About this course: This course aims to help high school students, recent graduates, and those considering career transitions explore health care career options and learn strategies for entry into the health care workforce and health related fields. There are lots of amazing job opportunities in medicine and healthcare! Join us, as we share the strategies and secrets for getting those jobs. This course will introduce you to healthcare professions, help you map a path towards a health career, and impart skills relevant for any career, including: articulating your personal story, resume and cover letter writing, job search, interviewing, professional networking, and professional communications. In this course, you will hear the personal stories, experiences, and journeys of dozens of people who work in health related careers. You will also have the opportunity to connect with a supportive community of students, mentors, and health care professionals to explore your interests, find resources, and discover exciting new opportunities. The course features more than 50 different guests and lecturers, including Northwestern University faculty from Feinberg School of Medicine; the Kellogg School of Management; the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications; the School of Professional Studies; Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; and the School of Communication. The course is also a resource and tool through which educators, parents, career counselors and others can support students’ career readiness and professional advancement.
Created by: Northwestern University
Taught by: Dr. Melissa A. Simon, George H. Gardner Professor of Clinical Gynecology and Vice Chair of Clinical Research
Feinberg School of Medicine
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Why Health?
Careers where you can make a difference in people's lives
3 videos, 7 readings
- Reading: Syllabus
- Reading: Schools and Institutions Page
- Reading: Grading and Logistics
- Reading: Meet Your Instructors
- Video: Health Means...
- Video: Health Careers, Backstage Pass
- Video: The Balancing Act: Values & Vocational Courage
- Reading: Toolkit (Download)
- Reading: Resource Toolkit
- Reading: Medical Glossary
Graded: Quest: What Does Health Mean to You?
Graded: Quest: Health Careers Scavenger Hunt
WEEK 2
Day in the Life Snapshots
Healthcare professionals briefly describe what they do and introduce medical terminology
14 videos
- Video: Day in the Life: Clinical Part 1
- Video: Day in the Life: Clinical Part 2
- Video: Day in the Life: Clinical Part 3
- Video: Day in the Life: Clinical Part 4
- Video: Day in the Life: Clinical Part 5
- Video: Day in the Life: STEM Part 1
- Video: Day in the Life: STEM Part 2
- Video: Day in the Life: Leadership
- Video: Day in the Life: Policy
- Video: Day in the Life: Public Health & Bioinformatics
- Video: Day in the Life: Military and Industry
- Video: Day in the Life: Community Part 1
- Video: Day in the Life: Community Part 2
- Video: Day in the Life: Community Part 3
WEEK 3
Keeping it Real - Healthcare Career Journeys
Personal stories & career journeys of health professionals and students
6 videos, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Introduction to Keeping it Real
- Video: Former Gang Member's Path to a Healthcare Career
- Video: Challenges, Bumps in the Road, and Opportunities
- Video: Even Top Ranking Leaders Can Have Non-Linear Career Trajectories
- Video: Opportunities That Present Themselves
- Video: Passion for Social Justice
- Practice Quiz: Start on your Career Portfolio
- Reading: Toolkit (Download)
Graded: Quest: Strengths
Graded: Quest: Career Journeys
WEEK 4
Personal Story
Packaging your personal story to increase your professional opportunities
2 videos, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Video: What is Your Story?
- Video: Students at Various Points in Their Careers
- Peer Review: Quest: Write an Elevator Pitch Part 2
- Practice Quiz: Career Portfolio Check-In
- Reading: Toolkit (Download)
Graded: Quest: Write an Elevator Pitch
WEEK 5
Professional Networking
How to use social networks - everyone you know - to find opportunities
1 video, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Who is in Your Network?
- Peer Review: Quest: Using Your Social Networks
- Practice Quiz: Career Portfolio Check-In
- Reading: Toolkit (Download)
WEEK 6
Resume
Nuts and bolts of resume writing
1 video, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Video: How Do You Write a Good Resume?
- Practice Quiz: Career Portfolio Check-In
- Reading: Toolkit (Download)
Graded: Quest: Resume
Graded: Quest: Writing Your Resume
WEEK 7
Cover Letter
Nuts and bolts of a cover letter
1 video, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Video: How Do You Write a Cover Letter?
- Practice Quiz: Career Portfolio Check-In
- Reading: Toolkit (Download)
Graded: Quest: Cover Letter
Graded: Quest: Writing Your Cover Letter
WEEK 8
Interviews
Communication skills and presence to stand out in an interview
1 video, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Video: How Do You Nail an Interview?
- Practice Quiz: Career Portfolio Check-In
- Reading: Toolkit (Download)
Graded: Quest: Preparing for an Interview
Graded: Quest: Prepare Your Own Responses to Common Interview Questions
WEEK 9
Supplementary Topics
Additional Career 911 topics for success in entering a health career
10 videos, 1 reading, 2 practice quizzes
- Video: Why is Your Online Presence Important?
- Video: How Will You Share Your Story?
- Video: The Gift of Influence
- Video: Mindfulness as a Strategy
- Video: What Educational Credentials Do Employers Look For?
- Video: How Do You Finance Your Education?
- Video: How Can You Thrive in Diverse Environments?
- Video: Pursuing a Global Health Career
- Video: Keep Going!
- Video: Most Memorable Moments
- Practice Quiz: Plan Your Next Steps
- Practice Quiz: Reflection
- Reading: Toolkit (Download)
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research and teaching university with campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, and Doha, Qatar. Northwestern combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment that transcends traditional academic boundaries.
Ratings and Reviews
I just want to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Simon and her team for this course. I hope one day, even if the chance of that day is one in a million, I would be able to see Dr. Simon and say to her "Thank you!"
Very Helpful! However, I don't know why I would pay for the certification?
I took this course, because I'm an CNA and a CHHA. I want to become an RN, and this course runs down everyone's job in Healthcare. It's been very interesting to see every job in the healthcare field.
Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education, partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online.
© 2017 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
I really had no intrest in week 2 or more just a few videos that kept me intrested . despite thatI had to watch the videos in order to finish the other weeks. Totally annoying. I know that some people are applying here in order to have a better view of the healthcare domain . I on the other hand wanted to give myself a boost on why I chose this career . it's is hard at some point and it's nice to get a broader view
I have to say it was really helpful to understand and get a view of what healthcare is. the lecturer did a tremendous job in order to provide other people with the best possible images. but at the same time I think it would have been better to get deeper understanding for example of different medical specialities . Medecine and healthcare are indeed a team. but medecine is just too much that it's better to just have it in details