Those interested in health science or exercise science can pursue careers in the healthcare, fitness, and athlete performance.
For the individual who has long held an interest in living a healthy lifestyle and in helping others to achieve the same, the available choices of health and exercise science related professions can seem almost immeasurable with so many opportunities in healthcare now available. Perhaps you have always been the person to whom your friends turn when they get a minor muscle strain or joint sprain. Or maybe you are a health food enthusiast who always tries to educate others on the benefits of cleaner food choices. Possibly your family goes to you often for workout tips? Wherever your talent and passion lies, there is a degree that will lead you towards a profession that is designed specifically for you in the area of movement science or sports medicine.
Exercise and Sport Science Degrees
Many students who pursue an advanced education in exercise and sports science have had a lifelong expressed interest in physical fitness, often being involved in a variety of sports and leading a very active lifestyle. Of the many opportunities available with an education in the Exercise and Sport Sciences, graduates can find professional employment in a wide range of settings, such as sports organizations, health and fitness clubs, athlete camps and workshops, resorts, healthcare facilities, corporate wellness programs and federal, state and municipal parks.
Exercise Science
An Exercise Science Degree will provide a specific education focusing on the musculature of the human body by applying coursework in biology, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology and other related science studies. Through the balance of concentrations in both practical application and educational instruction, the student will learn the proper methods and techniques to successfully guide others in the exercise and development of one’s muscles to increase strength and agility and decrease strain and injury. A career in Exercise Science will usually begin with a Bachelor’s Degree in this area of expertise which will make possible opportunities in personal training and fitness program management. Advancing to a Master’s level of education may lead to further supervisory and administrative positions within the field. Advancement to a Doctoral Degree usually leads to educational professions on the university level.
Exercise Physiology
The student pursuing a degree in Exercise Physiology will learn techniques in the scientific principles and practical aspects of exercise as it relates to the cell, tissue and organ structures of the human body. The successful graduate will have various opportunities in areas of expertise involving fitness, nutrition, health and exercise. Careers in this arena will begin with acquiring a Bachelor’s level education in Exercise Science or related major; however, in order to be considered a professional Exercise Physiologist a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology is the standard prerequisite, often leading to job opportunities in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in hospitals, directorial roles in health and fitness centers and teaching in academic institutions.
Athletic Training
The Athlete Training student will focus on the skills and knowledge required to treat patients in the care of physical injury due to broken bones and muscle sprains. This education will also prepare the student to recognize and minimize behaviors that might incur injury, and then provide new techniques and instruction to help to reduce these risk factors. These professionals are trained to be the first responders to incidents involving injury and may work with children or the armed forces in addition to both professional and amateur athletes. A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree is required for entry into this profession, followed by a state licensing certification in most cases. A Master’s Degree is quickly becoming more prevalent in the field of Athletic Training with nearly 60% of all ATC’s possessing this advanced education.
Nutrition Science and Dietetics Degrees
An advanced education with a focus in Nutrition and Dietetics can lead to a career in working with others to help overcome types of eating disorders as well as to enhance their subsequent quality of life and overall well-being. A degree with a major in these areas will provide a general background in the health and nutrition sciences and prepare the student for employment in any number of areas of a multicultural and diverse population where an advanced knowledge of nutrition and dietary education can lead to a profession in education and research of the relationship between diet and the other health sciences.
Dietetics
A Dietician will utilize their Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics by educating their clients on the nutritional values of certain and various foods to maximize potential abilities and enhance performance in a related field. An internship is usually considered a valuable commodity, either after, or during their Bachelor’s educational course requirements.
Clinical Nutrition
The expertise and knowledge to create effective dietary programs for groups of people or for individual needs can be acquired through a degree in Clinical Nutrition. Students in this program of study will gain a deeper understanding of various nutritional aspects of specific foods focusing on their absorption methods and metabolism rates of the human body. A range of health sciences coursework will prepare the student to effectively apply this knowledge in a clinical setting to aid their patients in recovery from injury and enhancement of physical performance results through the use of better nutrition. The minimum prerequisite of a Bachelor’s Degree is required to begin one’s career in Clinical Nutrition with more opportunities becoming available to graduates of higher Master’s or Doctoral levels of education.
Medical and Therapeutic Professional Degrees
For those who have long been interested in becoming a doctor or other type of healthcare professional with the ability to save lives, discover the next miracle cure, or invent the next innovative medical procedure, a degree in one of the professional health sciences is the first step to a very long and rewarding career.
Many colleges and universities offer pre-professional degree majors such as Pre-Med or Pre-Physical Therapy, however, these specific majors aren’t required to get into a professional degree program - they just help streamline the process. Successful completion of an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree is required to provide the student with a solid background in biology, chemistry, and the physical and applied sciences before leading to a professional degree curriculum. Many healthcare related career paths are in demand, leading to employment in hospitals, private medical practices, insurance companies and other medical industries.
Medicine
For those whose life ambition is to become a Physician, a postgraduate degree in medicine will provide the necessary preparation and skills required. Also known as Allopathic or Osteopathic Degrees of Medicine, the original path for entry into a doctoral program of this type began with a 4 year degree program with a specialization in pre-med; however more recent protocol has allowed for the pursuit of related Bachelor’s Degrees with a concentration in many other fields of study such as biology, chemistry, engineering, exercise sciences, or other various fields. By attaining a high score on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), the student whose background is from any type of undergraduate degree program has the opportunity to gain admission to an accredited medical school. After completing a related field of study in one of the medical science specialties, the doctoral graduate will then have acquired the information and techniques required to achieve the required levels of expertise in the kinds of skills necessary to perform the duties of a medical physician. An additional prerequisite for certification by many medical schools will entail the successful completion of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) prior to graduation, at which point the title of M.D (Doctor of Allopathic Medicine) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) are granted, thus solidifying the final qualifications to become Medical Physicians.
Physician Assisting
Many individuals pursing a Physician Assistant Degree will already possess a background in the healthcare professional services, perhaps in the form of an occupation in nursing, emergency medical technician, or paramedic. They commonly will already possess an undergraduate degree before enrolling in an advanced Master’s program that will traditionally require an additional 2 years of study. The coursework will include a combination of classroom education with practical experience involving a wide array of medical topics and subject matters which require a strong foundation in the health sciences. Internships under the guidance of a practicing physician are often available to provide further opportunities to expand the student’s level of expertise and practical application experience.
Physical Therapy
An education in the area of Physical Therapy will provide the student with the knowledge and techniques necessary to evaluate the conditions of their clients who suffer from debilitating ailments and then to develop a method of treatment that will enhance movement, decrease pain and discomfort, and restore proper motor functions to the injured area. Currently, a Masters Degree is available in many colleges and universities, but by 2020 a Doctoral Degree will be required for certification as a professional Physical Therapist. At the undergraduate level, the Bachelor’s student will take courses which will emphasize the pre-physical therapy studies required to attain entry into the higher degree programs. A Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree will typically require 3 years of study with basic foundations in a range of human anatomy and physiology studies and also areas involving advanced analytical skills and communication, including identification and empathy of the patients’ mental health state in relation to their physical debilitation.
Physical Therapy Assisting
The physical therapist assistant can begin their professional career in most states by first acquiring an Associate’s Degree by an accredited program or university which typically lasts for 2 years of study. The student’s preparation will provide a solid groundwork in both knowledge and skills needed to perform the basic requirements needed for employment as a Physical Therapist Assistant. The blending of both academic and clinical coursework will focus on many of the health sciences as they relate to the human body in addition to the many varying ailments and afflictions that may affect the patients in their care, preparing the student for real world settings in their future occupation.
Occupational Therapy
The student whose goal is a career in the occupational therapies professions will first pursue a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, completing a predetermined amount of clinical work preceding the successful completion of a licensing examination per the requirements of their state. The education programs will prepare the student in techniques, theories and systems to assist the patients in their care in the development of enhanced motor functions and cognitive coordination.
Occupational Therapy Assisting
To accept a career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, the student is usually required to first complete an accredited Associate’s Degree program from a local community college or private career educational institution. The program of study may last between 1 to 2 years with emphasis on instruction in duties necessary to perform the daily tasks of an assistant through coursework that will include human anatomy and physiology among various other health related sciences. Further skills will be acquired through education in the proper use of equipment and implementation of techniques that will be utilized in the profession of an Occupational Therapist Assistant.
Massage Therapy
The Massage Therapy Degree will provide the student with the necessary techniques required for the manipulation of soft tissues, deep tissues, connective tissues and muscles with the intention of relieving stress by employing various methods of acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, Swedish massage techniques and other forms of stimulation. There are a wide range of professional certifications, licensing, diplomas and degrees options available for employment in this field of expertise. The most common method of entry into this chosen profession is by first acquiring an Associate’s Degree in Massage Therapy from a local or community college or specialized massage therapy school. By further obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in an associated specialization to massage therapy, the student’s career path can widen to a more diverse selection of opportunities.