Alternatives to Medical School. Part 2: Master’s Degrees

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University When we think of the healthcare field, we often envision professionals working directly with patients. Last week, we discussed careers in Allied Health. We hope it has become clear that healthcare is a big field with many professions and jobs! This week, we will focus on advanced degrees in the healthcare field that do not involve direct patient care yet have a big impact. Master’s of Health Administration This degree is designed to train students in management careers within a healthcare organization or setting. A few of the areas where you may find a graduate of this master’s program are in finance, regulation, human resources, and public relations. As you may be sensing, this is a degree that can be applied to many fields within healthcare: clinics, nursing homes, and rehab centers; healthcare suppliers like pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, and educational organizations; health insurance; and healthcare policy. Master’s of Public Health This degree is designed to train students to protect and improve the health of populations. This degree brings together economic, social, and environmental health to improve the health of communities around the world. The intersectionality of public health means that many careers are open to graduates such as policy, advocacy, research, technology, pharmacy, and law. Master’s of Business Administration with a specialization in healthcare An MBA provides a well-rounded business education and a focus on healthcare allows students to go on to a range of leadership roles in the healthcare field. This type of degree typically requires more work experience prior to application than other master’s programs. Graduates can be found in healthcare consulting, pharmaceuticals, hospital administration, and so on. Master’s of Biology or Chemistry Graduates with these degrees typically work in research and development at colleges and universities (known as basic research) or companies (known as applied research). For some roles or for advancement, a PhD may be required. As you explore these advanced degree paths, spend time reviewing each school’s application requirements. Some schools or degrees may have pre-requisites or recommendations. If you are a college student, you should speak with your academic advisor, faculty mentor, or career development office about how to meet those requirements.