor of health science
- Doctorate of nursing practice
- Doctorate of occupational therapy
- Doctor of education health
- Doctor of healthcare administration
- Transitional doctor of physical therapy
- Doctor of management of nonprofit agencies.
Salaries of healthcare degree holders: (2)
Here is the list of highly paid healthcare careers:
Respiratory therapist: median salary $60,280
Dietitian and nutritionist: median salary $60,370
Radiologic and MRI technician: median salary $61,240
Occupational health and safety specialists: median salary $69,370
Chiropractors: median salary: $71,410
Registered nurse: median salary $71,730
Dental hygienist: median salary $74,820
Nuclear medicine technologist: median salary $76,820
Radiation therapist: median salary: 82,330
Occupational therapist: median salary $84,270
Physical therapist: median salary $87,930
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