Meeting Community Health Care Needs Through Educational Partnerships

The activities of the South Central AHEC are part of a South Texas effort by the Center for South Texas Programs at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, with core funding provided the State of Texas and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.

The healthcare sector is a critical component of any country’s economy. It comprises of different healthcare institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare professionals.In recent years, the need for high quality healthcare services has increased. Various organizations have been set up to provide quality care that is both affordable and accessible. But to provide healthcare services, skilled professionals are needed. Changing population trends and growing complexity of healthcare fields has stressed the need for skilled experts who can contribute positively to this sector. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health and social assistance sector is expected to grow at the rate of 2.6%, and projected to add over 5 million jobs by 2022.
With a positive employment outlook, many individuals are preparing themselves for careers in the healthcare sector. The enrollment of healthcare graduate and undergraduates has increased in recent years. Colleges and educational institutions such as the South Central Area Health Education Center in San Antonio, Texas, are offering a diverse range of health-related degree programs.

Health Science Degree
A health science degree is an academic program that offers students an interdisciplinary approach to health at both national and international level. The program allows students to prepare for diverse health careers and understand various healthcare concepts. Health science degrees are offered at graduate and undergraduate level by many accredited educational institutes. Not only do students acquire an in-depth theoretical understanding, but also build strong interpersonal skills and healthcare skills necessary to launch a career in today’s healthcare sector.A bachelor degree in health science may typically take four years to complete whereas a masters degree may take two years.

What you will learn
The coursework of a health science degree will include fundamental subjects relevant to healthcare administration studies, advanced courses, and majors. Students are required to cover all the course components and pick a major. Each course in the curriculum will help students develop a strong base of knowledge and gain an insight on various aspects of the field.Students will acquireknowledge about the historical developments of healthcare in the community as well as modern-day healthcare practices. Here are some of the subjects covered in the program:
College Composition
This course will shape student’s writing skills and communication skills. The course will allow students to explore different strategies to effectively communicate ideas and concepts.
Technological Revolution
This course will examine various social science disciplines and how technology has become the driving force of the economy.Students will learn about the relationship between humanity and technology, and its role in healthcare.
Fundamentals of Microbiology
This course will examine the basic microbial cell structures, genetics, and functions. Students will gain insight into the role played by microorganisms. Topics included in the course are: epidemiology, immunology, bacterial diseases, and biological sciences.
Humanities and culture
In this course, students will understand the main aspects of cultural life and humanist theories. Students are introduced to the development of modern nations and how human ides are expressed through various medical mediums.
Science for everyday life
This is a basic course that helps students understand the role and importance of science. The course will highlight scientific applications and how they affect our lives on a daily basis.

The curriculum will vary a little from place to place. However, the general format of health science degrees is similar. You can get more information about the curriculum from the prospective school’s website.

Majors
Students can choose to major in any one discipline. Some commonly available options for specialization are:

• Health information management
• Epidemiology and biostatistics
• Practices in public health
• Research in healthcare

By the end of the program, students will be able to:

• Understand the healthcare practices used in today’s community
• Effectively apply administrative and leadership skills in the healthcare profession
• Build a strong basis of knowledge regarding the main concepts of healthcare and healing, and also gain insight into different wellness approaches
• Demonstrate strong communication skills and interpersonal skills

What can you do with a health sciences degree?
With a degree in health sciences, you can prepare for different careers in the rapidly-growing healthcare industry. Health sciences graduate are usually employed in healthcare institutions such as hospitals, clinics, community healthcare centers, and even research facilities. Here are some of the commonly job positions pursued by health science majors:

• Health administration officer
• Health promotion officer
• Health information manager
• Medical scientist
• Occupational health officer
• Medical sales representative
• Fitness officer

The income level may vary from field to field and may depend upon many other factors such as the level of degree, location and the employer.