4 universities with degrees shaping the next healthcare professionals

The healthcare field thrives on a dedicated team that goes far beyond just doctors and nurses.  Healthcare professionals include a diverse range of specialists, each crucial for patient treatment and well-being. From therapists who guide physical and mental recovery to pharmacists who ensure patients receive the right medication, these professions require extensive training and commitment.

With the acceleration in technological advancements, there are even more avenues to explore. You could get into medical research, pioneering new discoveries. Report on groundbreaking advancements. Serve as a public health worker, managing crises and emergencies. Pursue licensure as an anaesthetist — and that’s just a glimpse of the possibilities.

If you’ve set your heart on becoming a healthcare professional but are unsure what program to do, we’ve got you covered. Here are four leading universities that offer unique healthcare programs that may interest you:

In April 2024, the L. S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy bagged several awards at the Pocatello PPSA, a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of their students and their faculty mentors. Source: Idaho State University

Idaho State University

Strategically located in breathtaking locales across Pocatello and Boise, Idaho, and Anchorage, Alaska, Idaho State University’s Kasiska Division of Health Sciences is where students evolve into caring and competent professionals across all dimensions of health. Programs here are recognized, fully accredited, and cater to various levels and needs of students.

It is home to the L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy, renowned for its exceptional Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. With its contemporary curriculum, innovative teaching methods and award-winning student outreach initiatives, the program has achieved a remarkable first-time NAPLEX pass rate of 85.7% in 2021, surpassing the national average of 83.7%.

Another college in the division, the College of Health, is proud to offer the only Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies program in the State of Idaho. Delivered simultaneously on three campuses, it has a high-tech and high-touch learning environment. Students receive frequent contact with faculty members, all of whom are licensed professionals actively practicing in their fields. With an impressive five-year first-time pass rate, graduates of this program have excellent chances of passing the PANCE licensure exam.

Those working in homeland security and emergency management positions seeking to leverage new technologies and build relevant core competencies can pursue the Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) Master’s program. It’s 100% online and taught by nationally recognized experts who have worked in Security, Emergency Management, Critical Infrastructure, and Terrorism at the Department of the Navy, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Defense, and Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.

The latest addition to the College of Health is the Listening and Spoken Language Graduate Certificate Program. It is ideal for providers who serve children from birth to 25 years of age who are deaf and hard of hearing and those who seek alternative intervention models such as telepractice, itinerant, and consultative teaching. Students are trained to adhere to ongoing, respectful dialogue supporting the full spectrum of communication and language options.

Apply today to Idaho State University for a comprehensive education that will prepare you to excel in your future profession.

At Texas Tech University, students, faculty, and researchers are united in a common vision: to extend excellent, life-giving care to patients across the healthcare spectrum, especially in areas with the most critical needs and shortages. Source: Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University

Nestled in the heart of the Lone Star State is a university renowned as one of the best medical schools in the US. At Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), innovation meets hands-on learning, shaping the healthcare leaders of tomorrow. Here, you will find the School of Health Professions, offering programs from rehabilitative sciences to medical laboratory science and speech-language pathology.

One of their standout programs is the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS), designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and clinical acumen necessary to thrive in the field. The 27-month course is divided into intensive academics and clinical training. 

Through a 15-month rigorous curriculum, you will delve into subjects ranging from human anatomy and pharmacology to clinical medicine and paediatrics. Guided by experienced faculty members and practising clinicians, you gain hands-on experience through the 12-month clinical rotations in different medical specialities across various sites in West Texas. 

Upon completion, you graduate as a competent and compassionate healthcare provider, ready to make a difference in the lives of patients. Whether you choose to work in primary care, surgery or emergency medicine, the MPAS program equips you with the training and tools to excel. Kickstart your career as a healthcare provider by applying to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

The Florida State University College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences is home to over 2,000 students, with more than half being graduate students. Source: Florida State University

Florida State University

Teacher, leader, coach, scientist, researcher – many students have successfully launched their careers thanks to the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at Florida State University. The college is the oldest of its kind in Florida and is now preparing over 4,500 students to become leaders and experts in their respective fields. Here, students work alongside renowned educators to become part of industry-changing research at the forefront of education, health, and human sciences. 

To lead such industries in the 21st century is no easy task. That’s why students here are encouraged to challenge and change “the way it’s always been done”, becoming experts that will instead determine “the way it will be done”. The school’s expansive program portfolio — consisting of multiple programs at undergraduate and graduate levels — caters to both career aspirations as well as society’s growing needs. 

The MS in Nutrition and Food Science blends technical knowledge, practical skills and critical thinking to prepare students for a wide range of career opportunities related to diet, fitness and health. Two tracks are available: thesis and non-thesis. For the former, students must be in good academic standing and have the support of graduate faculty after the first semester.  There’s an option to take part in a dietetic internship for those who have completed a Didactic program in Dietetics (DPD) before joining the MS as well. 

The MS in Exercise Physiology (major in Sports Nutrition) is ideal for those interested to learn about clinical nutrition in multifaceted environments. Coursework has a dual focus: exercise physiology and nutrition science. This allows students to better understand how both nutrition and exercise impact human performance, health and disease. Like the MS in Nutrition and Food Science, students can choose whether to complete a thesis or apply for a dietetic internship.

California State University, Fullerton

At the California State University’s College of Health and Human Development, students and faculty are working to advance human health, development, and well-being. Almost 7,000 students are pursuing nationally recognized programs that meet rigorous national accreditation standards, obtaining high scores on certification and passing licensure exams.

The college has eight departments: the School of Nursing, the Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, the Department of Counseling, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Kinesiology, Military Science, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Social Work. All share the same goal – to train students for meaningful careers in important areas of need.

The MS in Kinesiology provides a broad, comprehensive study of the varied aspects of human movement. You’ll observe and study movement across the lifespan from mechanical, physiological, psychological, sociocultural, behavioral, instructional, and professional points of view. Upon completion, you’ll have the background knowledge and experience for professional careers in a variety of areas, including Exercise Physiology, Sociocultural and Philosophical Aspects of Human Movement, Gerokinesiology, Pedagogy, Sport and Performance Psychology, Biomechanics, Strength and Conditioning, and Motor Behavior.

The MS in Counselling is best for those aspiring to provide evidence-based brief and long-term counseling while maintaining professional identities as clinical mental health counselors. Approved by the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences, the program meets all educational requirements preparing students for state licensure as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs) in California. FSU is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) in clinical mental health counseling as well. 

Visit the College of Health and Human Development at Cal State today.