The Health Science degree program is dedicated to shaping the next generation of healthcare providers. In an era where healthcare stands as a paramount industry for national employment, our Health Science program emerges as a pivotal choice for aspiring professionals seeking to contribute to the well-being of society.
Admission to competitive graduate health programs necessitates exemplary academic standing. With this in mind, our Health Science program holds students to a high standard, requiring a minimum GPA of 3.2 after completing program prerequisites. These standards not only prepare students for advanced studies but also instill a sense of diligence and commitment that is essential in the healthcare landscape.
Our interdisciplinary curriculum commences with an intensive study of Human Biology, Chemistry, Health Care Professions, Medical Terminology, Psychology, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology. These foundational courses serve as the bedrock upon which students construct their individualized academic trajectory, aligned with their career aspirations, through upper-level coursework on interprofessional healthcare practice, 1:1 advising meetings that include identifying specific courses required as prerequisites for students’ healthcare careers of interest, and program oversight by licensed healthcare professionals.
The health science program is dedicated to cultivating a holistic skill set essential for healthcare practice. Analytical thinking, complex problem-solving, adept leadership, information literacy, and possessing a social justice mindset in healthcare contexts constitute some of the proficiencies that define our graduates to inform their contributions to the healthcare arena.
The Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc) program equips students with a comprehensive foundation of health sciences through an immersive interdisciplinary curriculum spanning both scientific and allied health domains. Its core mission is to provide each student with the essential prerequisites required for successful application to professional degree programs in the expansive realm of allied health professions. This program paves the way for diverse career pathways, ranging from occupational therapy to physical therapy, physician assistant/associate studies, pharmacy, medical school, chiropractic care, athletic training, and beyond, ensuring graduates are primed for impactful contributions to the healthcare landscape. Graduates from the program have also pursued further education in administration, nursing, pathology, sonography, radiation therapy, and cardiac perfusion.
In addition to specialized courses in the major, the core curriculum includes courses in Biology, Chemistry, Health and Movement Sciences, Psychology, and Healthcare Studies. Additional coursework is selected to personalize students’ programs to increase their success in achieving their goals.
This accelerated degree program prepares graduates for a career as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist in a clinical or research setting. Students are prepared to work with a diverse set of populations as clinical exercise physiologists including cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, exercise oncology, and metabolic disease (e.g. obesity, T2DM) management. The undergraduate program allows students to begin their graduate studies during their senior year. The graduate program prepares students through its comprehensive coursework to sit for the ACSM-CEP (ACSM’s Clinical Exercise Physiologist certification), which is required by the majority of clinical positions.
This accelerated degree program prepares graduates for a career dedicated to the promotion and programming of physical activity as community health workers or other public/private sector health promotion positions. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this emerging field, graduates of this interdisciplinary program are uniquely qualified for careers in physical activity promotion at the community and population levels. The undergraduate program allows students to begin their graduate studies during their senior year. The graduate program prepares students through coursework and a 3-credit internship to sit for the Physical Activity and Population Health certification (ACSM/NPAS) sponsored by the American College of Sports Medicine. The program is endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine and was recently accredited by the Commission in Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Our graduates stand poised for multifaceted roles in the healthcare realm. Armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science (BHSc), they possess the knowledge and competence to pursue professional degree programs for careers in diverse healthcare environments and are equipped to enact meaningful change.
The Health Science major acts as a conduit to an array of esteemed healthcare careers to become an occupational therapist, physical therapist, physician assistant, medical doctor, pharmacist, chiropractor, genetic counselor, athletic trainer, and more. Anchored in the tenets of physical and social sciences, our program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive academic foundation, ensuring their eligibility to apply for a diverse spectrum of professional healthcare degree programs.
Graduates of the BHSc degree are strategically prepared for a trajectory leading to esteemed professional programs within the healthcare domain. These avenues include, yet extend beyond, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant/associate studies, medical school, pharmacy, chiropractic care, athletic training, exercise science/kinesiology, as well as accelerated second bachelor's degree programs in nursing.
The Health Science program is directed by licensed healthcare professionals in Occupational and Physical Therapy. The Health Science degree program prides itself on the intensive academic advisement and mentorship tailored to navigate career exploration and arm students with the prerequisite courses and knowledge to apply to professional healthcare career programs.
Complementing this individualized advising, a defining feature of the Health Science program is its capacity for students to customize the curriculum by choosing specific coursework that is required for their specific career(s) of interest once those careers are identified with the guidance of their advisors.
School / College
College of Health & Human Services
Department
Health and Movement Sciences
Contact
Dr. Marc Robertson
Dr. Kyle O’Brien