A bachelor’s degree in prehealth can be the gateway to advanced or professional medical education and careers. Graduates with this major can qualify for entry-level jobs in health care. Prehealth, health sciences and premedical degrees generally include curriculum focused on human health, such as biology, chemistry and physics. The degree provides general and interdisciplinary preparation for health care professions, including helpful coursework in sciences that are used in health care and needed to pass the Medical College Admission Test, the standardized test used for medical school admission.

Entry-level Health Jobs

Search for entry-level health care jobs. A bachelor’s degree in prehealth can qualify individuals to work in a medical setting, in nonprofessional occupations. According to Oakland University, Department of Health Sciences, prehealth majors may find jobs working as laboratory technicians. The University of South Dakota, School of Health Sciences, says that a bachelor’s in health sciences can lead to a variety of career pathways, including entry-level nonclinical health care jobs. Nonclinical options may be found in hospitals, health and human service agencies, long-term care facilities, medical equipment sales and pharmaceutical sales.

Leverage this degree to find a job as a health educator. Some prehealth majors may find jobs as wellness educators, according to Oakland University. Additionally, graduates interested in teaching may obtain teacher certification in some states, by completing an alternative route to certification using their bachelor’s degree. Prehealth majors may be interested in teaching health, biology, chemistry or physical education. Certification may not be required at private schools. Other opportunities to teach on health-related issues, may exist and be suitable for prehealth majors with teaching or public-speaking experience.

Qualify with a prehealth degree for research and technician positions. According to Pasadena City College’s STEM website, graduates may qualify for positions such as biotech research associate, biological technician, chemical lab technician, clinical lab scientist, medical technologist and health information technician. Oakland University also states that prehealth majors may be qualified for research assistant positions. Some technician positions only require an associate degree, and some require certification in the area. Prehealth majors interested in one of these areas should discuss curriculum options with their prehealth adviser to be sure they will qualify for the job upon graduation.

Make the most of your major. It is not the major that gets you the job, it is you. A prehealth degree can attune you to the field of health care and provide a general basis of human health knowledge. Beyond this, you must find ways to diversify yourself, market your personal strengths, obtain certifications or learn specific skills. Most prehealth majors spend as much time as possible job shadowing, volunteering and interning while in college. Often this real-world experience gained alongside the degree, determines the jobs you can get when you graduate.