Health & Medical Sciences Careers

Which Types of Jobs Do Health and Medical Sciences Majors Pursue?

Located at the business and administrative end of the health care industry, graduates of health and medical sciences degree and certificate programs work in the specialized world of pharmaceutical sales, hospital administration, and health care marketing. With additional training, clinical careers or upper-level administration positions may be possible.

A day in the life of a health and medical sciences graduate could involve meeting with a new hospital client or inspecting a new hospital or facility before it opens. Health care administrators may spend a day reviewing resumes for new nurses, developing a budgetary report, or coordinating activities with other administrators.

For all health and medical sciences workers, the job can mean pressure from employees, clients, and the public alike. Because the health care industry is deeply entwined with the lives and livelihood of its clients, health and medical services workers often experience the pressure of such responsibility. Ultimately, those who enjoy the job appreciate the unique challenge of successfully navigating the complex industry.

Formal Training Required to Work in Health and Medical Sciences?

The precise training required to work in the medical and health sciences depends on your individual goals. With an associate's or bachelor's degree, students may work in medical equipment sales or marketing, entry-level hospital administration positions, medical staffing management-trainee positions, or health insurance administration. Coursework combines basic science with clinical studies courses, offering students a mix of gerontology, wellness, public health courses and more.

For health care administration jobs, the minimum requirements are typically higher: the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that all nursing care facility administrators must have a bachelor's degree, pass a licensing examination, complete a state-approved training program, and pursue continuing education.

Some management and upper-level positions in health and medical sciences may require graduate education. For example, high-level hospital administration jobs often require a master's or doctoral degree plus years of experience and service. However, many upper-level jobs in medical sales are based more on a high record of past sales over educational achievement.

The Typical Career Path of Health and Medical Sciences Majors

Successful workers in the health and medical services industry often share traits. Many are adept problem solvers who love to work on teams. Graduates often have a high level of laboratory and technology skills, including comfort with desktop publishing, Web design, and computer software like PowerPoint. Workers value face-to-face interaction and typically possess a high level of personal responsibility for their work.

Far from a one-size-fits-all degree, training in health and medical sciences can be mixed with other degree and certificate programs to create a truly personalized education. Students may move towards the business or clinical side of the health care industry.

The career path for medical and health sciences majors depends on the student's interests, experience, and further education. You may move up the ranks in a medical sales position to eventually work as a supervisor, or you may pursue further education and work your way into patient care jobs such a nursing, dental hygiene, or respiratory therapy. With a master's degree in health services administration or similar, higher-level jobs in medical and health services management potentially emerge.

Job Outlook and Salary Information for Health and Medical Sciences Majors

The job outlook for health and medical sciences graduates is expected to be good in the coming years. Increasingly evolving technology, an aging population, and a renewed interest in preventative care and medicine should mean an increase in jobs across the health industry, including those in sales, marketing, administration, and front-office management.

The BLS notes that medical and health services managers earned median annual wages of $81,850 in 2009. The career is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations, with an expected 16 percent growth between 2008 and 2018. Sales representatives working for drugs and druggists' sundries merchant wholesalers saw average annual wages of $88,150 in 2009.

Salary increases typically come with more education and experience. Health and medical sciences degree holders may return to school for further certification, eventually moving into clinical fields like dental hygiene or nursing. Ultimately, your personal goals and interests help inform your education and career future.