Online Degrees in Health Science
An online health science degree may help individuals determine whether they want to enter the health care field. Also, the education and training programs for online health science degrees may help students decide what area to specialize in and what job positions they might qualify for. An online degree in health science is often a helpful credential for entry level health care positions. Health care fields that students may choose to specialize in after this program include: alternative medicine, clinical laboratory science, dental hygiene, health information technology, health care administration, pharmacy, radiological science, respiratory therapy, nursing, nutrition, and others.
- Online Health Science Bachelor Degree is a starting point in a health care or medical career. It offers many career opportunities. The student can choose to specialize in one of a variety of medical fields. Career opportunities at this level may include working in areas such as public health, community agency, hospital, insurance, pharmaceutical industry, or continuing on to graduate school to study in medicine or dentistry.
- Online Health Science Masters Degree offers individuals the opportunity to advance their health care careers or enter a health care career at a higher level. People with an online health science Masters degree may find themselves working closely with doctors, surgeons, nurses, and the public. This degree program may prepare students for work in health administration, research, clinical work, and health care fields.
- Online Health Science Doctorate Degree may enable individuals to qualify for various careers in the health and medical field such as physical therapist, physician, dentist, surgeon, and others. A concentration or specialization in a particular health care or medical field is usually required for this degree. Areas of specialization may include alternative medicine, clinical laboratory science, dental hygiene, health information technology, health care administration, pharmacy, radiological science, respiratory therapy, nursing, nutrition, and others.
Online Health Science Courses
Coursework in programs for online health science degrees may vary depending on the college and degree level. However, some common courses to expect include information on writing, communication, ethics, health care issues, death and dying, poverty, budgeting and finance, gerontology, management of resources, health care delivery system, leadership and management, health science, microbiology, Social Security, anatomy and physiology, nutrition, health care management technology, research, occupational health, health promotion, health education, advanced human anatomy or kinesiology, applied ergonomics, bioenergetics and weight, economics and public policy of health care, exercise physiology, mechanisms of therapeutic change, movement science, occupational biomechanics, pathophysiology, pharmacology, scientific inquiry, and tissue biomechanics.
Health Science Degree Careers and Salary Information
An online degree in health science enables people to enter a career as a registered nurse, physical therapist, physician, dentist, surgeon, office staff, administrator, medical billing transcriptionist, coding professional, dental assistant, physical therapy aide, medical and laboratory technician, or pharmacy technician. The median entry level salary for people with a degree in health science is often around $30,000. However, this may vary depending on the person's employment setting, job position, level of education, and on-the-job experience. Higher positions may earn $55,000 or more. Employment settings may include hospitals, offices of physicians, dentists’ offices, outpatient care centers, clinics, medical and diagnostic laboratories, psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, treatment centers, nursing care facilities, residential mental health facilities, offices of therapists, and more. The number of health science careers is projected to grow by 22% by 2016, which is faster than the average for all occupations. As the elderly population grows, more health services and therefore more health care workers will be in demand. Also, with medical and scientific advances, more people can survive with disabilities or diseases, so more health services and health care workers may be required to help them with rehabilitation procedures or treat them.