Study Human Health and Illness In An Integrated Manner: Biobehavioral Health Degree
Do you have a keen interest in the health and medical field? Would you like to work in a field where you can solve problems related to human health and illness? With a Biobehavioral Health degree you will have an opportunity to gain an understanding of the science behind health. This type of degree can help to prepare you for entry-level jobs in biomedical or health-related areas or function as a stepping stone if you are interested in advanced studies in areas such as medicine, human services and more. There are numerous factors that influence the health of people across their life span and with this type of degree you’ll learn how to look at these factors in an integrated manner.
Biobehavioral Health Degree Information
Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health Degree
The Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health is generally a 120-credit program that is made up of prescribed courses, additional courses, as well as general education courses and electives. Typical prescribed courses for this degree include Introduction to Biobehavioral Health, Interdisciplinary Integration in Biobehavioral Health, Foundations and Principles of Health Promotion, Principles of Epidemiology, as well as Elementary Statistics, Introductory Psychology and more. Additional courses in basic sciences may include Introductory Biological Anthropology, Energy and the Environment, Elementary Microbiology and Abnormal Psychology. The completion time for this degree is usually about four years.
Biobehavioral Health Degree FAQs
Is It Possible To Obtain A Biobehavioral Health Degree Online?
Students who are unable to attend campus based classes can earn their Biobehavioral Health degree through online methods. This is ideal for students who are unable to commit to full-time enrollment as online classes can be taken when and where it suits your schedule. Online classes for this type of degree tend to be a combination of self-study along with peer-to-peer interaction. Various methods of communication can be used to interact with fellow students as well as faculty members, such as email, social media, video conferencing and chat. Some online degree programs also include externships where you are able to gain observation-oriented experience that is aligned with your career interests. Any good online course will provide you with all the course materials needed along with required course assignments.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate To Study Biobehavioral Health?
Students who are interested in studying Biobehavioral Health and working in this exciting field should ideally have a strong interest in helping people. An interest in biology, chemistry, genetics and physiology will be useful as these are the type of courses you’ll encounter when studying Biobehavioral Health. Careers in this field typically involve working with children, adolescents and adults, which means an ideal candidate is someone who is compassionate and enjoys dealing with people on a regular basis. Students should be able to work in collaborative environments and have good communication skills. Since jobs in this field can be quite stressful it is important to have emotional stability, empathy and good problem solving skills.
What Type of Career Paths May Be Available After Earning A Biobehavioral Health Degree?
Since this type of degree spans such a broad field, it offers students a lot of career opportunities depending on the areas of study they chose to focus on. Many students who earn this type of degree go on to work as health educators, health specialists, physicians, public health professionals or clinical data managers. Others opt to become biomedical product representatives, genetic counselors, medical social workers or pharmaceutical sales representatives. Career opportunities for people with this type of degree exists in clinical, public health, corporate health, community health promotion, teaching and many other fields.
How Much Can I Potentially Earn With This Type of Degree?
Since Biobehavioral Health is such a far-reach major, your income potential will depend largely on your areas of interest and place of employment. It is hard to determine a median income for people with this degree as they work in settings that range from pharmaceutical firms to nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Students who pursue a Ph.D. degree in this field often complete their postdoctoral training and go on to work directly in academic or teaching positions. People with this type of degree who opt to work as physical therapists earned a median pay of $85,400 per year in 2016 according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Physician assistants, which is another career track often favored by students interested in the clinical side of the industry, earned a median pay of $101,480 per year during the same period. Of course, other factors such as your level of experience and geographical location can also play a huge role in determining how much you might earn.
What Are The Other Advantages of Studying Biobehavioral Health
As with most degrees that opens up opportunities to work in the field of healthcare, earning a Biobehavioral Health degree can be very fulfilling as it allows you to improve the lives of other people. It is also the type of degree that can assist you with making an impact on either a local or global scale, depending on the areas on which you chose to focus and your place of employment. A Biobehavioral Health degree is also a good choice if you find that other graduate programs has a focus that is too narrow and you don’t want to restrict yourself in terms of what you want to learn. If you are interested in medicine or allied health, a degree in Biobehavioral Health can provide you with excellent preparation for these fields.
