Career exploration is an important part of personal and professional growth. For students who are enrolled in health and wellness-related majors here at Life University (Life U), here is a helpful starter guide to get you thinking about possible career paths.
For more assistance with career exploration, please contact Life U Career Services.
Life U’s Health and Wellness Associate degree program is designed for individuals to take part in America’s cultural change toward sustainable health choices, fitness and wellness-centered lifestyles. Upon completion, graduates will be prepared to seek employment with recreational and health club facilities, community or corporate wellness programs, or pursue independent contracting. Alternatively, graduates may choose to continue their education through various professional certifications and advanced degree programs.
Health Education Specialist- As illuminated by Publichealth.org, a career in health education can be a rewarding and vital professional avenue for those interested in health and wellness related work.
Typically, health educators focus on helping various people groups, from family units to large urban communities, by developing educational campaigns and programs to promote healthy habits and environments. Their duties are more research-oriented and administrative. This might suit someone who prefers working behind the scenes because, unlike other community health positions, educators don’t usually work face-to-face on individual cases.
Instead, health educators analyze key demographic data and work to create or improve health programs. This role is ideal for people with an eye on the big picture, applying problem-solving abilities across broad populations and divergent needs. Depending on an individual’s preferred balance of advising and teaching, educators can choose from a number of specialized roles in this field.
National Average Salary: $64,930
Current Practitioners: 55,830
(Data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021)
Corporate Health and Wellness Coordinator- it’s not easy to make sure that a large company keeps its workforces happy and healthy while on the job. That is where a corporate health and wellness coordinator comes in, as outlined by careermath.com.
Employed by a company, city or community, a health and wellness coordinator promotes employee or community health with strategic programming and activities geared toward health education.
Health program design and implementation is the name of the game, finding ways to educate your audience in fun and engaging ways. This path is ideal for someone who loves to be social and who understands how to get the word out about events and campaigns.
Estimated Average Salary (not including bonuses or other additional compensation): $44,378
(Data from Glassdoor.com, December 2021)
Community Health Worker- As a frontline public health worker, community health workers have a close understanding and relationship with the communities they serve. As described by by Explorehealthcareers.org, This is not just a job, but a passion as community health workers typically work with underprivileged marginalized communities that present additional challenges such as limited resources, lack of access to quality health care, lacking in means to pay for health care, language barriers, or cultural beliefs, values and behaviors different from those of the Western healthcare system.
In these communities, community health workers work to shape systems to become more culturally appropriate and relevant to the people the systems serve. The community health worker serves as a bridge between the community and health care, government and social service systems.
National Average Salary- $47,780
Current Practitioners: 61,010
(Data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021)
As outlined at life.edu, health coaches use an interactive consultation model with the coach and patient working together to help patients achieve desired health goals. A Life University health coach works closely with patients to gain a deeper understanding of their conditions and master the skills needed to persist and succeed with a prescribed healthcare regimen.
Health coaches help people interact most effectively with a multi-disciplinary team of clinical specialists, identify providers with appropriate expertise, communicate with clinicians and advocate on the patient’s behalf.
Health Coach- See above degree description for information on health coaching as a career.
National Average Salary (for All Health Education Specialist Types): $64,930
Current Practitioners (as of 2020, for All Health Education Specialists): 55,830
(Data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021)
Fitness Trainer or Instructor- Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardio workouts, strength training and stretching. They work with people of all ages and skill levels.
Fitness trainers work with individual clients or choreograph their own group classes. They may do a variety of tasks in addition to fitness duties, such as managing the front desk, signing up new members, giving tours of the facility or supervising weight-training and cardiovascular equipment areas. Fitness trainers also may promote their facilities and instruction through social media and other marketing tools.
National Median Salary: $40,700
Number of Practitioners (as of 2020): 309,800
(Information and data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021)
Corporate Health and Wellness Coordinator- It’s not easy to make sure that a large company keeps its workforce happy and healthy while on the job. That is where a corporate health and wellness coordinator comes in, as outlined by Careermath.com.
Employed by a company, city or community, a health and wellness coordinator promotes employee or community health with strategic programming and activities geared toward health education.
Health program design and implementation is the name of the game, finding ways to educate your audience in fun and engaging ways. This path is ideal for someone who loves to be social and who understands how to get the word out about events and campaigns.
Estimated Average Salary (not including bonuses or other additional compensation): $44,378
(Data from Glassdoor.com, December 2021)
Mental Health Technician or Aide- Mental health technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. Technicians typically provide therapeutic care and monitor their patients’ conditions. Aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe and clean environment.
Mental health technicians and aides often work with patients who are severely developmentally disabled and need intensive care. Others work with patients undergoing rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction. The work varies with the types of patients being treated.
Mental health technicians and aides work as part of a medical team under the direction of physicians and with other team members, which may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, counselors and therapists.
National Median Salary: $36,230
Number of Practitioners (as of 2020): 145,600
(Information and data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021)
M.S in Positive Psychology (MSPP)
Life U offers the MSPP with two tracks: General Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology. The MSPP is a fully accredited, one-of-a-kind online degree program. In fact, it is one of only a handful of such highly sought-after programs in the entire world. The MSPP at Life U investigates strengths-based research that enables individuals and communities to thrive. It is focused on the study of flourishing and positive human functioning, in particular key areas such as meaning in life and cultivating what is best within themselves like gratitude, compassion and forgiveness.
Life Coach or Executive Coach- The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership.
National Median Salary (for All Career Advisors/Counselors): $60,510
Number of Practitioners (for All Career Advisors/Counselors, as of 2020): 322,000
(Data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021)
School/Career Counselor or Advisor- School counselors help students develop their academics, social skills and plans for after graduation. Career counselors and advisors help students and other clients develop skills, explore an occupation or choose an educational program that will lead to a career.
National Median Salary: $60,510
Number of Practitioners, as of 2020): 322,000
(Information and data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021)
Social Worker- Social workers help individuals, groups and families prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives. Clinical social workers diagnose and treat mental, behavioral and emotional problems. Social workers help with a wide range of situations, such as adopting a child, being diagnosed with a terminal illness or preventing and treating substance abuse.
Some social workers get involved at a broad level to help community organizations and policymakers develop or improve social programs, services and conditions. This is sometimes referred to as macro social work. Advocacy is an important aspect of social work as well. Social workers advocate or raise awareness with and on behalf of their clients and constituents. Additionally, they may advocate for the social work occupation on local, state and national levels.
National Median Salary: $50,390
Number of Practitioners (as of 2020): 715,600
(Information and data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021)
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