Careers in healthcare, nursing, and counseling (HNC) offer opportunities to use science, research, compassion, and critical thinking to provide care, improve the health of others, and solve global health challenges.听
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While there is not one strict definition, allied health refers to areas within healthcare that are distinct from medicine and nursing.听 Allied health professionals deliver services involving the identification, evaluation and prevention of diseases and disorders; dietary and nutrition services; and rehabilitation and health systems management.听 Allied health professionals include dental hygienists, diagnostic medical sonographers, medical technologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, radiographers, respiratory therapists, and speech language pathologists.听听
Allied health professionals comprise nearly 60% of the healthcare workforce.听 For more information, job and salary listings, check out this .
Types of Positions (*requires an advanced degree)
- Medical Assistant
- Patient Care Associate
- Surgical Technologist
- Anesthesiologist Assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Medical Sonographer
- Radiographer
- Respiratory Therapist
- Genetic Counselor*
- Occupational Therapist*
- Physical Therapist*
- Physiotherapist*
- Chiropractor*
- Speech Language Pathologist*
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
- Paggi Physical Therapy Sports Rehabilitation
- Walden Behavioral Care
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center,
- St. Luke's Health System
- GeneD
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- NYC Department of Education
- Los Angeles Unified School District
Hiring Timelines for Healthcare Professions
- 5% received job offers before senior year
- 7% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 54% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 39% received job offers summer after graduation
- 9% received job offers fall after graduation
Professional Associations and Organizations
Do I need to go to graduate school?
While there are some entry-level roles to support allied health providers that do not require graduate education, to work as an allied health professional, advanced study and training is required. You should research the requirements for the specific field you plan to enter. For example, physical therapists must earn a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) and pass a licensing exam while occupational therapists need to earn a masters degree and license.
Graduate Program Resources:
Clinicians are healthcare professionals qualified in the clinical practice of medicine. Clinicians work together to provide care and support the overall health of their patients in healthcare settings. Clinical researchers design, implement, and monitor studies designated for clinical development. The most common clinical paths beyond nursing for 51茶馆 students include Physician, Dentist, Veterinarian, Physician Assistant, and Clinical Researcher. This section covers the various clinical professions within medicine that are beyond nursing (see the Nursing tab).
Types of Positions (*requires an advanced degree)
- Physician* (Allopathic, M.D. or Osteopathic, D.O.)
- Surgeon*
- Physician Assistant*
- Pharmacist*
- Dentist*
- Veterinarian*
- Clinical Researcher
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To work as a clinical professional, you will need to attend a health professions graduate program (i.e. medical school) graduate school.听 To increase your chances of getting in, you will need to demonstrate clinical experience, which is working in a hospital setting where you are engaging with patients or their care, is incredibly important.听 Roles include medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, patient care technician, emergency medical technician.听 Shadowing and volunteering in those settings are also good experiences.听听
Participation in research is not a technical requirement for admission but it is highly valued- especially at the more research oriented MD programs.听
Please note that participating in research is quite distinct from obtaining clinical experience.听 Many students are accepted into graduate programs with little to no research experience, but if you do not have exposure to the clinical aspects of healthcare you will find it very difficult to gain acceptance.
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
Employment:
- Boston Children鈥檚 Hospital
- Brigham and Women鈥檚 Hospital
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute
- McLean Hospital
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- New York Presbyterian Hospital
- Scribe America
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Graduate School:
- Johns Hopkins
- Harvard Medical School
- New York Medical College
- Tufts University
- University of Massachusetts
- Columbia University
Hiring Timelines for Healthcare Professions
- 5% received job offers before senior year
- 7% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 54% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 39% received job offers summer after graduation
- 9% received job offers fall after graduation
Online Resources
- (Subscribe to AAMC Pre-Med Navigator Newsletter)
- (Subscribe to GoDental Newsletter)
- (Subscribe to VSES Newsletter)
Campus Resources
- 51茶馆 Pre-Health Program
- Mendel Society
- GlobeMed
- Global Medical Brigades
- Project Sunshine
- Pre-Dental Society
- Timmy Global Health
- Eagles EMS
- MEDLIFE
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Professional Associations and Organizations
- (AMA)
- (AMWA)
- (ADA)
- (AVMA)听
- (AAPA)听
- (ACRP)
- (NMA)
- (AAIP)
- (NCAPIP)
- (NHMA)
Do I need to go to graduate school?
While there are entry-level positions in clinical research that do not require a graduate degree, graduate study is required to work in clinical fields. Physicians require an听M.D. or D.O. degree. Dentists require a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree. Vetrinarians require a D.V.M. degree.听Physician Assistants require a master's degree. Clinical Researchers often pursue a master's or doctoral degree.听
Graduate Program Resources:
8%
Average percentage of 51茶馆 graduates that pursue graduate degrees in medicine directly after graduation
Healthcare administration incorporates a variety of business functions within a healthcare organization or system. The ultimate goal of healthcare administrators is to ensure effective and efficient healthcare delivery. While the work of healthcare administrators (from health policy to human resources) occurs behind the scenes, it is critical to the quality and accessibility of frontline healthcare.
Types of Positions
- Healthcare Insurance Representative
- Healthcare Data Analyst
- Department Manager
- Medical Billing Specialist
- Healthcare Software Implementation Specialist
- Healthcare Consultant
- Revenue Cycle Operations Manager
- Director of Finance (Medical Devices)
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Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
- Epic Systems
- Definitive Healthcare
- Cigna
- Athenahealth
- Optum
- Mass General Brigham
- Johnson & Johnson
- eClinicalWorks
- Bristol Meyer Squibb
Hiring Timelines for Healthcare Professions
- 5% received job offers before senior year
- 7% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 54% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 39% received job offers summer after graduation
- 9% received job offers fall after graduation
Professional Associations and Organizations
- (HFMA)
- (NAHSE)
Do I need to go to graduate school?
A graduate degree is not required for most entry-level positions in healthcare administration.听A master's degree in business or healthcare administration can increase your employability and ability to work in management positions.
Mental health and counseling providers (clinicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, therapists) help to address situational or chronic mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or addiction. Many mental health providers work with clients in individual or group therapy, but the environment may vary from private practice to an educational or government organization. Macro social workers focus on social innovation and use their leadership skills to use a systems approach to address complex social issues. explains the differences between psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and therapists/counselors.听
Types of Positions听(*requires an advanced degree)
- Case or Program Manager
- Psychiatric Technician
- Addiction Counselor
- Mental Health Research
- School Social Worker
- School Adjustment Counselor*
- Macro Social Worker*
- Mental Health Counselor*
- Clinical Social Worker*
- Clinical Psychologist*
- Psychotherapist*
- Psychiatrist*
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
- MA Department of Mental Health
- New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist
- Column Health
- St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
- North Suffolk Mental Health Association
- Yale New Haven Health
- Riverside Community Care
- Various College Counseling Centers
- Private Practice
- Fenway Health
- Correctional Facilities
- Catholic Charities
- Boston College
Hiring Timelines for Healthcare Professions
- 5% received job offers before senior year
- 7% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 54% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 39% received job offers summer after graduation
- 9% received job offers fall after graduation
Online Resources
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Campus Resources
Professional Associations
Do I need to go to graduate school?
While there are some entry-level roles to support mental health providers that do not require graduate education, to work as a mental health provider, a graduate degree is required. Before pursuing a degree, it is important to learn about what each degree will allow you to do career-wise to determine which type of program will help you achieve your goals (e.g. some degrees will qualify you for a specific type of licensure while others will not). website shows the degree requirements by type of mental health professional.
Nursing is the largest healthcare field. It combines science and technology with the desire to help people.听The two most popular career options in nursing include becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP). Both RNs and NPs work closely with patients to monitor their health and provide care. NPs hold graduate degrees and specialize in areas such as family, adult, gerontology, psychiatry, women's health, anesthesia, and more.听While a majority of nurses work in hospitals, opportunities are available in a variety of settings including private healthcare, nonprofits, education, the military, and more.听
Graduates of the Connell School of Nursing (CSON) undergraduate program will be prepared to fill RN positions and graduates of the Connell School of Nursing will be prepared to fill NP positions as well as research and education positions. Non-CSON students who are interested in a career in nursing will take a different path to nursing, as additional education is required to enter nursing as a RN or NP.听
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Types of Positions (*requires an advanced degree)
- Certified Nurse Assistant
- Registered Nurse
- New Graduate Residency Program
- Nurse Externship Program
- Certified Nurse Assistant
- Nurse Practitioner*
- Nurse Anesthetist*
- Nurse Educator*
- Director of Nursing*
- Chief Nursing Officer*
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
- Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Boston Children's Hospital
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- New York Presbyterian Hospital
- UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center
- Yale New Haven Hospital
- Bellevue Hospital
- Medstar Georgetown Hospital
- McLean Hospital
Hiring Timelines for Healthcare Professions
- 5% received job offers before senior year
- 7% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 54% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 39% received job offers summer after graduation
- 9% received job offers fall after graduation
Professional Associations
- 听(International Honor Society of Nursing)
Do I need to go to graduate school?
A graduate degree in nursing is not required to continue as a Registered Nurse (RN). However, graduate education is required to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or to become a nurse leader or educator. For non-nursing students interested in a career in nursing, additional education is required. You may consider an advanced baccalaureate or direct entry program depending on your goals.听
According to the , 鈥淧ublic health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases.鈥� Whereas clinicians typically take care of individuals, those working in public health think about and develop interventions to address the health needs of communities. from the American Public Health Association (APHA) explains the field of public health further. Public health workers can work in public, private, non-profit, or educational settings.
Types of Positions (*requires an advanced degree)
- Community Health Worker
- Cancer Registrar
- Behavioral Science/Health Educator
- Public Health Researcher
- Epidemiologist*
- Health Services Manager*
- Community Health Director*
- Professor*
- Principal Investigator*
- Biostatistician*
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
- Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program
- Mothers鈥� Milk Bank Northeast
- Lowell Community Health Center
- Eliot Community Health
- Bay Cove Human Services
- Boston Public Health Commission
Hiring Timelines for Healthcare Professions
- 5% received job offers before senior year
- 7% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 54% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 39% received job offers summer after graduation
- 9% received job offers fall after graduation
Online Resources
- (ASPPH)听
听
Campus Resources
Professional Associations and Organizations
- (APHA)
Do I need to go to graduate school?
There are some entry-level positions in public health that do not require a graduate degree, but to advance in the field, a graduate degree is required.听
Careers in nutrition and fitness include those in which one is helping others to achieve healthy lives and lifestyles. Professionals who work in these fields need to have strong knowledge of health factors, nutritional facts, and the human body. Some of the key skills required to enter these fields include: communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills, decision-making, and interpersonal skills.
Types of Positions (*requires an advanced degree or certification)
- Fitness Manager/Director/General Manager
- Health Coach*
- Nutritionist*
- Registered Dietitian*
- Athletic Trainer*
- Exercise Physiologist*
- Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician*
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
- Boston College Athletics
- Lynx Fitness Club
- Institute for Integrative Nutrition
- Noom Inc
- Sophia Neff Health and Fitness LLC
- The Vitamin Shoppe
Hiring Timelines for Healthcare Professions
- 5% received job offers before senior year
- 7% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 54% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 39% received job offers summer after graduation
- 9% received job offers fall after graduation
Online Resources
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Campus Resources
听
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Professional Associations
- (IFPA)
- (AFPA)
- (AAPTE)
- (NOBIDAN)
Do I need to go to graduate school?
For Registered Dieticians and Nutritionists, vary by state.
Fitness professionals typically need to seek out certification that aligns with their specific area(s) of focus within fitness. In addition, they may decide to pursue a masters degree in exercise science or kinesiology.听
Key Resources
Handshake
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Eagle Exchange
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Featured HNC Alumni
Big Interview
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HNC Question Library
Start practicing mock interviews in hundreds of industries and job titles. Below are a few featured question sets听鈥� browse these and more in Big Interview.
Forage
A formal internship is not the only way to gain professional experience. Projects are a great option to boost your r茅sum茅/portfolio, build skills, and grow your professional network. The听Forage听platform offers hypothetical projects from top employers that you can complete to learn more about working in a specific field.
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Firsthand
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Industry-Specific Content
Your听HNC coach has curated this set of custom tools, data, and resources to assist you in your career exploration and preparation.
Browse our jobs and internships pages to prepare to apply to ENS positions.
Update your career interests in听Handshake听to receive regular updates from our coaches with听exclusive resources, reminders, event invites, job/internship postings, and more.
Use the听database听to find students who completed internships that you may be interested in and reach out to them to discuss their summer experience.
Explore where Eagles land after they graduate from Boston College. Filter听first destinations data听by school, major, industry, location, and more.
Check out a听list of Diversity and Leadership opportunities听specific to Healthcare, Nursing, and Counseling.