BA General Studies Healthcare Careers
BA General Studies Healthcare Careers
BA General Studies Healthcare Careers

Professionals who are interested in a higher education in a health-related field but are not sure what career path to pursue could benefit from a bachelor’s degree in general studies with a concentration in healthcare. Other non-clinical healthcare professionals who, despite having accumulated years of work experience, still lack the bachelor’s degree required to pursue other career opportunities or get promoted could also find this course of study highly applicable.

The field of healthcare is growing rapidly and offers many general studies-related career opportunities. However, in many cases, a bachelor’s degree is required, usually with significant coursework in healthcare. An online bachelor’s in general studies helps build a solid foundation in the liberal arts and non-clinical healthcare, which can provide candidates with a competitive edge. When students complete an online general education degree, they will emerge with a broad, high-level perspective on healthcare, along with a more detailed understanding of specialized topics like gerontology or mental health. This program provides flexibility and allows students to specialize in a field that fits them best and to apply to other programs, such as nursing, after two years of study. With this degree, they can also choose to pursue graduate studies in a healthcare-related area.

Many healthcare facilities rely on a skilled workforce to help deliver efficient care and ensure smooth operations. A bachelor’s degree is often required, and a focus on healthcare could help professionals hit the ground running and face a smaller learning curve at the beginning of employment. Here are some places graduates with a general studies in healthcare degree can work:

There are a number of career opportunities available to general studies graduates. The positions noted below are some of the most popular. However, it’s important to note that for some advanced positions — such as administrative or managerial roles — there may be employment requirements beyond an undergraduate degree. Some may require graduate degrees or advanced training, and there may be specific licensure requirements as well. In short, earning a bachelor’s degree in general studies with a concentration in healthcare can help a student start down the path toward becoming a healthcare professional.

Healthcare administrators are responsible for the management and coordination of medical facilities and departments, and they help maximize the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of delivering medical services.

They create and implement policy, plan and oversee budgets, manage human resources and marketing, and ensure compliance with procedures and regulations. Health administrators work closely with doctors, technicians, and other managers, as well as with government bodies and other medical centers to facilitate the implementation of certain health regulations, policies, and procedures. They can also create outreach programs to educate the community and help promote the work of their facilities.

The position of healthcare administrator generally requires a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field or significant coursework in healthcare and some previous experience in healthcare. Many healthcare administrators choose to pursue a master’s degree in a healthcare-related field or a related industry such as marketing later in their careers.

Healthcare administrators play an important leadership role within a medical facility, and their salary reflects this. Their median salary is $96,540, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Skills recommended to succeed:

Healthcare coordinators, also known as patient representatives or health advocates, play an intermediary role between patients and healthcare providers. They can work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals and clinics, or they may have an independent practice. They perform many important functions: They help identify their patients’ present and future needs for care by regularly communicating with them and effectively representing them to practitioners. They help their patients understand their rights, and they build knowledge about services and technologies and transmit it to their clients. They assess their clients’ eligibility for programs and help them get enrolled. They monitor the delivery and quality of care and measure outcomes to improve the delivery of future services. They also help their patients build long- and short-term care plans.

Patient representatives play a growing role in the healthcare industry and help an increasingly aging and discerning population get the care they need. They usually require a bachelor’s degree in a healthcare-related area and some experience or training. Some may be nurses or other healthcare professionals who want to use their technical knowledge to help clients. The average salary for a patient service representative with several years of experience is $74,751, according to Glassdoor.

Skills recommended to succeed:

Health educators play an important role in helping raise awareness about the health topics and services that matter most to a target audience. They assess the specific needs of the groups they educate and create tailored educational programs and materials geared toward them. Health educators can work in different settings, such as in middle and high schools or in public health organizations and private businesses, where they can help educate employees on topics such as healthy eating or substance abuse.

To become a health educator, professionals must hold a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field and earn special designations, such as Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES).

To qualify for these examinations, professionals must hold a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field or have taken significant coursework (at least 25 semester hours) related to specific competency areas during their undergraduate or graduate studies. Some health educator positions require a master’s degree. The median salary for health educators is $44,390, according to BLS.

Recommended skills to succeed:

Like health educators, community health representatives help to educate communities on important health matters that relate to them. They usually know their communities well and help advocate for better public health programs that meet the needs of their members by collecting data, observing and analyzing local needs, and communicating those needs to healthcare providers, government organizations, and other decision-makers. They can also provide community members with social support and referrals to services and programs.

Community health representatives usually require a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field or have a clinical background. The median salary for this occupation is $34,197, according to Glassdoor.

Recommended skills to succeed:

Healthcare product managers are responsible for the creation of products throughout their life cycle. They conduct market research to ascertain the types of products and services consumers want and seek to find solutions to problems and concerns. They help design products and get involved in pricing, manufacturing, and brand management. They can also manage the marketing, customer development, and sales of the product and ensure that regulatory requirements are met.

Healthcare product manager positions often require a bachelor’s degree, and a focus in healthcare can provide a candidate with a distinct advantage. Their median salary is $88,616, according to Payscale.com.

Recommended skills to succeed:

Clinical researchers help coordinate aspects of clinical research trials that are often conducted on volunteers, who provide samples such as blood to be studied in a lab. Research can provide information on the effectiveness of drugs or therapies and help illuminate different aspects of various conditions and illnesses.

Researchers play an important role in monitoring study data to verify accuracy and consistency and in ensuring that specific protocols and ethical guidelines, especially in regard to human research subjects and their privacy, are met. Researchers can be employed by pharmaceutical or medical device companies or by universities, or they can be hired on a freelance basis by sponsors.

Research positions usually require a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field, and many employers prefer graduate degrees and/or certifications from groups such as the Association of Clinical Research Professionals. The salary range for researcher positions is $50,930, according to the BLS.

Recommended skills to succeed:

Those who are interested in the healthcare industry and are skilled sellers can work as a medical sales representative for a wide range of clients in healthcare. Responsibilities can include selling products and services to doctors, nurses, hospitals, medical schools, and more; managing, building, or growing a customer base through sales plans and strategies; and providing customer service.

Many employers require a bachelor’s degree in a healthcare-related field, which can provide sales specialists with the technical skills to understand their products, sell them effectively, and better evaluate the market and competitors. The salary for medical sales representatives is $65,262, according to Glassdoor.

Recommended skills to succeed:

Patient care schedulers help manage staff scheduling so productivity and performance are enhanced, a medical facility’s resources are optimized, and patients are getting the best possible care.

They spend time making appointments and ensure that there is enough time to schedule exams as needed and that physicians or surgeons are available. They have knowledge related to procedures and protocols and monitor the proper delivery of services, and they work on communicating this effectively throughout an organization. They also prepare reports on the provision of services and can refer patients as needed to other providers, specialists, and insurers.

Patient care schedulers often require a bachelor’s degree in a medical-related field, and relevant work experience can provide candidates with an edge. Their median salary is $48,776, according to Glassdoor.

Recommended skills to succeed:

Medical technologists play an important role in healthcare. They contribute to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease by running vital laboratory tests; helping evaluate samples such as blood, other fluids, and cells; and analyzing and interpreting results. They perform quality control and ensure that results are accurate and are reported in a timely manner.

Medical technology is a regulated industry, and professionals must be licensed by a professional board such as the American Medical Technologists (AMT). To be certified, candidates usually require a bachelor’s degree in medical technology or a bachelor’s degree with significant coursework in a healthcare-related industry and have training in medical technology. The median salary for medical technologists is $53,452, according to Glassdoor.

Recommended skills to succeed:

Whether future professionals are interested in client-oriented positions, such as medical sales, want to help educate the public about critical health concerns, or want to contribute to medical research, there is a wide variety of careers graduates with an online bachelor’s in general studies with a concentration in healthcare can pursue.

Graduates may also opt to further their education in a health-related field, which may require additional coursework in healthcare, or obtaining additional training and certification, which can lead to an even more fulfilling and challenging career in the future. Learn more about Maryville’s online bachelor’s degree program in general studies with a concentration in healthcare.

Now that you have a better understanding of potential general studies careers, discover a thorough description of general studies and its role in the modern world.

Sources

Glassdoor, “Health Care Coordinator Salaries”

Glassdoor, “Community Health Program Representative Salaries”

Glassdoor, “Medical Scheduler Salaries”

Glassdoor, “Medical Sales Representative Salaries”

Glassdoor, “Medical Technologist Salaries”

PayScale.com, “Average Product Manager, Healthcare Salary”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment Statistics – Healthcare Social Workers”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Outlook Handbook – Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians” 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Outlook Handbook – Medical and Health Services Managers”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Outlook Handbook – Registered Nurses”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Outlook Handbook – Health Educators and Community Health Workers”