Health Related Knowledge and Skills postsecondary programs focus on public health, disease prevention and health promotion. The college and university programs train you to educate people from diverse backgrounds and ages on the value of health as well as ways to prevent diseases. Some programs combine administrative, including project management, courses with health focused courses. To increase your employment opportunities, you can also major in Health Related Knowledge programs and add a concentration such as communications or political science.
In addition to working as a professor teaching public health courses at postsecondary schools, you can get hired to work as a medical and health service manager after you complete degree coursework. If you gain public relations skills, you can also work as a public relations specialist at large medical facilities like hospitals and clinics. In this role you can work with media outlets (e.g. newspapers, television stations) as well as with community leaders to address public healthcare concerns and to educate the public on effective ways to stay safe after natural disasters (e.g. clean drinking water). Although your work environment can change depending on your employer, you’ll generally work in a comfortable office. Furthermore, you can expect to work standard 9-to-5 hours, five days a week.
To earn Bachelor’s degrees you may have to complete around 120 credit hours. An additional two to three years of academic study is generally required to get Master’s and Doctorate degrees. Core courses you may be required to take to graduate from Health Related Knowledge and Skills programs include:
Undergraduate and graduate degrees you can get from accredited colleges and universities in Health Related Knowledge and Skills include a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Master of Science in Public Health, Master in Public Health, Master of Health Administration or a Doctorate of Public Health. Furthermore, the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools and the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education are types of national organizations listed with the United States Department of Education that accredit colleges and universities that offer Health Related Knowledge and Skills degrees.
Leadership, critical thinking, decision making and public relations skills are gained when you enroll in and complete Health Related Knowledge and Skills postsecondary programs. Additional skills you gain from the programs allow you to complete independent investigations, quantitative and qualitative research and policy development projects.
Jobs for medical and health services managers are expected to grow by 16 percent from 2008 to 2018 according to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This job growth is faster than growth expected for other occupations. Having a combination of healthcare and business management skills can improve your job opportunities. Furthermore, as of May 2008 medical and health services managers earned median annual salaries of $80,240.