A career in health care can be satisfying and meaningful, allowing you to combine scientific knowledge and technical expertise with a focus on working with and caring for other people. Employment opportunities in this area have generally grown even during periods of economic downturn.

Physicians, who complete medical school plus a specialized residency and hold an MD or DO degree, might be the first health professionals that come to mind. Or, you may think of dentists, who earn a DDS or DMD degree and may specialize in an area like orthodontics or periodontics. A veterinarian (DVM) completes similar training for the care of animal patients.

However, there are many more options! You could become a physician assistant, who works under the direction of a physician and can specialize in a particular kind of care. Or, you could choose a specialized medical program such as podiatry. Specialized nursing careers like nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist provide another alternative.

Many additional fields offer patient-care opportunities, such as nursing, pharmacy, optometry, radiation therapy, physical or occupational therapy, nuclear medicine, or dietetics. Science, medicine and psychology come together in new fields like genetic counseling and rehabilitation counseling that also involve direct patient contact.

Not all healthcare careers deal directly with patients, however. Public health areas such as epidemiology deal with the source and spread of disease. And, a wealth of healthcare careers can be found behind-the-scenes in areas such as medical administration, health education, healthcare policy, or medical informatics.

Most of these careers require post-graduate study. While most don't specify a particular major, they do have specific pre-requisite courses. You should explore options and learn about requirements early on, so you can make good decisions about majors and courses. Getting experience such as shadowing can really help you narrow down your healthcare interests!

North Central College offers a number of majors that can help you prepare for a career in a health field. And, our liberal-arts core will give you an edge with writing, presenting, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Click a major below to learn more.

Some possible careers in medical and health science areas are listed below. Most require additional education in a professional program beyond your NCC degree, and each program has specific requirements for admission. Click the career you're interested in to learn more, but remember you should always check the Web site of a particular program you're interested in to be sure you'll meet its requirements.