Health Science includes sub-areas related to the application of science in health. A master’s in health science online includes disciplines like medicine, nutrition, and other health-related concerns. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a 28% growth in job outlook between 2021 and 2031 for medical and health services managers. The online health science master’s program is for students looking to work in various healthcare fields. Students will learn to analyze healthcare policies and learn about disease control, epidemiology, and public health. After completing the degree, individuals can opt for other health-related career pathways, including medical schools. Taking up alternative clinical programs to become chiropractors, physician assistants, veterinary specialists, etc., is also an option. Students could also launch their careers in health education, health administration, and clinical research. Read on to discover more about the health science master’s online.
Aspiring students should opt for the right program to enhance their career growth. When selecting a master’s program, it is vital to note certain essential factors like institution accreditation and ranking, coursework, student-related services, the infrastructure of the institution, quality of the faculty, affordability, and availability of the electives and concentrations. The teams at Online Masters Colleges have scrutinized various online master’s in health science degree programs and short-listed the best ones. Here is the list of the best master’s in health science online:
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College Name & Address | Tuition | Graduation Rate |
---|---|---|
#1 University of Florida Tigert Hall, Gainesville, Florida 32611 | $10,770 | 91% |
#2 University of Central Florida 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, Florida 32816 | $6,916 | 75% |
#3 Johns Hopkins University 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 | $58,720 | 95% |
#4 University of South Florida 4202 East Fowler Ave, Tampa, Florida 33620 | $8,350 | 75% |
#5 Rutgers University 83 Somerset St, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 | $18,180 | 84% |
#6 Cleveland State University 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115 | $10,419 | 51% |
#7 Florida Gulf Coast University 10501 Fgcu Blvd S, Fort Myers, Florida 33965 | $6,974 | 56% |
#8 Northern Kentucky University Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41099 | $9,900 | 48% |
#9 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 1201 W University Dr, Edinburg, Texas 78539 | $7,002 | 51% |
#10 Western Carolina University Highway 107, Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723 | $4,435 | 61% |
#11 University of Missouri-Columbia 105 Jesse Hall, Columbia, Missouri 65211 | $9,950 | 73% |
#12 Lock Haven University 401 North Fairview Street, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 17745 | $9,288 | 54% |
#13 Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis 420 University Blvd, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 | $9,228 | 57% |
#14 University of Central Arkansas 201 Donaghey Ave, Conway, Arkansas 72035 | $5,063 | 49% |
#15 Nova Southeastern University 3301 College Ave, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314 | $21,153 | 61% |
#16 University of Memphis Southern Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38152 | $9,378 | 54% |
#17 Oregon Institute of Technology 3201 Campus Drive, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601 | $13,209 | 56% |
#18 University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne 2701 Spring St, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808 | $12,418 | 56% |
#19 University of Maryland Global Campus 3501 University Blvd East, Adelphi, Maryland 20783 | $9,072 | 21% |
#20 Excelsior College 7 Columbia Cir, Albany, New York 12203 | NA | NA |
Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available
An online health science degree prepares individuals to work as health science educators. It builds on the student’s bachelor’s degree and gives them more credentials as health professionals to pursue their careers in academic health sciences. Students will have the opportunity to learn from varied health professionals from diverse backgrounds. The program’s curriculum is between 35 and 45 credit hours, depending on the institution, program format, coursework, and concentration. Most master’s in health science programs employ an intensive pre-med curriculum which would be delivered over several semesters. Apart from the in-depth study in health and life science, students are expected to complete a comprehensive examination in the last semester of their course. These requirements, however, may differ depending on the respective institution’s coursework. Doing the master’s in health science online is preferred by students as it gives them the flexibility to pursue their work and complete their education parallelly. Some institutions offer in-person, online, and blended or hybrid programs which combine in-person and online classes. Most institutions providing this program use a unique educational approach so their students can get an engaging environment to meet their academic goals with the help of real-time data.
There are four types of online health science master’s programs available for students. They are the Masters of Health Science or M.H.Sc., Masters of Arts or MA in Health Science online, Masters of Science or MS in Health Science online, and the Masters of Education or M.Ed. in Health Science online. These degrees are readily available in institutions across all states.
The Masters of Health Science or M.H.Sc. is designed to give students a strong inclination in clinical research methodologies and advance their skills that could be applied to both academic and clinical interests. This program benefits students who want to gain skills in using statistical and epidemiological methods.
The Masters of Arts or MA in health science is an advanced, interdisciplinary, and multicultural degree. It aims to cover aspects of personal and community health and the natural world. This program helps students form multicultural views on health and evaluate their values and orientation toward health. Students can explore the broader social and ecological context of community health.
The Masters of Science or MS in health science is an integrated program in life sciences that integrates health care and medical research. The program is well suited for students who want to be well-trained and socially responsible health science professionals. This program aims to increase students’ scientific competencies and is seen as a gateway to other health-care-related programs and careers.
The Masters of Education in Health Sciences Education or MHSE is designed for health professionals and clinical faculties. It is apt for students who want to integrate their interests and explore the challenges and opportunities related to the health profession. Almost all MHSE programs cover health policy as part of their core curriculum, and it is often offered as a concentration.
A specialization is a focused area of study of a particular major. Specializations have specific advanced coursework that helps students strengthen their skills in the particular subject. In specializations, the concentrated area of study is linked to the student’s specific major. It enables the student to garner better career prospects, a better salary package, and higher industry recognition. Here are some such health science specializations:
Area of Specialization | Description |
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Telehealth | This specialization is also called telemedicine. It is a specific field of health care where students learn how a health care provider provides flexible health care without the hassle of an in-person visit. |
Sports Medicine | In this specialization, students deal with physical fitness and treatment and focus on preventing injuries related to exercise and sports. The focus is on restoring the function of injured patients. |
Higher Education | In this specialization, students focus on developing essential skills for studying health sciences. They develop logic and reasoning, which are highly regarded in the workplace. |
Health Care Administration | This specialization involves health and medical administration. Individuals learn to make decisions that can have long-term implications reflecting the business strategies in the healthcare system. |
Health Law | This specialization includes a vast body of law that regulates the provision of services in healthcare. Students will have the opportunity to change and bring improvement to the healthcare system. |
Leadership in Healthcare | In this specialization, students are equipped with skills and leadership knowledge that help them make lasting improvements across healthcare systems. It will help students become effective in overcoming crises. |
Health Care Risk Management | This specialization gives students an understanding of possible health threats. It helps them gain an extensive and methodological understanding of the varied areas of healthcare risk management. |
Reproductive Science | In this specialization, students understand the theory and laboratory aspects of reproductive sciences. The concentration provides a theoretical understanding and skills related to reproductive sciences. |
Medical Health | In this specialization, students are provided with an understanding of the method in public and clinical health research. After completing the specialization, one can work in clinical medicine, pharmaceutical research, and so on. |
Applied Health Science | This specialization aims to encourage a leadership mindset in health. The curriculum is focused on universal health education and health promotion. Being evidence-based, it researches effective support for individuals. |
Master’s in health science online programs require 35 to 45 credits to complete, depending on the institution from which the degree is availed. Students must select varied core courses and concentrations and complete assignments and projects to meet the requirements of their health science master coursework. They are also required to complete a capstone, comprehensive examination, in-depth study in life sciences, and so on, depending on the particular institution’s requirement. Some programs offer their students a thesis or non-thesis option in the curriculum. Students who pursue the non-thesis degree would be required to enroll in classes in addition to their regular coursework to meet the increased credit requirements. There is typically no need for additional courses for masters in a health science program with a thesis. Health science courses are of varying kinds, depending on the overall focus of the institution, program, and concentration. Even similar programs from different institutions would follow different academic paths. Most of the programs have similar courses in a master of health science; here are a few which students can expect:
On graduating from master’s in health science online degree programs, individuals can take up various roles and responsibilities across healthcare fields based on the foundational knowledge and skills they have gained. Some of the skills that a health science graduate would use are their ability to:
Accreditation is a process of evaluating institutions providing higher education to maintain standards of educational quality. It is led by non-governmental processes based on peer evaluation. An accredited program could determine if students can transfer their credits between programs and if they are eligible for federal financial aid. Students should evaluate if the institution where they want to study the program has been granted national or regional accreditation. Some of the bodies responsible for accreditation in the United States are:
Accredited master’s in health science colleges could be regulated by the department of education of the respective states. They may also attain institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools -ABHES. Students could also refer to the Accreditation Guide to understand why accreditation is important.
Masters of health science online degree programs generally require 35 to 45 credits and 1 to 3 years to complete. The coursework, thesis, concentration, Synchronous vs. Asynchronous classes, program structure, and other factors determine the duration of the program. Students could complete their studies in full-time or part-time mode:
An online health science master’s would have a set of requirements that any aspiring student would have to meet to get admitted to the program. Students will have to closely evaluate if they meet these criteria to understand the acceptance level of the college. Each institution would have different requirements and criteria depending on the program’s structure. However, our team at Online Master’s Colleges has evaluated the admissions requirements of several master’s in health science courses in different states and listed the most common master’s in health science online admission requirements:
Students applying for graduate programs must take the GRE and submit the scores when applying to college. However, some institutions might waive this requirement of the GRE under certain stipulated circumstances – such as when students have a GPA higher than 3.0 and some years of experience in the field of health science or related fields. Here are examples of some master’s in health science online no GRE programs:
Students who want to complete their master’s program at a faster pace or within a lesser time frame could choose an accelerated master’s degree. To do so, they can determine if they want to transfer their credits and fast-track their programs to earn this degree rapidly. Those who pursue an accelerated program could finish their master’s in about one year. Examples of colleges offering accelerated master’s in health science online programs include The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Spelman College.
There are no free online master’s in health science courses available for students. However, a few free courses on health science-related topics are available online, which could enhance one’s skill set. Such free courses are not accredited and cannot be used on official transcripts as a replacement for a master’s degree. Here are some free master’s in health science online courses to explore:
Course | Provided by | Description |
---|---|---|
Courses on Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education | Coursera | Coursera provides courses to educate members of the health profession to help them understand the various methods used across different health settings. |
Course on Higher Education in Healthcare Practice | The Open University | The Open University provides a course that enables healthcare workers to develop skills and knowledge and understand effective practices. |
Course on Health in Numbers: Quantitative Methods in Clinical & Public Health Research | Harvard University | Harvard University provides online free courses in the principle of biostatics and epidemiology used for clinical research and public health. |
A cost of a master’s degree in health science would vary across programs. The main costs a student will have to incur are tuition, travel, and course materials. Fortunately, online students do not have to pay for travel and accommodation. Still, the cost of a master’s in health science degree online could range from $10,400 to $18,000. Here are some funding possibilities which students could avail to defray some of this high cost:
Students receive scholarships as a form of financial aid to further their education. They could be awarded to students based on merit by individuals, non-profit organizations, industry-related organizations, and various private sectors. Apart from merit, scholarships could be awarded based on other criteria like diversity, inclusion, athletic skills, and so on.
Grants are a special form of funds awarded by public bodies, specialized grant-making institutions, and charitable foundations. These grants are given to students for a specific area of research or any other specified purpose. They focus on other diverse factors rather than just the student’s academic accomplishment, especially financial need.
Graduate assistantships allow students to form close associations with professionals in their field of study while earning money to fund their education. They also enable students to become published authors in their fields. In an assistantship, a student would be required to assist a faculty member in their respective department.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA is opted for by prospective or current college students to determine their eligibility for getting student financial aid from the U.S. government. This aid is not money or a loan by itself; instead, it is part of a process that assesses the financial need of the students to deem them credible for availing financial help.
Students can refer to the Financial Aid Guide to know more about college funding. Students should also go through Scholarship Scams to be aware of fraudsters.
There are various ways graduate students could fund their education, the most common and popular one being scholarships. Scholarships help ease the burden on students by reducing educational expenses. Here are some graduate school scholarships for a master’s degree in health science:
The Cleveland Clinic established this scholarship for students who wish to finish graduate studies in the field of health sciences from an accredited university in the United States with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Award/Amount : $5,000
Application Deadline : Closed for 2023 | TBA for 2023
The IOKDS healthcare career scholarships provide financial assistance to students pursuing majors in health science from accredited universities in the United States.
Award/Amount : $1,000
Application Deadline : Closed for 2023 | TBA for 2023
CPR and first aid Inc. have established this scholarship for students majoring in health science fields. The grant is awarded twice a year during the college’s fall and spring seasons.
Award/Amount : $1,500
Application Deadline : May 01 and October 01, annually
ASCP established a healthcare diagnostic scholarship awarding meritorious students pursuing health science, majors in clinical laboratories, molecular biology, and so on.
Award/Amount : $1,000
Application Deadline : Closed for 2023 | TBA for 2023
A master’s degree in health science provides students with opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge required to conduct research of high quality in the field of health sciences. It is a multicultural and interdisciplinary program focused on advocating healing and bringing restorative practices through innovation, transformation, and holistic thinking about health in diverse ways.
After earning a health science online master’s degree, graduates can work as healthcare providers in various settings. They can take up leadership roles in hospitals, design healthcare policies, work in managerial positions at big healthcare institutions, and so on. Graduates also have the option to work in government healthcare bodies as health officials or administrators.
Apart from working in hospitals, there are many roles in the health industry where graduates can use their online master’s in health science knowledge, such as:
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare occupations have a job outlook of 13% from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This increase is also expected to raise an average of 1.9 million openings in this field every year.
The list below highlights statistical data on a few career options students can consider after earning an online master’s in health science, as reported by the BLS:
Occupation | Median Annual Salary | Job Growth (up to 2030) | Job Description |
---|---|---|---|
Athletic Trainers | $48,420 | 17% (much faster than average) | Athletic trainers diagnose, prevent, and treat bone and muscle-related injuries and illnesses. These professionals work in educational settings like universities and elementary and secondary schools. |
Genetic Counselors | $80,150 | 18% (much faster than average) | Genetic counselors evaluate individuals or families at risk of diverse inherited conditions like congenital disabilities and genetic disorders. |
Occupational Therapists | $85,570 | 14% (much faster than average) | Occupational therapists work with patients with illnesses, injustices, and disabilities through the therapeutic usage of everyday activity. These professionals work in occupational therapy offices or hospitals. |
Orthotists and Prosthetists | $75,440 | 17% (much faster than average) | Orthotists and prosthetists design medical supportive devices and measure and fit them for patients. They work in various industries, including health and personal well-being, manufacturing, etc. |
Professional certifications are essential credentials to validate skills in one’s occupation. Some occupations require specific professional certificates to practice; however, individuals can earn certifications to gain industry expertise and become prospective candidates for lucrative jobs. Understanding different certifications and how employers value them could help individuals gain competence in specific skills. Licenses are required by law, and the geographical location of work could be a critical factor in licensure.
Each state has its certification and licensure; their requirements differ. However, they will have some common specific requirements, which are:
Those who wish to teach health science must obtain health science teacher licensure. However, it is worth noting that teachers usually only need a bachelor’s degree to become state-certified teachers educating lower grades.
A master’s in health science online graduate can benefit from a wide range of resources if they join a professional organization. Career aid and certification programs are some common features offered by these organizations. One can also look to other resources that provide deeper insights into healthcare management, healthcare policies, etc. Here are a few resources to get started:
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