Thinking about a career in healthcare? Concordia University Ann Arbor offers degree programs for some of the highest-paying and fastest-growing jobs in the field.
Each year, U.S. News & World Report publishes a list of “Best Health Care Jobs” by taking into consideration factors including salary, projected job opportunities, and avenues for promotion.
CUAA offers degree programs for five of the top 20 careers of 2024. Here they are, in descending order according to how they appear on the ranking.
Physician Assistant
U.S. News & World Report says: “Physician assistants, also known as physician associates, are ubiquitous in the medical world. They use their medical expertise to examine, diagnose and treat patients, working closely with other health care professionals as a team to provide patient care.”
The Concordia degree: Concordia launched its Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program in January 2021.
Occupational Therapist
U.S. News & World Report says: “Occupational therapists work with patients to build or restore their abilities to perform the tasks of daily life. Occupational therapy can look very different depending on what issues a patient is dealing with and whether those issues are mental, physical, emotional or developmental. After a thorough patient assessment, an OT creates a plan and works toward helping that patient meet certain goals, which may range from eating and bathing to operating a computer and maintaining a budget.”
The Concordia degree: CUAA’s entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program launched in fall 2022, joining our undergraduate feeder program, Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitative Science.
Physical Therapist
U.S. News & World Report says: “Physical therapists come to the rescue after a stress fracture sidelines a runner, when an awkward slide into home plate benches a softball player or after a stroke keeps a person bedridden. Patients with health issues ranging from athletic injuries to neurological traumas are often referred to these professionals by their doctors.”
The Concordia degree: CUAA offers a new Doctorate of Physical Therapy program, as well as the requisite undergraduate program: Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitative Science.
Registered Nurse
U.S. News & World Report says: “Registered nurses care for sick, injured and healthy patients in a variety of settings, and they teach members of the public about health and wellness best practices.”
The Concordia degree: CUAA’s flagship healthcare offering, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, was launched in 2016.
Radiologic Technology
U.S. News & World Report says: “Radiation therapists carry out radiation treatment plans created by radiation oncologists and dosimetrists. These professionals work with CAT scans, X-rays and Cone beam computed tomography before radiation is even administered. These technologies enable them to accurately position cancer patients so that the radiation is administered precisely. They also use immobilization devices so that each time a patient comes in for radiation, they can replicate the patient’s position for the sake of accurate treatment. Radiation therapists are experts on computer technologies, which will appropriate the correct doses of radiation to the radiation machine. They constantly monitor their patients, and they detail their treatment.”
The Concordia degree: The Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology degree is a two-plus-two program, meaning you’ll spend the first two years on CUAA’s campus before you apply for the rad tech program at one of our partner clinical institutions.
Not on the list but still in demand…
While U.S. News & World Report did not rank diagnostic medical sonographer on its 2024 “Best Healthcare Jobs” list, the career shows up on its “100 Best Jobs” list. And the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 14.3% employment increase for diagnostic medical sonographers between 2022 and 2032.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
U.S. News & World Report says: “A diagnostic medical sonographer could be answering the question ‘Is it a boy or a girl?’ as well as a host of other life-changing medical questions with the help of ultrasound technology. Beyond babies, sonograms are used to help diagnose medical conditions by creating images of body organs and tissues.”
The Concordia degree: The Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree is a two-plus-two program, meaning you’ll spend the first two years on CUAA’s campus before you apply for the DMS program at one of our partner clinical institutions.