Health Sciences Major

• What is Health Sciences?
• What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?
• What Kinds of Students Major in Health Sciences?
• What Courses Do Health Sciences Majors Take?
• List of Health Sciences Jobs
• What is the Median Salary Range for Health Sciences Careers?
• College and University Departments to Consider

What is Health Sciences?

The health sciences are concerned with the development of knowledge and programs related to health and well being. This field encompasses many majors. Some programs focus on identifying practices that directly improve patient health. Others focus on the physical activity, biological, behavioral and sociocultural mechanisms and processes that affect health status and aging. Health science is also concerned with the study of leisure and cultural phenomena within their related environments and in the context of opportunities and practices integral to the well being of groups and individuals. The health science major prepares students for work in schools, businesses, medical care settings, and the community as health educators. A degree in health science equips students with a variety of educational tools and techniques to use in their health professions by emphasizing both health behavior theories and practical application through educational programming and voluntary service in the field.

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What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?

Various specializations related to a major in Health Sciences may be offered by colleges and universities. These specializations may be of greater or lesser interest to you. A few of these specializations related to this field include, but are not limited to:

Audiology	Environmental and Occupational Health
Gender Health Issues	Geriatric Health
Hazardous Waste Control	Health Care
Health Education	Kinesiology
Native American Health	Nursing
Physical Therapy	Public Health
Radiation Therapy	Radiologic Technology
Respiratory Therapy	School Health Education
Speech Therapy

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What Kinds of Students Major in Health Sciences?

This major is one, which is dedicated to public service. It depends upon which area of specialization a student chooses, but each is a health service either to individual persons or to communities or other large groups of people. Courses in medicine, math, and other high level study classes will be taken, which require dedicated study. Health sciences majors must be concerned with the well-being of other people, study in these majors normally requires a strong scientific attitude.

Is Health Sciences the right major for you?
Take the MyMajors Quiz and find out if it is one of your top recommended majors!

What Courses Do Health Sciences Majors Take?

The required and elective courses you would take for Health Sciences majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.

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List of Potential Jobs in Health Sciences

These professions and professional organizations illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly related to employment than others, however. You should consider the likelihood of employment after graduation carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you should determine what the prospects are for this or any major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment in second major or in a minor.

Gerontologist	Hazardous Waste Management
Health Education Specialist	Nursing
Physical Therapist	Public Health Specialist
Radiologic Technician

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What is the Median Salary Range for Health Sciences Careers?

U.S. Median Salary(starting):$37,800

U.S. Median Salary(mid-career):$69,600

Note: These numbers are national averages so you could make more or less than these amounts. Actual expected salaries will vary depending on your chosen career path, experience, and even your geographic location. Are you interested in detailed information about the forecasted demand for a particular profession? Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you to search on a particular job, whether listed here or not, to give you this information.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Colleges and Universities offering majors in Health Sciences

MyMajors complete list has 768 schools in the USA with a major in Health Sciences.
-View the national listing!

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