Associates Degree in Healthcare Fields Lead to Jobs

The Montana State University-College of Technology is graduating students in medical training programs that are finding their services are in high demand. All of them are students who opted for an associate’s degree because it’s a program that can be completed quickly and allow the graduate to go to work.

According to the Great Falls Tribune students who have training in one of the health technology or science areas are doing well in their job search efforts. Gregory Paulauskis, director of the division of health science at MSU-COT says, “Health, for the most part, seems to be recession-proof. People get sick and have to go to the hospital.” He also noted that the same was true during the great depression.

Like many schools offering associate’s programs, the mix of students is increasingly weighted towards people already in the work force who are seeking a change. Forty five year-old Rich Billiel retired after 23 years doing missile maintenance for Malmstrom Air Force Base, and is now studying to be a physical therapy assistant. Why this choice? He wants to be able to help people as he was helped when he had his ACL replacement.

One of his classmates is a 22 year old woman who is delighted at the prospect of earning the $23 an hour that a physical therapy assistant can earn in Montana on the strength of an associate’s degree. Mr. Paulauskis says that they offer programs in radiologic technology and several other fields, all of which were filled as soon as enrollment opened. There three times as many applicants for the radiology program as could be accommodated, and twice as many applicants for the nursing degree than the school could take.

MSU-COT also offers the only dental hygienist degree in the state and among all of the degrees his department offers, according to Paulauskis, these graduates will earn the most. Dental hygienists in Montana earn $30 – $35 per hour.

© Copyright 2009 The Distance Daily. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.