by Anica Oaks

Most master’s degrees are quite specific, but there are number of them, even in the healthcare field, that are rather broad and can be used to enter a number of rewarding professions. Below is an overview of the top four most versatile healthcare master’s degrees.

1. Health Science

A master’s in health science is perhaps the broadest of all healthcare master’s degrees. Students study and learn about the state of the healthcare industry, operations, administration and policy. They also gain additional education in the sciences, such as biology, chemistry and engineering, and how to apply it to practical use in the healthcare field. Different programs can lean towards a particular specialty. With this master’s degree, you could become everything from a health teacher to a lab technician.

2. Nursing

An old standby, a Master’s of Science in Nursing is a great place to get started in the healthcare field. With experience and perhaps additional education, nurses have a solid medical foundation and can go on to work in just about any role in the healthcare industry. The work of a nurse is also varied and you can choose between quite a few specializations, including pediatric, geriatric, forensic, occupational health and women’s health nursing. Perhaps the best news is that nurses, especially certified Registered Nurses, continue to be in demand, and new programs constantly emerge, including an online RN to MSN for nurse practitioners.

3. Psychology

Individuals with a psychology master’s degree can go on to specialize in any number of types of therapy. You can work in private practice to see and diagnose patients to help them manage mental illness. You can work for government bodies as rehabilitation and parole specialists. You could also work for universities and other research institutions. Other types of psychology specializations you many never have heard of before include engineering psychologists, environmental psychologists, forensic psychologists and health psychologists.

4. Healthcare Administration

Healthcare administration focuses on running and managing healthcare institutions. The degree is versatile because it can be applied to just about any area of healthcare. Every type of healthcare institution, from the private practices of doctors and dentists, to large hospitals and senior living and nursing homes, requires managers to oversee the staff and keep the institution running smoothly. This master’s degree is a good option if you enjoy working with people and want to go into management to support the growth of the healthcare industry and healthcare professionals.

Unless you know exactly what career you want, it can be very useful to get a degree with a broader focus rather than a narrower one. These four healthcare degrees provide you with a solid foundation of healthcare knowledge so you can work in many different areas and institutions in the healthcare industry.

This article was shared with us by CollegeWeekLive.