A university degree significantly improves employment prospects and earnings potential.
Just look at the numbers.
Lifetime average earnings for a degree-holder are about $1 million more than the earnings of a person who only finished secondary education in the U.S.
Bachelor’s degree holders are half as likely to be unemployed as those with lesser educational attainment.
Health science degrees show even better prospects. In the U.S., E.U. and all around the world, a critical shortage of medical practitioners, health information and communication technologies, medical data analytics, and other fields. Advanced degree-holders such as nurses earn as much as $70,000 to $100,000 in the U.S. Doctors earn even more.
There are many health science degrees to explore. Here are some of the best.
Health Science Degrees in Just Two Years
There are several health-related careers that require little advanced study. For example, jobs such as x-ray technician, paramedic, phlebotomist or respiratory technician, require an Associate’s degree. The average salary ranges for these types of careers are between $50,000 and $70,000 per year.
Community colleges and private institutions offer courses and job placement for many of these high-demand fields. Look for A.A. Phlebotomy, A.A. Radiology or A.A. Medical Sonography, as examples.
A two-year ADN degree gives valuable career-focused coursework leading to an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or RN (Registered Nurse) career. Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists need two to three years of education beyond high school to earn A.A. degrees.
Four Year Degrees in Health Science
A Bachelor of Science Degree opens the doors to even more careers. Students can continue to attain qualifications as an M.D., Pharmacist, Researcher and more. However, Physical Therapists, Psychologists, Geneticists, Dieticians, etc. need only the four-year matriculation.
If you want to continue to study after earning a four-year degree, general Health Science degrees give you a good foundation. For students entering the job market immediately after graduation, there are several specialties that can help you get ahead.
Some Health Science Degree Programs to Check Out
There are great health science schools all over the world. Here are a few:
Europe
Check out the University of Nicosia in Cyprus. They offer four-year programs in Greek and English.
- Human Biology
- Nursing
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Pharmacy
- Physiotherapy
Also notable is Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Their Health Sciences Bachelor program offers these specialties.
- Digital Technology and Care
- Mental Health Sciences
- Biology and Health
- Policy, Management, and Evaluation of Health Care
- Prevention and Health
The University of Aberdeen in Scotland offers 35 different Health Sciences programs. Some highlights include:
- Applied Sports Science
- Biochemistry
- Biomedical Sciences
- Dentistry
- Exercise and Health Science
- Genetics
- Human Embryology and Developmental Biology
- Immunology and Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
- Physiology
- Sports and Exercise Science
If Europe doesn’t sound like a good fit, here are more universities with Health Science degrees to look at.
Asia
Sophia University in Japan offers Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Nursing. They offer a certificate course in midwifery as well.
Thailand’s Chiang Mai University and Mahidol University both offer undergraduate degrees in Health Sciences with a focus on continuing education towards an M.D.
Hong Kong University students earn their degrees in Food Science, Dentistry and Biology with an eye on graduate-level study.
North America
Queens University, McGill Univerity and the Univerity of Toronto come to mind in Canada. There are more than 70 universities that accept foreign students and offer a four-year health sciences degree.
In the United States, the number of undergraduate institutions that offer a health science degree is more than 4,000. Admissions criteria range from very selective to almost none at all.
South America
English-language instruction culminating in a Bachelor’s degree can be found a Universidad Veritas in Costa Rica, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú in Lima. Peru and Universidad de Buenos Aires in Argentina. English language instruction is the norm at these universities, but expect a largely Spanish-speaking population.
Australia
There are more than 80 universities that offer a Bachelor of Health Science degree and more than 100 different affiliated undergraduate degrees in health, medicine, science, and other fields.
Africa
Victoria University in Uganda, the University of Pretoria in South Africa and the University of Ibadan in Nigeria each offer degrees in the field of health sciences. Instruction is in English.
Getting Started in a Health Sciences Program
No matter where you choose to pursue health science degrees, the first step is to finish your secondary education. Then you must qualify to enter tertiary education.
In the U.S. that means finishing high school or the equivalent, then taking a voluntary barrage of tests meant to show universities your preparation for higher-level work.
In other countries, it may mean a national test like the Apolytirio in Cyprus and Greece or the Nyūgaku Shiken in Japan. In Nigeria, it is the UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) that strikes fear in the hearts of would-be university entrants.
Between test-taking and secondary school culmination, students need to begin the admissions process. There may be more testing, essay writing, and fees. If your planned school is abroad, you need to take visa and travel arrangements into consideration.
Selecting Schools
Your secondary school counselor or a private coach can assist you in making selections. Health science degrees have some of the best future job prospects available. Schools have many spaces open for students.
Apply to at least three schools. The conventional wisdom is to apply to a school where you know you will get in, a school that is a stretch to get in and at least one school that meets most of your desires.
You may find that health science degrees are offered nearby or you might choose to travel abroad. Either way, you have the opportunity to enter any of several careers in health and medicine, insurance, science or even research with your Bachelor’s degree.
Want to know more about education? Check out some of the other articles in this blog.
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