Creating a More Just and Merciful World
Why Now is a Great Time to Pursue a Health Care Degree
If you are thinking about pursuing a BS in health sciences with the aim of entering the health care field, should you reconsider? After all, the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have created a difficult environment for healthcare professionals. Heavy workloads, stress and burnout have become commonplace words over the last two years to describe healthcare.
But even with the impact of the pandemic, health sciences remains an especially worthwhile field to study. In fact, there are many excellent reasons to major in health sciences and to enter this challenging yet extremely rewarding field. Among them:
- Multiple career options. A BS degree in health sciences can open the door to a wide array of careers in the healthcare field beyond becoming a physician or nurse. Among them: registered dietician, health educator, patient care advocate and pharmaceutical sales representative. In fact, many of these jobs are not the frontline roles that have proved so difficult during the pandemic.
- Demand for health care jobs is high. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in health care occupations is projected to grow 16 percent during this decade. That is a gain of more than two-and-a-half million jobs, largely due to the aging U.S. population. The projected growth rate for health care jobs is faster than for any other occupational group, and much faster than the average for all occupations.
- Higher pay than other fields. Greater demand for health care professionals, many of whom have highly specialized training, equates to higher pay. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage for health care practitioners and technical occupations, including physicians, surgeons and other practitioners was $69,870 in May 2020, and has likely increased since. This was significantly higher than the $41,950 median annual wage for all occupations in the economy.
- Ability to work anywhere because demand is high everywhere. Because health care is a need in every community, regardless of size or location, health care jobs are less geographically concentrated than other types of occupations. If you want to work in health care, depending on the job, you may not need to relocate to a metropolitan area. In fact, the need for health care professionals, and career growth opportunities can be highest in sparsely populated, underserved communities.
- Opportunities to make a difference. It is a plain fact, yet one always worth pointing out, that those working in health care can improve the lives of individuals and have a positive impact in their communities in ways that those working in other fields cannot match.
- Health care jobs can be challenging—in a good way. Those who pursue a health sciences degree and ultimately go on to a career in health care face challenges. This can range from the difficult coursework they must complete while in school to the tough demands and stress that can come with working in health care. Yet, research suggests that many people thrive on these challenges as opposed to burning out. If you are one of them, health care is a field you are likely to find satisfying.
Get started on the path to a career in the healthcare field with Carlow University’s Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences. You’ll learn the skills to provide exceptional patient care and open the door to pursuing a wide range of rewarding healthcare careers.