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Alternative Medicine & Systems

What Alternative Medicine & Systems Majors Need to Know

Studies in Alternative Medicine & Systems develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Alternative Medicine & Systems graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Alternative Medicine & Systems emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Biology — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Alternative Medicine & Systems program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Critical Thinking — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Social Perceptiveness — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Alternative Medicine & Systems careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Alternative Medicine & Systems graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Documenting/Recording Information	4.7 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.7 / 7
Getting Information	4.6 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.5 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.2 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.1 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	4.1 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Alternative Medicine & Systems professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
HTS Vision HTS2 Computerized Binocular Home Eye Exercise System	Eye tracking software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Therapeutic orthoptic software	Medical software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
SeeRite Flash and Match	Computer based training software	—
HTS Vision CVS2	Eye tracking software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
MAX Systems Max-Gold Medical Clinic Software	Medical software	—
Computer Aided Vision Therapy CAVT	Medical software	—
Computer perceptual processing software	Computer based training software	—
Eye Tracking Exercises Enterprises Track with Letters	Eye tracking software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Alternative Medicine & Systems graduates include:

• Naturopath
• Naturopathic Doctor
• Osteopathic Resident
• Kinesiologist
• Emergency Medicine Specialist
• Reflexologist
• Medical Resident
• Herbologist
• Tuberculosis Specialist
• Rehabilitation Program Coordinator
• Otolaryngologist
• Public Health Doctor
• Herbalist
• Magnetic Doctor
• Medicine Man

What Can You Do With a Alternative Medicine & Systems Degree?

Graduates with a degree in Alternative Medicine & Systems commonly enter the following occupations:

Occupation	Job Growth	Median Salary	25th–75th Pctile
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other	1.0%	$138,809	$116,859–$160,758
Orthoptists	4.8%	$135,811	$108,351–$163,270
Naturopathic Physicians	6.6%	$138,086	$113,456–$162,716

^{Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*}

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Alternative Medicine & Systems graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	45.2%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	41.6%
Bachelor’s degree	3.8%
First professional degree	3.8%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	1.9%
Master’s degree	1.9%
Post-doctoral training	1.9%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

How Much Do Alternative Medicine & Systems Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Alternative Medicine & Systems graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$31,185
4 years	$30,904
5 years	$35,897

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $35,897 — roughly 15% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Alternative Medicine & Systems Programs

Fully online options is reported by IPEDS for Alternative Medicine & Systems. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	1	0
Bachelor’s	2	0
Master’s	2	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Alternative Medicine & Systems Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Alternative Medicine & Systems graduates earn a median of $30,904 four years after completion — about 19% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems	3,019
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	1,485
Holistic/Integrative Health	481
Naturopathic Medicine/Naturopathy	235
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Herbology	165
Ayurvedic Medicine/Ayurveda	141
Herbalism/Herbalist	113
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems, Other	107
Direct Entry Midwifery	74
Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services, Other	52
Aromatherapy	8
Homeopathic Medicine/Homeopathy	—

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.