Online Healthcare Degree Programs

Online Healthcare Degree Programs

Online Healthcare Degree Programs

An online healthcare degree program can provide the necessary requirement for a number of careers in the healthcare field, including nursing, physical therapy, medical assistance, healthcare management and healthcare technician positions. An undergraduate degree in healthcare provides a foundation for advanced (master and doctorate) healthcare degrees. We have also made a section only about nursing education which is well worth a visit. Read more about online healthcare degree programs.

Some Stats

In 2006, 115,263 associate, 91,973 bachelor and 51,380 master and doctorate degrees were conferred for health professions and related clinical sciences, according to a report from the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics. (1)

Employment Outlook

The healthcare field is one of the largest and highest-paying career options for people with an undergraduate degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that healthcare was the largest industry in 2006, providing 14 million jobs, and that the healthcare industry is expected to generate 3 million new jobs before 2016. This accounts for 20% of the expected growth across all industries. (2) Also according to the BLS, entry-level healthcare positions such as nursing, psychiatric technicians and home health aides are expected to increase by 28% by the year 2016. This is significantly faster growth than entry level occupations in other fields. Careers that require graduate degrees in healthcare are expected to experience significantly faster growth than other industries as well — 23% by 2016. (3)

Specialties

Undergraduate specialties for online healthcare degrees include nursing, x-ray technician, occupational therapist assistant, dental assistant, medical assistant and a number of other entry-level positions. Graduate degrees in healthcare allow students to enter specialized careers with increased earning potential, such as physician, nurse administrator, nurse educator, chiropractor, dentist, speech pathologist or healthcare management.

What to Expect

Students pursuing undergraduate healthcare degree programs can expect to complete general education courses including math and English, as well as courses offered for specific healthcare education and hands-on experience in their chosen specialty. Graduate degrees, for the most part, do not have these core courses, and are more focused on the specialty.

The End Result

Successful completion of any of a number of undergraduate healthcare programs can lead to a wide variety of entry level positions in the healthcare field and provide a foundation for further study to qualify for some of the highest paying careers in the industry:

Degrees from online healthcare programs are among the most sought-after in the job market today. These careers are not immune to cuts; however, they are generally regarded as recession-resistant – making them more stable than many other industries during hard times. Click on the link for a list of programs to get your healthcare degree online.

(1) Source: U.S. National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics
(2) SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Career Guide to Industries: Healthcare
(3) SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-09 Edition