Associate’s Degrees in Allied Health Sciences

Professionals in the field of allied health are those who serve in supplementary roles in the health community; technicians (such as in the fields of anesthesia, radiology, or epidemiology, among other concentrations) among the more common allied health specialists, while assistants in hospitals or doctor’s offices may also apply.

What is this degree/subject matter about?

The allied health fields – which include most all clinical health professionals aside from dentists, nurses and medical doctors – make up an estimated 60 percent of the total healthcare workforce. An associate’s degree in allied health would be for many the first step in the door toward a long career in the healthcare industry.

What does it take to earn this degree, and what will it result in?

An associate of science in allied health science degree can be completed in approximately four semesters (two years), and will include such health science-oriented areas of study as psychology, human anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and introductory courses in chemistry and biology, among other topics. Because many entry level positions will be of the administrative variety, such relevant curriculum may also include the study of health communications, medical terminology, and ethical and legal issues in healthcare. Job opportunities for medical assistants, who serve in both clinical and administrative support roles, are on the rise, with growth expected to approach 36 percent and median annual salaries topping $30,000 (BLS.gov).

Online Associate’s Allied Health Sciences Degrees

AS in Allied Health Science: South University

Top Online Medical Lab Tech Degrees

For those looking to become a medical laboratory technician, a minimum of a two-year associate's degree in health science or a closely related healthcare subject is usually required to gain an entry-level position in the field. For those looking for more advancement, a bachelor's degree is recommended. There are numerous accredited online schools that offer such degrees, listed below.

BS in Clinical Lab Science	University of Cincinnati — The Bachelor of Science degree in clinical laboratory science offered by Cincinnati University is a perfect fit for individuals persuing a career as a medical lab technician. This program is designed to prepare students to become Clinical Lab Techs (CLTs) or Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs) in under three years.
AAS in Medical Assisting AAS in Medical Transcription AAS in Human Services AAS in Health IT	Kaplan University — One of the biggest online schools in the nation, Kaplan University provides many online degrees to help you begin a Medical Lab Technician career. While the degrees build a foundation in healthcare that carries throughout your career, more training may be required for your desired position. Kaplan's programs include associate degrees in medical assisting, medical transcription, human services, and health information technology.
AA in Human Services Mgmt	University of Phoenix — The AA in human services management degree offered by the University of Phoenix provides students with knowledge and skills related to the management of human services organizations.
AS in Health IT	DeVry University — Kaplan, one of the most prominent online universities in the United States, offers an Associate's degree in health information technology. The four-year program is designed to train students for a variety of HIT-based medical environments, including physician practices, home health care agencies, vendor firms, and more.
AS in Allied Health Science	South University — The AS in allied health science degree program offered by South University emphasizes life science subjects like anatomy, chemistry, nutrition, and physiology. It is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of health careers, including medical laboratory technician.