A question that many college students have, when choosing a major, is “Which area of study is not related to the health and wellness field?” In short, this is a valid concern. After all, a doctor’s office is not exactly concerned with how one can heal oneself; in that case, they are more interested in ensuring that the patient is healthy enough to return to work. This is not to say that health and wellness do not play a role in a doctor’s practice, but it is definitely different from what many would consider the traditional ‘traditional’ areas of study. 

For example, there is the sports physician.

This doctor is concerned with treating injuries but also works to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place. The sports physician can prescribe physical therapy and even hold physical exams if necessary (which is different than a podiatrist, as we shall see shortly). A sports physician can treat a wide range of injuries, both acute and chronic. However, it is his or her job to prevent injuries from happening in the first place through a variety of methods. 

Conversely, a nutritionist looks at the relationship between diet, exercise, and nutrition to help individuals lose weight, gain weight, or maintain their current weight. A physical therapist treats injured muscles and tendons and helps with strength training for those who are physically challenged. In fact, some physical therapists even specialize in treating athletes at the heart of the sports world, which may mean that a degree in either area could lead to future employment as a sports writer or commentator (a profession that did not exist only a few short years ago). A nutritionist, meanwhile, is looking at which foods promote overall health and well-being. He or she would be a valuable addition to a hospital’s emergency room or intensive care unit, as well as to the sports medicine team at a medical school or university. 

These two professionals work in different arenas

But their work will be able to have crossover effects for the individual. That means that the answer to “Which area of study is not related to the health and wellness field?” should also be able to apply to the sports medicine or hospital staff, as well. As an example, a physical therapist may be able to interject with his or her opinion about a certain exercise when a doctor or nurse might try to stick with the prescribed course of action. This same principle applies to the sports physician, whose advice can mean the difference between a patient being able to get back on track or staying in pain for weeks or months. 

Then, of course, there are the academic area studies

Which are typically broken into areas such as human biology, psychology, and sociology. In many ways, these are only minor sub-disciplines within larger fields, such as psychology, but the studies themselves have broad applications for the career world. For example, human biology courses usually include courses on genetics, although those taking them may also want to learn about reproductive health, fetal development, and infertility. Students might study urban planning, public health, or urban planning, all of which could make them eligible to apply for a job in the field of which they are studies. 

Finally, consider the degrees

That many undergraduate and graduate students pursue from the academic world. For example, physical therapy or nursing studies often start with a Bachelor’s degree, which leads to an MSW, then an MBA, and so on. The more advanced your degree, the higher your salary. Of course, many physical therapy and nursing students choose to go on to pursue doctorate degrees, further specializing in their field and earning even higher salaries.

However, this is just one example of how the various branches of studies in the field of health and wellness intermingle.