Health Science – Major

Mission

The mission of the health science program is to provide a broad foundation for a career in healthcare and science. The program has two purposes: to offer an opportunity for students to gain knowledge and skills in a chosen aspect of healthcare and to serve as the academic foundation for occupational therapy, physical therapy, and physician assistant studies program.

Overview

This program combines a strong foundation in natural and social sciences with concentrated studies applying these principles to the health sciences. Students who complete this program can seek employment as members of the administrative staff of hospital and health system clinics, medical offices, health maintenance organizations and other medical insurers, and community health programs. They will also be prepared to continue their studies in the full range of health science graduate educational curricula.

While a portion of the curriculum for the bachelor of science in health science is based on required courses, the student is given the opportunity to establish, under the guidance of an academic advisor, an individualized curriculum focused in an area of health science. Students may enter this program as freshmen or as transfer students from other health and science-related programs at USciences or from other colleges or universities.

Program Description

The broad-based curriculum in health science offers a range of educational experiences that can be tailored to support a student’s personal goals or prepare a student for a post-baccalaureate degree program in another field. Students may enter the BSHS program in the freshman year or transfer into the program at any point but must meet the program’s University’s requirements for graduation. Students who complete the bachelor of science in health science will have successfully completed educational experiences that prepare them to:

Communicate in a professional manner, using written, oral, and electronic methods.
Display professional behavior.
Use medical terminology accurately and appropriately.
Identify components of wellness, prevention, and health promotion.
Describe the normal structure and function of the major body systems and the impact of diseases.
Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of the humanistic and ethical aspects of health service delivery.
Use bibliographic services and information technology to locate resources.
Critically analyze research design and methodology and interpret research findings with regard to case study analysis.
Discuss the current societal, governmental, and business issues concerning their selected area of study in health science.
Provide services in their selected area of study as a health educator, health administration manager, researcher/scientist or in other health-related careers.

The health science degree program offers a flexible but directed opportunity for students to complete their bachelor’s degree. Qualified students admitted to the freshman year may identify the health science degree program as their major field of study.

Students may transfer into the program at any point but must meet the program requirements to be eligible for graduation. Students are required to complete all other University requirements for graduation.

Program Policies

All students enrolled in the BSHS in health science program must fulfill a residency requirement of a minimum of two years (4 full semesters) at the University, including a minimum of one full semester as a BSHS major, in order to graduate. Students enrolled in integrated BSHS OT/PA/PT programs are exempt from this requirement.
All students enrolled in the BSHS in health science program must complete a minimum of 30 credits at the University in order to graduate. A minimum of 124 approved credits is required to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Health Science (BSHS) Requirements

General Education and Electives (62 credits)

All USciences students must complete the general education curriculum, including 12 credits of free electives. A description of the general education curriculum may be found elsewhere in this catalog.

Health Science Electives (45 credits)

Health science courses deal with topics that directly relate to normal and abnormal human development, structure, and function. These courses may also relate to healthcare delivery, or they may be approved courses that facilitate the development of health science competencies.

Students currently enrolled in a health science professional program at USciences who transfer to the bachelor of science in health science program may be able to fulfill all or part of this requirement with courses already completed toward their former USciences major. Some examples are:

BS 310 - Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 3
BS 311 - Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 3
FT 360 - Fitness and Sport Nutrition Credits: 3
HS 210 - Health and Social Participation Credits: 3
HS 320 - Leadership in Service to the Community Credits: 3
PS 200 - Psychology of Human Development Credits: 3
PS 201 - Adolescent Psychology Credits: 3
SO 206 - Alcohol and Drug Dependency Credits: 3
SO 310 - Sociology of Work and Professions Credits: 3
SO 321 - Healthcare Administration Credits: 3
SO 322 - Sociology of Health Credits: 3
SO 346 - Social Gerontology Credits: 3
SO 347 - Death and Dying Credits: 3
SO 348 - AIDS and Society Credits: 3
SS 300 - Social Epidemiology Credits: 3
SS 305 - Intercultural Communication Credits: 3
ST 301 - Business Statistics Credits: 4

Fieldwork (3 credits)

HS 410 - Fieldwork Credits: 3

Additional Foundational Courses for BSHS

Natural/Social Sciences (8 credits)

To include a two-course, 8 credit sequence

Research Design/Methods (6 credits)

FT 350 - Research Methods in Kinesiology Credits: 3
SS 221 - Research Design & Statistical Analysis I Credits: 4
SS 222 - Research Design & Statistical Analysis II Credits: 4
SS 400 - Qualitative Methods in Social Science Credits: 3
ST 301 - Business Statistics Credits: 4
ST 310 - Introduction to Biostatistics Credits: 3

Plan of Study

Students who are enrolled in the program must develop a comprehensive plan of study in conjunction with their academic advisor by the end of their third year of study. The plan must include a proposed timeline and specific list of courses to meet all requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the director of the BSHS program in health science. The student must also develop a proposal for fieldwork by the end of their third year of study, which must be approved by the director of the BSHS program in health science.