Health and Medicine

Indirect Paths to Health and Medicine

While some of these majors aren’t direct health and medicine programs, they could be paired with a double major, minor, or internship to shape your career path. An academic advisor can help you create a plan that aligns with your goals. If you’re looking for something different, visit Career Paths for more possibilities.

Key

M = Minor available, which is an optional specialization alongside your major
✦ = Accelerated program available
* = A career path that often requires extra schooling or certification beyond a Bachelor's degree (e.g., law, medicine, education)

• Anthropology (M)

  Anthropology (M)

  Anthropology prepares for medical anthropology, global health, and health research careers.

  Career Paths: Cultural competency trainer, epidemiologist*, medical anthropologist*, medical interpreter, medical sociologist*, mental health outreach coordinator, patient advocate

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Art (Studio)

  Art (Studio)

  Art (Studio) enhances healthcare, patient education, and wellness with art and design.

  Career Paths: Anatomical model maker, art therapist*, arts-in-health practitioner, community health arts facilitator, medical illustrator*, medical visualization specialist, patient education artist, prosthetics designer, rehabilitation artist, scientific illustrator*

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Computer Science with Applications

  Computer Science with Applications

  Computer Science with Applications applies software and systems engineering to design, build, and optimize scalable computing systems across the health and medicine industries.

  Option: Choose from Business, Health, and Psychology tracks.

  Career Paths: Behavioral data scientist*, biomedical software engineer, clinical database systems engineer*, computational biologist*, digital health application developer, healthcare cybersecurity engineer, health informatics specialist, medical AI engineer*, neuroinformatics engineer, user interface (UX/UI) engineer for mental health technology*

  Explore all majors in the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering.

• Data Science

  Data Science

  Data Science (Engineering Track) or Data Science (Science Track) opens doors to improve health outcomes and inform medical decision-making.

  Career Paths: AI specialist, bioinformatics specialist, clinical data manager, epidemiologist*, genomic data scientist, health data analyst, machine learning engineer, medical data scientist, pharmaceutical data analyst

  Explore majors in the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering and majors in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

• Education, Society, and Human Development (✦)

  Education, Society, and Human Development (✦)

  Education, Society, and Human Development is geared toward teaching, educational research, or administration in health and medicine.

  Options: Choose the 4-year Bachelor's degree or the 4-year accelerated program to earn both a Bachelor's degree and a Teaching Credential (the state-issued license required to teach in public schools). Once admitted, customize your major with one of two concentrations:

  • Education for Social Justice Concentration
  • Learning and Behavioral Studies Concentration

  Career Paths: Behavioral health educator, curriculum developer, healthcare training coordinator, medical/nursing educator, patient education specialist, public health advocate

  See success resources in the School of Education.

• Environmental Sciences (M)

  Environmental Sciences (M)

  Environmental Sciences explores health challenges tied to the environmental, pollution, and sustainability.

  Career Paths: Air quality specialist, climate and health researcher, environmental risk assessor, epidemiologist*, medical science writer, environmental science writer, occupational health and safety expert, public health officer, toxicologist*

  Check out other majors in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

• Gender and Sexuality Studies (M)

  Gender and Sexuality Studies (M)

  Gender and Sexuality Studies aligns with careers that work to understand and improve gender health issues and advocacy.

  Career Paths: Healthcare equity consultant, medical social worker*, mental health counselor*, mental health therapist*, reproductive health advocate, sexual health educator, violence prevention specialist

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Languages and Literatures

  Languages and Literatures

  Languages and Literatures supports careers in bilingual health services or medical translation.

  Choose from: Chinese (M), Classical Studies (M), Comparative Ancient Civilizations, Comparative Literature, French (M), Germanic Studies (M), Japanese (M), Russian Studies (M)

  Career Paths: Cultural liaison, editor, interpreter, language program coordinator, lawyer*, medical translator*, professor*, public health communications specialist, translator, writer/author

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Media and Cultural Studies

  Media and Cultural Studies

  Media and Cultural Studies is well suited for careers in health communications, public health education, and advocacy.

  Career Paths: Community health educator, health communications specialist, health equity advocate, media relations coordinator, patient advocacy coordinator, policy analyst*, public health educator*, public information officer, wellness campaign manager

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Philosophy (M)

  Philosophy (M)

  Philosophy applies critical thinking and ethics to healthcare, policy, and patient care.

  Career Paths: Bioethics consultant, clinical ethics coordinator, health law consultant, healthcare administrator*, healthcare compliance officer, medical ethicist, mental health counselor*, patient advocate, public health researcher

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Political Science/Public Service

  Political Science/Public Service

  Political Science/Public Service paves a path for roles in healthcare, law, or regulation.

  Career Paths: Attorney*, compliance officer, health policy analyst*, legislative aide, lobbyist, policy advisor*, public affairs specialist, public health policy analyst*, regulatory affairs expert, researcher*

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Public Policy (M ✦)

  Public Policy (M ✦)

  Public Policy supports roles in healthcare policy, administration, and management.

  Option: Choose a 4-year Bachelor's degree or get your Bachelor's and Master's degrees through a 5-year plan of study.

  Career Paths: Health policy analyst, health program evaluator, lawyer*, legislative advocate, nonprofit leader, public health advisor 

  View success resources in the School of Policy.

• Robotics

  Robotics

  Robotics supports careers in surgical systems, medical devices, rehabilitation, and healthcare innovation.

  Career Paths: Biomedical engineer*, biomedical equipment technician, clinical robotics researcher*, clinical robotics support specialist, medical device technician, medical robotics engineer*, rehabilitation robotics specialist, research scientist*, robotics software developer*, surgical systems designer*

  Explore all majors in the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering.

• Sociology (M)

  Sociology (M)

  Sociology builds pathways to address medical and social challenges in diverse communities.

  Career Paths: Epidemiologist*, health communications specialist, health policy analyst, healthcare administrator*, medical social worker*, mental health counselor*, nonprofit health program manager, social epidemiologist*, violence prevention expert 

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Sociology/Administrative Studies

  Sociology/Administrative Studies

  Sociology/Administrative Studies applies to roles in public health, social work, and healthcare administration.

  Career Paths: Clinic operations manager, community health coordinator, health equity specialist, healthcare administrator*, healthcare consultant, hospital manager, medical and health services manager, social services manager

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Statistics (✦)

  Statistics (✦)

  Statistics is essential for careers that aim to improve health outcomes and inform medical decision-making.

  Option: Choose a 4-year Bachelor's degree or get your Bachelor's and Master's degrees through a 5-year plan of study.

  Career Paths: Biostatistician, clinical research coordinator, genetic data analyst, health informatics specialist, medical statistician, pharmaceutical statistician, public health analyst 

  Check out other majors in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.