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The healthcare industry's success depends on competent professionals who are well-educated, experienced and driven by a passion for helping their communities stay healthy. Whether you want to break into the medical field as a career changer or seek specialization as an established healthcare worker, investing in a graduate degree is a great way to transform your professional trajectory and amplify your influence in the field.
Discover which degree program may be the right fit for you and your long-term professional goals.
While a graduate degree is a prerequisite for many healthcare careers, such as becoming a physician, dentist or pharmacist, pursuing a high-level education in healthcare offers a broad range of benefits.
Tackle higher-level career roles: Due to their rigorous nature, a master’s or doctoral degree program equips you with the advanced skills, specialized expertise and real-world experience needed to take on leadership roles in healthcare. Whether you’re managing an entire hospital or overseeing a team of nurses, your time earning a graduate degree supports your overall growth as a professional and empowers you to lead.
Increase your earning potential: Data shows that health professionals with graduate degrees typically have higher salaries than their counterparts who only have a bachelor’s degree. While incomes vary based on industry, state and years of experience, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the annual salary for a health service manager—a role that typically requires a master’s degree—is $110,680, more than double the national average of $48,060.
Find reliable employment: With an aging population and an increased need for medical services, the healthcare industry continues to expand. For instance, the BLS anticipates the employment growth rate of health service managers, physical therapists and physician assistants to rise by 29%, 14% and 28%, respectively. Meanwhile, the national average employment growth rate is 4%.
Make a lasting impact on the healthcare system: Pursuing a graduate education in healthcare deepens your understanding of industry operations, policies, patient needs and more. With your wealth of knowledge and lived experience, you can contend for improved system efficiency and patient outcomes, which help strengthen the healthcare field.
With so many sectors and disciplines within the medical industry, there are plenty of healthcare graduate programs from which you can choose. Below, we’ve curated a list of in-demand degrees that can help you find a professional path that brings fulfillment and opportunity.
Designed for ambitious, business-minded professionals, a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree gives you the education needed to lead medical organizations and enact system-wide improvement. An MHA program strengthens your business acumen and healthcare expertise by focusing on leadership strategies, industry policy, financial management, human resources and data-driven decision-making. With the experience you gain, you graduate ready to oversee healthcare facilities in executive roles and drive operational change.
Have a passion for food and helping people build a healthier lifestyle? Pursuing a Master of Science (MS) in Nutritional Sciences gives you the science-backed knowledge needed to conduct groundbreaking research and promote evidence-based dietary interventions that sustain health and prevent disease. In your program, you can explore clinical research methodologies, medical nutrition therapy planning, public health programs and food industry innovation. You can also plan to complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practicum, which qualifies you to sit for the exam from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
If this line of work piques your interest, learn more by reading our How to Become a Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist vs. Registered Dietitian: What's the Difference? guides.
If you want a patient-focused career but don’t want to attend medical school, you can earn your Master of Medical Science (MMS) in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies degree to become a physician assistant. Your time in a PA Studies program ensures you develop a broad range of medical knowledge and gain clinical expertise, equipping you to deliver exceptional patient care. While methods vary from program to program, you most likely will participate in traditional lectures, anatomy labs, learning simulations and clinical practicums—all of which give you quality professional experience and prepare you for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).
If you are looking to elevate your nursing career options, consider a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program. Many MSN programs offer specialized tracks to become a family nurse practitioner, nurse educator or nurse leader. Whichever route you choose, you acquire advanced clinical skills, learn more about management tactics and begin to establish yourself as a competent, highly qualified leader ready to work in hospitals, clinics and academic settings.
Make an impact on individuals and families by pursuing a Master of Science (MS) in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). In your MS in Applied Behavior Analysis program, you study how to serve those with diverse behavioral needs through traditional, lecture-based learning and clinical practicum, which help you adjust to working in the real world. You gain a deeper understanding of evidence-based assessment and intervention practices, behavior analysis principles, research methodologies and how to make data-based clinical decisions for the benefit of your patients.
With the expertise and skills you acquire, you can work with individuals of all ages with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities, providing the support they need to thrive.
As the highest degree in the nursing profession, a Doctor of Nursing Practice program delivers an intensive education that shapes you into an influential leader in the workforce. A DNP program, which can take three to five years to complete, immerses you in specialized clinical practice, such as working in anesthesia and studying innovative ways to lead in healthcare settings and improve policy and system operations. With your DNP, you can work as a clinical researcher, hospital executive or nurse anesthetist — roles that earn some of the highest salaries in the nursing field and enhance patient-centered care.
Want to learn more about DNP-related career opportunities? Read our blog post, Nurse Anesthetist Careers, to discover if this is the right professional path for you.
Help patients improve mobility, recover from injury and boost their quality of life by earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. DPT programs typically take three years of full-time study to complete and include a strong emphasis on hands-on, clinical education to prepare you for this patient-facing role. During your program, you study anatomy and physiology, biostatistics, clinical sciences, physical therapy interventions, medical law and much more. Upon graduating from a DPT program, you can take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and begin your career supporting patients on their path to recovery.
Whether you want to lead a team of nurses, enhance the operational functions of medical facilities or support patients in regaining their mobility, pursuing graduate education empowers you with in-demand skills so your career thrives. And Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU) can help you achieve these educational goals.
With more than 100 years of experience training servant leaders, FranU delivers a holistic education with a specialized focus on health sciences programs. Here, you find your purpose and embark on a journey that enriches your knowledge and cultivates professional growth.
Ready to take the next step toward enrolling in a healthcare graduate program? Discover the possibilities that await at FranU.
We’re proud to be named one of Baton Rouge’s top choices for higher education. This honor reflects our ongoing commitment to academic excellence, student success and community impact.
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