Our Healthcare System Needs Leaders Like You
There is no substitute for quality healthcare. Wellness paves the way to achievement. Health is a signal of strength. The study of health sciences is central to the success and survival of not only our own society, but all of humanity.
Gain the Knowledge to Change Lives
When you pursue a health science degree, you embark on a journey to better yourself, as well as the world around you. These degrees typically include coursework that challenges you to assess our country’s most glaring health concerns within the context of our complex healthcare system.
Many health sciences programs allow you to explore the connection between physiology, modern healthcare, and the strengths and weaknesses of the human body. Your courses may also examine the link between mental health, mindset, and physical capabilities. You will sharpen your critical thinking skills as you engage in thought-provoking discussions surrounding medical ethics and the latest research that defines American healthcare.
Some programs will enable you to analyze health care disparities and disease prevention methods. You may also gain insight into the growing need for effective wellness promotion strategies. You may dissect healthcare policies, evaluate the role of politics in patient care, and consider new opportunities to improve public health in the U.S.
When researching options to pursue a degree, look for programs where courses are led by faculty members with real-world experience in health services.
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A Health Sciences Education Can Take Many Forms
Health science embodies the roles, limitations, and potential of modern health care. At the same time, the health sciences extend well beyond patient care, representing a broad scope of disciplines rooted in health care, health promotion, and even sports and athletics. With a vast array of degree programs and concentrations to choose from, you may focus your studies on disciplines ranging from nutrition to disease prevention, athletic training, esports, and more.
Public Health, Patient Care, and Healthcare Administration
Healthcare is a uniquely complex industry. Some healthcare practitioners must combine healthcare research with business management principles to provide effective, sustainable services to their communities.
The patient care landscape evolves and expands as breakthrough findings and innovations allow us to rethink the limits of modern medicine. Accordingly, undergraduate and graduate programs examine the field, depending upon the program’s focus, through various lenses—from the public health perspective to the health care management realm.
For example, as either a health sciences or public health major, you will discuss everything from the foundations of wellness to epidemiology. Some health sciences disciplines will include labs in biology and chemistry to familiarize you with biochemistry and its relation to our well-being. You will also complete assignments designed to further your understanding of the roles health care professionals and government agencies play in our country’s health.
Alternatively, there are majors specific to the management and administrative practices that propel the health care industry. In a healthcare administration or health information management program, for instance, students complete assignments that deepen their knowledge of organizational concepts. Some key topics covered may include compliance, ethical standards, patient privacy, and health economics. These business-oriented degree programs are designed to prepare you for non-clinical positions, such as that of a health services manager or medical records specialist, for example.
For those specifically interested in patient care, there are a variety of programs in nursing, ranging from those just beginning a nursing career who wish to become a registered nurse (RN) all the way to specializations for RNs in areas like nursing education and community and public health nursing.
Sports and Athletics
Physical fitness is a critical component of overall health. “Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and several cancers,” according to the World Health Organization. Sports and athletic programs are, therefore, more than cultural pastimes; they are fundamental elements of the field of health.
Students interested in learning more about the relationship between movement and wellness can study exercise science, nutrition, and the leading theories in sports psychology at American Military University (AMU). The University offers bachelor’s and master’s-level degrees in Sports Management as well as Sports and Health Sciences. In addition, AMU offers an online bachelor of science in esports program that combines coursework in electronic sports player development, physical training, and the foundations of esports businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions
While there is no definitive “best health science major,” degree-seekers may find programs suited to their unique academic interests and desired career paths. Some majors worth considering within the realm of health science include:
- Esports
- Healthcare Administration
- Health Information Management
- Health Sciences
- Public Health
- Sports and Health Sciences
- Sports Management
If you are interested in postsecondary education in health care, health services, or sports science, then pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree in the health sciences may be worthwhile. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests health science programs may prepare students for a number of careers in patient care and/or health care management.
Health science graduates may also complete a master's degree and/or professional programs to further their education.
The best field depends on your own personal and professional interests. While one student may study health sciences as the foundation for a career in physical therapy, another might be interested in becoming a physician assistant. Still, a third may choose to work toward a future in occupational therapy. Ultimately, a bachelor’s degree prepares students for a variety roles in healthcare while others require a master’s or professional degree, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Be aware, some opportunities will require additional clinical training or certification in addition to the degree.
A student pursuing a bachelor of science in Health Sciences can expect a comprehensive overview of:
- Biology
- Physiology
- Human anatomy
- Chemistry
- Healthcare management
- Public health
- Health information management
- Healthcare administration
- Sports science
- Ethics in health care
Health sciences degree programs may be particularly appealing for students interested in expanding their knowledge of human anatomy, public health policy, and modern patient care. A health science education could also be a practical choice for anyone who has previously served in the U.S. military as part of the:
- Medical Command
- Medical Service Corps
- Nurse Corps
Similarly, a student with prior experience as a military medic or military nurse may wish to pursue a degree in health science to supplement those professional skills.
