In Depth Guide to Health Degree Programs

1. What will you study in a Health Program?

Most health programs cover basic topics like biology, anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology. Beyond these fundamentals, every course of study is different. Nursing students, for example, spend a great deal of time on procedural education and fieldwork, learning how to insert catheters, draw blood, run tests, administer medications, and interact with patients and families in distress. Yet, hands-on learning is vital for all students who eventually may treat patients, including physician assistants, radiation therapists, and physical therapists, and more.

Future health administrators and office managers, on the other hand, focus on business-related subjects such as recordkeeping, budgeting, accounting, human resources, insurance processing, and contract negotiation. Because the medical profession relies heavily on electronic records and communication, many health administration programs emphasize computer skills and information technology.

2. Which characteristics do Health majors typically possess?

Many health care professionals enter the field to fulfill a strong desire to help other people. Successful doctors, nurses, therapists, medical assistants, and technicians are upbeat and positive without stretching the truth, and caring and attentive without being inefficient.

Throughout their early academic careers, most health majors have displayed an interest in and an aptitude for the life sciences, especially biology. They are genuinely fascinated by how the human body works. Ideally, they can tolerate the sight of blood and don't mind the less glamorous aspects of health care, such as changing bedpans and cleaning exam rooms.

Students who plan to work on the administrative side of medicine should possess excellent organizational skills and a preternatural ability to multitask. Because hospital and office managers oversee personnel, they should feel comfortable delegating responsibility and mediating workplace disputes.

3. Which specific careers can Health majors pursue?

Health care administrators manage group practices, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities that offer medical services. They supervise and evaluate personnel, admit patients, develop budgets, and maintain electronic records. Some health care administrators enter the field right out of school, while others work as nurses, therapists, technicians, or other medical professionals for many years before earning an advanced degree and taking on a leadership role. Many colleges, universities, and schools of public health offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in health administration and health information.

Registered nurses work with doctors to administer treatment and medications, perform diagnostic tests, and provide advice and support to patients and their families. Most nurses specialize in a particular type of medical facility, certain kinds of medical conditions, or specific populations such as children or the elderly. They work in hospital units, operating rooms, doctor's offices, nursing homes, and schools. New nurses may enter the profession with a bachelor's degree in nursing, an associate's degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing school.

Physician assistants work in a clinic or hospital and perform many of the same functions as physicians, including examining patients, making diagnoses, and prescribing medication. Many rural, inner-city, and walk-in clinics rely almost exclusively on physician assistants, who consult with general practitioners and specialists on complicated cases. A master's degree from an accredited physician assistant educational program is required.

Medical assistants perform administrative duties in doctor's offices and other health care facilities. They greet patients, schedule appointments, update records, and handle insurance paperwork and billing. They may be assigned more hands-on tasks as well, such as drawing blood, taking electrocardiograms, giving injections, dressing wounds, and conducting vision tests. Most complete a one-year certificate program or a two-year associate's degree program in medical assisting.

Physical therapists work with people who suffer from injury or disease, helping them regain mobility, relieve pain, and build strength. They work in hospitals, clinics, private offices, and schools, and they often visit patients at their homes. Some treat a wide range of conditions, while other specialize in a specific area of the field, such as pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, or sports medicine. A master's degree in physical therapy is required.

Radiation therapists treat cancer patients with machines that project tumor-shrinking X-rays. They work with a radiation oncologist and a dosing specialist to develop a treatment plan for each individual and monitor any side effects that may arise. Because cancer can be life-threatening, radiation therapists often find themselves providing emotional support to patients and families as well. Most positions require a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree, or a certificate in radiation therapy.

4. Which well-known people in the industry have completed Health degree programs before becoming successful?

• Margaret Sanger, an advocate for birth control and women's health, trained as a nurse.
• Jo Brand spent 10 years as a psychiatric nurse before becoming one of Britain's most cherished comedians.
• Olympia Dukakis, the film and stage actress, majored in physical therapy at Boston University and worked as a physical therapist.

5. How much do Health majors typically earn in the various fields they can pursue?

Health care administrators

• Mean annual salary: $88,750
• Mean hourly wage: $42.67
• Top employers: hospitals, offices of physicians, nursing care facilities, home healthcare services, outpatient care centers
• Top paying U.S. states: Washington, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island

Registered nurses

• Mean annual salary: $65,130
• Mean hourly wage: $31.31
• Top employers: hospitals, offices of physicians, home healthcare services, nursing care facilities
• Top paying U.S. states: California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Maryland, New York

Physician assistants

• Mean annual salary: $81,610
• Mean hourly wage: $39.24
• Top employers: offices of physicians, hospitals, outpatient care centers
• Top paying U.S. states: Alaska, Nevada, Connecticut, Washington, New Jersey

Medical assistants

• Mean annual salary: $29,060
• Mean hourly wage: $13.97
• Top employers: offices of physicians, hospitals, outpatient care centers, colleges and universities
• Top paying U.S. states: Alaska, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington

Physical therapists

• Mean annual salary: $74,410
• Mean hourly wage: $35.77
• Top employers: offices of health practitioners, hospitals, home health care services, nursing care facilities
• Top paying U.S. states: Nevada, California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Illinois

Radiation therapists

• Mean annual salary: $75,450
• Mean hourly wage: $36.28
• Top employers: hospitals, offices of physicians, specialty hospitals
• Top paying U.S. states: New Jersey, California, Montana, Washington, Oregon

All salary information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is based on May 2008 figures.

6. In which parts of the country or world do prominent Health communities flourish?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following metropolitan areas had the highest levels of health care employment in May 2008: New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (NY-NJ-PA), New York-White Plains-Wayne (NY-NJ), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (CA), Chicago-Naperville-Joliet (IL-IN-WI); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale (CA), Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (PA-NJ-DE-MD), and Boston-Cambridge-Quincy (MA-NH).

Job opportunities for health workers in the U.S. should continue to grow in cities and states with sizeable elderly populations, including Florida, California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Generally speaking, seniors suffer higher rates of illness and injury and visit health care providers more often than younger people.

Nurses boast particularly transportable skills, and many countries around the world (including the U.S.) are currently facing severe nursing shortages. For these reasons, interested nurses can look into the possibility of working overseas for a year or longer.

7. What type of "real world" experience could you combine with your Health Degree program to supplement what the program teaches you?

Many degree programs either require or allow students to intern in the local community, sometimes for school credit. Otherwise, volunteering at a hospital, nursing home, or free clinic can be an easy and rewarding way for students to get acclimated to their future work environment while observing health care professionals in action.

Some health care professionals already working in the "real world" choose to boost their earning power or become eligible for a promotion by obtaining an additional degree. Many registered nurses, for example, advance to management roles by earning a master's degree in health care administration, and many medical assistants go back to school to become nurses or physician assistants. They can make this transition even more seamless by attending school part-time or enrolling in an online degree program that allows them to learn on their own schedule.

8. What can a Health degree give you that on-the-job experience may not be able to?

The right credentials. Even entry-level jobs in the health care field typically require some amount of formal education, whether that's a one-year associate's degree program or a decade of medical school. For people who already have a career in health care but need more specialized training in order to advance, an online degree program can be a convenient option.

Gateway to a license. Physical therapists, physician assistants, and various other medical professionals must be licensed before they can practice. Licensing requirements vary from state to state, but formal training from an approved institution is typically obligatory.

A chance to make mistakes. Degree programs offer health students the necessary time and resources to practice their craft and hone their skills. When a real patient is involved, there is zero room for error. Whether they're inserting an IV, using complicated medical equipment, or treating an injury, health care professionals need to get it right the first time or risk harming a patient and losing their job. That's why botching these routine procedures can actually be a good thing--if it's done in an educational setting.