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The growing prevalence of online education has led to its expansion into more advanced degree programs than was once thought viable. One of these programs, health sciences, covers the non-clinical administrative capacity of the healthcare industry. Health sciences involves advanced theories of management and administration, communications, and analysis. These skills are coordinated with an in-depth understanding of the healthcare industry in order to produce individuals who are well-suited for managerial responsibilities in hospitals, insurance agencies, government agencies related to public health and environmental safety, and healthcare supply and manufacturing companies. Of concern to many students, however, is whether or not pursuing such a degree in an online environment will cost them professional opportunities down the road.
The Right Institution Does Make a Difference
During the heydey of organizations such as ITT Technical Institute and the University of Phoenix, many people questioned this new educational model, as it was being offered as an exclusive medium by organizations without a well-established history or reputation. Today, the scene has changed. Reputable and upstanding universities, with roots going back hundreds of years, are now offering degree programs that are mostly, and in some cases entirely, pursued via a digital medium. Online education is gaining in popularity thanks to its convenience, shorter time frame, and greater affordability. Employers are quickly learning that it doesn’t pay to ignore experienced, highly qualified modern-day students that have acquired their degrees outside of a traditional setting.
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Health Sciences Offers High Growth Rates and Ample Career Opportunities
Nobody is turning up their nose at online degree programs in health sciences. With the millions of Americans born every year, this is a field that is only going to expand in scope. More work is available in established fields, and new fields are being developed. Someone with administrative and communications skills, plus a thorough understanding of how the healthcare industry works, needs to be available to keep everything running smoothly. An advanced degree program from a reputable institution isn’t going to get a snub in a field which, as it stands, lacks enough qualified professionals to adequately fill the positions that already exist today — let alone the ones that will exist tomorrow.
Choosing to Avail Oneself of New Opportunities
Not every professional opportunity associated with a degree program is based upon the support offered by a school or other institution. Many opportunities are reliant upon personal efforts at developing one’s own network and contacts and in going the extra mile to accumulate as much relevant experience and expertise as possible. Taking additional courses in line with one’s career aspirations is one possible way to stand out from the crowd, regardless of whether or not your degree is being earned online. Joining professional associations, through their expansive presence on the Internet, is another very viable way of using the online medium to your advantage. Many such organizations offer substantial resources specifically geared towards university students, and they recognize the viability of the Internet.
So, will you miss out on professional opportunities earning your health science degree online? No; the world is adapting to the idea of a digital education, and the prestige of the organizations backing this new academic model has overcome much of the initial uncertainty surrounding the idea. However, it bears reminding that you may have to look in different directions for some of the resources traditionally provided by academic institutions.
