Stem Skills

Preparing for the future of healthcare

Science, technology, engineering and math are know collectively as STEM skills. STEM skills are important to many healthcare careers, although the skill level needed varies widely with each career.

For entry-level healthcare jobs, basic skills in math and science are enough to help you do your day-to-day work, but often advancement in a career requires much more advanced coursework in order to get a college degree in your field.

If you are still in high school or are thinking about college, the following classes will be helpful to you in almost any healthcare career path:

• Algebra
• Statistics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Computer technology

If you are looking to go into medicine, nursing, or a similar field and you don’t think you are strong in science or math, you should know that there are alternatives. Advanced science and math is required in nursing, medicine and a number of other career paths.

But you can still help people and work in a respected profession even without strong STEM skills. The following careers do not have the same STEM academic requirements as fields like nursing, but provide much of the same career satisfaction if you are looking to make a difference:

• Community Health Workers
• Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
• Medical and Public Health Social Workers
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Or use some self-assessment tools to help you find a career that is perfect for your needs and strengths.