While many do choose to work within the medical field, and so devote the necessary years in medical schools to pursue a doctorate of medicine, this is not for everyone. Many other healthcare professionals still would like an advanced degree in order to potentially take a current career to the next level. The good news is that a master’s degree might lead to a host of potential and diverse professions in some extremely fast growing sectors.
The Search Process: Getting Specific About Your Subject
You now have a basic understanding of the why pursuing a master’s degree might be important. Choosing a masters program whether a medical degree or healthcare degree might seem daunting but if you go about it systematically, and use some of the search tools on GradSchools.com you might find it less complicated than expected.
First thing to consider is: What is your intended career? Are you familiar with the academic track you need to complete to be able to work in that field? This is important, especially if and when come to decide between a thesis and non-thesis option (where applicable). If you intend to enter the workforce after graduation or go on to pursue a Doctorate degree.
Choose a subject within the Medicine and Health Masters Programs Directory. Get specific, if you are able, so as to pinpoint a few options; here are some of the listings and their sub categories:
- Masters in Biomedical sciences (includes Biotechnology, Immunology & Cancer Biology)
- Masters in Clinical Laboratory Science (includes Pathology & Disease Sciences)
- Masters in Communication Science (includes Audiology, Communication Disorders, Speech Pathology)
- Masters in Gerontology
- Masters in Health Informatics
- Masters in Health Sciences (MHS)
- Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA, MBA)
- Masters in Human Services
- Masters in Medical Assisting (Dental Assisting/Dental Hygiene)
- Masters in Medical Diagnostics (Includes Anesthesiology, Cardiovascular Technology)
- Masters in Medical Specialties (Includes Alternative Medicine, Chiropractic, Dental Medicine, Medicine and premed programs, Optometry, Physician Assistant, Respiratory Therapy)
- Masters in Nursing (Includes Accelerated Nursing programs, BSN-MSN, Midwifery, MSN Nursing, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Education, Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Administration, Nursing Informatics, Nursing Specialties)
- Masters in Nutrition & Fitness (Includes Nutrition & Food Science)
- Masters in Pharmacology (Includes Pharmaceutical Sciences, PharmD, Toxicology)
- Masters in Physical & Occupational Therapy (Includes Athletic Training, Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy)
- Masters in Public Health (Includes Bioethics, Epidemiology, Health Education and Communication, International Health, Occupational Health & Safety)
- Masters in Radiological & Imaging Sciences
Is Pre-Med a Masters Program?
Pre-med is not a degree, but is used as a general term for the course topics and activities needed for students interested in attending medical school. The Master of Medicine (MMed) is a masters degree program (postgraduate) that is awarded by medical schools to physicians (PhD candidates) who have followed a period of instruction and examination. The goal is to educate them about human biology and disease in order that they might transform new scientific discoveries into useful medical advances.
What is Better For You? On-Campus or Online Masters Program
Sometimes the choice is made for you in that the program you are seeking is only available in one format. Where there is a choice, the two most common are graduate school (campus masters programs) or distance-learning (online masters programs).
For search, use either program format to yield different results. You can also filter a search by location; use the city, state and country tabs.
This is a unique opportunity to decide on what your needs are. If you are an independent learner, currently working, or live too far from the graduate school you are considering, then an online program may work for you. If your program entails building interpersonal skills, laboratory work or rotations, or you enjoy the hands-on or social learning component, and then perhaps on-campus is better for you. Make sure to request information from each college or university so that you can compare the offerings of one institution to another.
Ask About Accreditation
Accreditation means that an outside agency has validated and verified the quality and standards of the program, college, university or institution of higher learning. Many fields in Health and certainly in medicine have licensing requirements that might only be met if the student has graduated an accredited school (or program) and passed the qualifying exams.
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation has a wealth of information on accrediting bodies. Some of the other important programmatic accrediting agencies for healthcare disciplines include the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), which accredits a wide variety of professional healthcare programs; the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which accredits a variety of nursing programs;
FUN FACT:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015 there were 23 accredited Doctor of Optometry programs in the United States, one of which was in Puerto Rico.
Careers with a Medicine and Health Masters Program
Some of these professions and the associated Medicine and Health Masters Degree Programs include:
These are a few examples where a Masters degree might open some doors for you that an undergraduate degree would not. There are usually licensing and certification requirements in addition to your education. In some cases, students use their Medicine and Health Masters Program as a stepping-stone to doctoral-level degrees. This is often the case in nursing, as well as areas such as occupational therapy.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some Chiropractors holding a Doctor of Chiropractic degree choose to earn a master’s degree in a related topic, such as nutrition or sports rehabilitation.
Find a Master's Degree Program in the Health Care Field Today
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 19 % from 2014 to 2024, a rate that is much faster than the average for all occupations, and translates to about 2.3 million new jobs! Whether you hope to advance a current career or learn the technical and professional skills required for many roles in health care and medicine, explore your choices for Medicine and Health Masters Programs today!
