Bachelor of Science in Health Science

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Health Science is designed as a fundamental health-related degree that will enable students to pursue a variety of careers related to our population's health status. Graduates will have the basic skills and knowledge needed to become an asset to the health care community. Students are encouraged to become nationally recognized certified health education specialists (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (www.nchec.org). Students are also encouraged to advance their education at one of the Programs or Schools of Public Health.  The website is http://www.aspph.org/ for more information. There are a variety of opportunities for students majoring in Health Science.

Career Opportunities

There are a variety of opportunities for students majoring in Health Science. Possible career paths include:

• Medicine (Physician or Physician's Assistant
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Environmental health
• Behavioral sciences-health education
• Epidemiology
• Health service administration
• Maternal and child health
• Nutrition
• International-global health
• Community outreach
• Research
• Counseling

Students must understand that some allied health professions require additional certification or other designated criteria along with their educational degree in health science.

Admission Requirements

Students must have a grade point average of at least 2.5 or higher to transfer into the Health Science major. 

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will:

• Understand the role of the health professional in the provision of services to clients/patients.
• Be able to compile, calculate and use health-related data to identify and evaluate health needs, interests and concerns of individuals and/or groups.
• Be able to function as public health professionals for the health-related problems of individuals in the school, workplace or various community environments.
• Be able to identify and describe the behavioral determinants of good mental and physical health.
• Possess the skills and knowledge needed in order to develop a comprehensive educational program that focuses on tobacco use prevention, cancer education, diabetes education and other health-related topics.

Additional Program Requirements

• Students must earn a grade of C or above in all science, math, and health science courses located in Areas F, G, and H of the curriculum in order to be eligible for graduation.
• Students must confirm their course selection each semester with an Academic Advisor.

Program of Study

Area A Essential Skills Required Hours: 9
ENGL 1101 (with a grade of "C" or better)
ENGL 1102 (with a grade of "C" or better)
Select one of the following courses:

Area B Institutional Options Required Hours: 4

COMM 1110

Select one of the following courses:

OR
Select one of the following courses:

Note: Extra hours of foreign language may be used as an elective.

Area C Humanities/Fine Arts/Ethics Required Hours: 6
Select one of the following humanities courses:

Select one of the following fine arts courses:

*ITDS 1145, though listed under both humanities and fine arts, may be taken only once.

Area D Science/Math/Technology Required Hours: 11
("C" or better required in each course)
Select one lab science course from below:
BIOL 1215K
BIOL 1225K

Choose one of the following:
CHEM 1211 with 1211L
or
CHEM 1151 with 1151L

Take the following course:

STAT 1127

Area E Social Sciences Required Hours: 12
Select one course from the following two courses:
HIST 2111
HIST 2112

Take the following course:
POLS 1101

Select one behavioral science course from the following courses: 
ECON 2105
ECON 2106
PSYC 1101
SOCI 1101

Select one world cultures course from the following courses:

Wellness Requirement Required Hours: 3

PHED 1205
Select any one PEDS course.

Area F Courses Related to Major Required Hours: 18
("C" or better required in each course)
BIOL 2221K Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 2222K Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 2225K Microbiology for Health Sciences
HESC 2105 Personal Health
HESC 2125 Applied Nutrition

Area G Program Requirements Required Hours: 25
("C" or better required in each course)

Area H Program Electives Required Hours: 24
("C" or better required in each HESC course)
Out of the course options below, 24 credits must be completed to be eligible for graduation:

Area I General Electives Required Hours: 11

Total Hours Required: 123