Category Archives: Plan B

Athletic Training Major

Trying to avoid cubicle jobs?  Sports fan?  Athletic training just might be for you.  Active, hard-working students should explore this field.  First off, visit Occupational Outlook Handbook to learn more about the career itself.  Second, you can read online about Baylor’s Athletic Training major.  Athletic training requires long hours, including early mornings and working outside.  It can be a rewarding career for those who enjoy working with an active population.

Baylor’s program is quite structured compared to some other majors.  If it appears that you are too far behind to complete the degree on time, you could also consider an entry-level Master’s degree program in athletic training.  The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education accredits such programs and maintains a database.  These programs could be good options for prehealth students looking for a “Plan B.”

Careers for Biology Majors

We know that pre-healthcare students flock to the Biology major, but what career options exist for students who are fascinated with life science and do not want to work in the healthcare field?  Too often, I hear the remark made, “All you can do with a biology degree is teach.”  Teaching is a noble and worthy profession, but aside from that, prospective and current biology majors should investigate the wide variety of options available to them post-graduation.  Here are some places to begin your research:

Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta)– an organization for Baylor students who are interested in biology

Career Resources on the Department of Biology website

Biological Sciences WebLinks from Northern Illinois University Career Services

Have You Heard of This Health Care Career? Orthotist and Prosthetist

 

So often we hear students state with confidence that they want to work in health care, yet they are unsure of the specific ways they would like to serve patients.  I would like to introduce you to a health care occupation that might be unfamiliar to you.  Orthotists and prosthetists, also referred to as O & P professionals, design medical support devices and prosthetic limbs.  They also measure and fit patients for these devices. 

O & P professionals must have a Master’s degree in the field.  A list of accredited programs is available on the website for the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education.  Common prerequisite courses include biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology.  This is not a comprehensive list, and interested students should consult the websites of the graduate programs they are considering.

More information on this career can be found at the Occupational Outlook Handbook website, including the favorable job growth projection for this occupation, or at OPCareers.org.

Career Spotlight: Registered Nurse

An essential part of the healthcare team, registered nurses make up the largest healthcare occupation.  According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for registered nurses is projected at a rate faster than average.  It is actually the occupation expected to add the most jobs between 2010 and 2020.  The list of specialties within the field of nursing is almost endless.  Registered nurses can specialize by type of patient, employment setting, disease, organ or body system.  Hospitals employ 60% of registered nurses, so students who particularly enjoy volunteering in the hospital setting might consider this a viable career path.

Baylor students can declare a Pre-Nursing major.  Students must complete a series of prerequisite courses (including chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and statistics) and earn a grade of C or better to be eligible for admission to the Louise Herrington School of Nursing.  The Undergraduate Catalog states that “admission is competitive and not guaranteed.”  Students should be aware that the last two years of nursing courses are completed at the campus in Dallas, Texas.  An alternative to the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is the FastBacc program, designed for students who complete a Bachelor’s degree in another area.

For additional information on a career in nursing, such as many of the areas of specialization, visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Career Spotlight: Medical Illustrator

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook,

Medical and scientific illustrators combine drawing skills with knowledge of biology or other sciences. Medical illustrators work digitally or traditionally to create images of human anatomy and surgical procedures as well as three-dimensional models and animations. Scientific illustrators draw animal and plant life, atomic and molecular structures, and geologic and planetary formations. These illustrations are used in medical and scientific publications and in audiovisual presentations for teaching purposes. Illustrators also work for lawyers, producing exhibits for court cases.

Medical illustrators must have both a demonstrated artistic ability and a detailed knowledge of living organisms, surgical and medical procedures, and human and animal anatomy. A bachelor’s degree combining art and premedical courses usually is required. However, most medical illustrators also choose to pursue a master’s degree in medical illustration. This degree is offered in four accredited schools in the United States.”

The annual salary range is $41,933-$79,547.

A helpful website is: http://www.texashotjobs.org/08C06.aspx

100 Careers in Healthcare

This marks our 100th post on the Mind Your Major blog!  While I wish I could say that we are giving away $100, that is not true.  Instead, we offer up what some of you might think is the next best thing…100 careers in healthcare.  How many of you, particularly those on a prehealthcare track, have been asked about your back-up plan?  How many of you have a solid back-up plan figured out?  Here are 100 ideas to get you started, with links to detailed information on each career path:

  1. Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist
  2. Clinical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist
  3. Health Educator
  4. Cytotechnologist
  5. Genetic Counselor
  6. Art Therapist
  7. Medical Librarian
  8. Dentist
  9. Built Environment Specialist
  10. Environmental Health Advocate
  11. Environmental Health Practitioner
  12. Food Safety Specialist
  13. Occupational Health and Safety Expert
  14. Forensic Biologist
  15. Forensic Chemist
  16. Forensic Odontologist
  17. Forensic Pathologist
  18. Forensic Toxicologist
  19. Geriatric Pharmacist
  20. Geriatric Psychiatrist
  21. Geriatric Staff Nurse
  22. Geriatrician
  23. Health Administrator
  24. Dental Informatics
  25. Nursing Informatics
  26. Biogerontologist
  27. Clinical Ethicist
  28. Disaster Medical Specialist
  29. Emergency Medicine
  30. Family Medicine
  31. Palliative Care Doctor
  32. Pathologist
  33. Doctor of Osteopathy
  34. Medical Doctor
  35. Physician Assistant
  36. Medical Scientist
  37. Psychiatrist
  38. Psychologist
  39. Rehabilitation Counselor
  40. Social Worker
  41. Licensed Professional Counselor
  42. Child Life Specialist
  43. Marriage and Family Therapist
  44. Substance Abuse Counselor
  45. Athletic Trainer
  46. Clinical Nurse Specialist
  47. Nurse Anesthetist
  48. Nurse Educator
  49. Audiologist
  50. Nurse Midwife
  51. Occupational Therapist
  52. Nurse Practitioner
  53. Physical Therapist
  54. Nurse Researcher
  55. Speech-Language Pathologist
  56. Veterinarian
  57. Dietitian
  58. Occupational Health Nurse
  59. Pediatric Nurse
  60. Public Health Nurse
  61. Registered Nurse
  62. Bioinformatics
  63. Optometrist
  64. Pharmaceutical Scientist
  65. Pharmacist
  66. Podiatrist
  67. Public Health- Biomedical and Laboratory Practice
  68. Biostatistics
  69. Epidemiology
  70. Global Health
  71. Maternal and Child Health
  72. Public Health Practice and Program Management
  73. Exercise Physiologist
  74. Kinesiotherapist
  75. Primary Care Sports Medicine
  76. Animal Behaviorist
  77. Demographer
  78. Biomedical Engineer
  79. Biotechnologist
  80. Perfusionist
  81. Acupuncturist
  82. Acute Care Nurse
  83. Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse
  84. Allergist/Immunologist
  85. Anesthesiologist Assistant
  86. Anesthesiologist
  87. Chiropractor
  88. Critical Care Nurse
  89. Dermatologist
  90. Hospitalist
  91. Internist
  92. Low Vision Therapist, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
  93. Music Therapist
  94. Naturopathic Doctor
  95. Neurologist
  96. Nuclear Medicine Physician
  97. Obstetrician/Gynecologist
  98. Ophthalmologist
  99. Surgeon
  100. Orthodontist

For even more ideas, visit the following websites:

 

Career Spotlight: Diabetes Educator

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “diabetes affects 8.3% of the U.S. population.”  There are many healthcare professionals who assist patients with diabetes, but one profession has these patients and their families at the center of what they do.  Diabetes educators are described by their professional organization, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, as

“healthcare professionals who focus on educating people with and at risk for diabetes and related conditions achieve behavior change goals which, in turn, lead to better clinical outcomes and improved health status. Diabetes educators apply in-depth knowledge and skills in the biological and social sciences, communication, counseling, and education to provide self-management education/self-management training.”

Clinical psychologists, registered nurses, occupational therapists, optometrists, pharmacists, physical therapists, physicians, podiatrists, dietitians, physician assistants, exercise specialists, exercise physiologists, and social workers are all professionals who could pursue certification as a diabetes educator.  More information on certification eligibility can be found here.

Exploring Careers in Healthcare

When analyzing our blog statistics, it is evident that the healthcare field is of significant interest to many of our readers.  For those of you unsure of your career direction (though confident that you want it to be in healthcare), as well as those pre-healthcare students who have not yet developed a Plan B, here are some incredibly helpful resources for you:

ExploreHealthCareers.org provides information on more than 115 healthcare occupations.

Texas H.O.T. Jobs is a similar resource, with profiles of professionals working in our state in healthcare.  There are also listings of academic institutions in Texas that offer the relevant training needed for the healthcare professions that are described.

For personalized assistance with your career exploration or development of a Plan B, contact Career Counseling to schedule your first appointment.

Health Science Studies Major

 

We frequently receive questions about the Health Science Studies major in Baylor’s School of Education.  It should come as no surprise, since approximately one-third of Baylor freshmen indicate that they are on a pre-med track.  If you are interested in a career in healthcare, pre-med or otherwise, please take a few moments to learn some basics about this popular major.

The Health Science Studies major is offered on a Bachelor of Science in Education degree plan.  Be aware that this does not automatically mean that you will be prepared for teacher certification with this program, though some students choose to include teacher education classes in their courses of study.  Students in this major have a choice of four options:

  • Pre-Physical Therapy Option
  • Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Option
  • Secondary General Science Education Option
  • Health Professions Option

Obviously, the first two options are intended for students who plan on applying to a professional school in physical therapy, medicine, or dentistry.  The programs include the prerequisites needed for admission to the professional schools.  Students in these two options should note the following requirement, taken directly from the Baylor University Undergraduate Catalog (2011-2012):

“Students in Health Science Studies (HSS) Premedical/Predental and Pre-Physical Therapy majors will be required to have a 3.0 or beter cumulative GPA after 60 hours are completed (with at least 15 hours at Baylor). These 60 hours will include but not be limited to BIO 1305-1105, BIO 1306-1106, CHE 1301, 1302, 1316, HP 1420, and required math coursework. If a student does not have the 3.0 GPA after completing the required 60 hours, the student will be placed on probationary status for one term.  At the end of the one probationary ter, (two summer sessions count as one term) if the GPA is still not at a 3.0 and/or the above coursework is not completed, the student will not be allowed to continue in this major. Students may appeal the GPA requirement only in very unusual circumstances. Appeals must be made in writing to the director of the HSS program within 15 days of the end of any semester after 60 hours when a student’s GPA falls below 3.0.”

Students in the latter two options must maintain a 2.6 GPA or higher, meaning that some students who are not able to continue in the Pre-Physical Therapy or Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Options are able to change to the Secondary General Science Education Option or Health Professions Option as a back-up plan.

The Secondary General Science Education Option has Health Science Studies students to take courses that would make them eligible to apply for teacher certification, while the Health Professions Option gives students the choice of a minor in Business Administration or Community Health.

Many students find appealing the professional field experience or internship that is built into this major.  Also, students are quick to notice that the Health Science Studies major does not require students to take a foreign language, a significant difference from a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree plan.

We hope this summary whets your appetite for information on the Health Science Studies major.  Stay tuned, as we plan to add an interview with Dr. Barbalee Symm about this major to our Meet the Majors podcast series soon!