This versatile degree will provide the foundational skills necessary to pursue a wide range of interests in some of today's fastest-growing health care careers, including physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work and medical laboratory sciences.
The interdisciplinary design of the BS in Health Science Studies emphasizes patient-centered care with a science-based focus on wellness, health and fitness. Graduates will learn the clinical, diagnostic and rehabilitative services within continuum of care to facilitate overall patient wellness, injury recovery and prevention, and the optimization of physical movement. Students can explore various health-related careers in nutrition, radiology, biomedical sciences, optometry, medical administration, health policy, community public health and biotechnology.
Median annual wage for those in health care occupations. (U.S. of Bureau Labor Statistics, 2022)
This flexible program offers students a competitive edge to pursue their career interests or postgraduate study paths, including medical school. With the addition of 2 new programs in Fall 2022, there are now 5 academic tracks for students to choose from. Students can also add a minor in Nutrition to round out their program. This minor explores the vital roles that food and proper nutrition play in maintaining healthy lifestyles, achieving peak athletic performance, managing chronic disease and promoting community wellness.
Study the differences in human physical performance and how wellness, health and fitness are linked with exercise to develop a comprehensive understanding of how the human body responds and adapts to exercise. Students will use exercise physiology to explore ideas alongside expert faculty within the QU exercise lab.
This new program will provide a solid foundation in the study of human movement, focusing on the early thought processes and disciplinary content for many fields in the health profession related to movement. Students explore methods of maintaining healthy movement, preventing disabilities and initiating assessment of movement.
Grounded in science, this track is targeted toward students interested in health care professions, especially working in athletic settings or with a physically active population. Studies are focused on developing the early thought processes and disciplinary content for health professions related to sports medicine and working with an active and/or athletic population.
Students receive a solid foundation in patient communication and evidence-based-medicine to prepare for graduate education in a variety of medical fields, including MD, DO, dentistry, pharmacy, podiatry, optometry, audiology, speech language pathology, genetic counselor, anesthesiologists’ assistant, pathologists’ assistant or physician assistant, and accelerated nursing programs.
This program places a strong emphasis on individualized advising. Students are assigned academic advisers who help match coursework to potential experiential opportunities that align with career goals, including internships, community engagement and international research. First-year students also take a career exploration course that exposes them to the breadth and depth of the health care field.
A limited number of Health Science Studies students may be invited into the Physician Assistant (PA)-Prep Track. This track provides a path for well-qualified students to advance their interests in the PA profession. During their junior year, depending upon the number of seats available in the Entry-Level Master’s in Physician Assistant (ELMPA) program cohort, approximately 3-5 students will be selected to transition into the ELMPA program. PA-Prep is designed specifically for health science students who did not get accepted into the ELMPA program. After graduation, PA-Prep students will have a robust CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants) application making them a competitive applicant for other PA programs.
Our customizable and flexible program makes it easy for students to expand on its core requirements by selecting a minor or a double major.
With permission of the program directors, students interested in pursuing their master’s degree upon the completion of their bachelor’s may apply to take up to 9 credits of graduate-level coursework in their senior year, which may be applied toward both the undergraduate and graduate business programs, including:
Master of Business Administration
MS in Organizational Leadership
Qualified students also can enroll in several dual-degree and accelerated dual-degree programs, including:
Dual-Degree BA or BS/MBA 4+1 (electives available in health care management)
Dual-Degree BA or BS/JD (3+3) (health law concentration available)
To prepare for a week-long research trip, students complete the Health Science 380: International Health Care - Field Research course. The class studies the health care structure, systems and delivery in a country outside the United States. The Fall ‘21 section studied Costa Rica for their January journey.
“The underlying goal is to get students outside the classroom and push their boundaries. We give them an opportunity to spread their wings and be uncomfortable. A lot of health care is uncomfortable,” said Clinical Associate Professor of Health Science Studies Jason Scozzofava, who has led trips for the past four years.
Once in the remote village of Corozalito, students conducted health screenings, gathered research from water tests and set up training areas. The class also donated an AED unit, provided by non-profit In a Heartbeat.
“One of the village elders, who always welcomed our Quinnipiac team into his home, played music for us and spoke to the students about his culture, died of cardiac arrest last summer. The village was devastated, and I spoke with the village leaders at length, and they were interested in getting an AED in the village,” said Scozzofava.
A Costa Rican-based group then came to the village and certified four members in CPR and the use of the AED, he said.
Our undergraduate admissions counselors are here to answer any questions you may have and help you navigate the application process.