BS in Health Science Studies Curriculum

BS in Health Science Studies Curriculum

A total of 120 credits is required for completion of the BS in Health Science Studies. Below is a sample first year plan of study.

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Chemistry courses and additional math courses depend on intended professional goal or career plan and math placement score.

Subsequent Course and GPA Requirements

Following the first year of study, Health Science Studies students meet with their academic advisers and develop a customized plan of study that incorporates their academic and career goals. During the first two years of study, students select a specific track. To remain in good standing within the program, students must maintain an minimum overall science GPA of 2.25 and earn 120 credits for degree completion. Course selections must fulfill the following:

HSC offers the following tracks:

• Clinical Preparation Track
• Exercise and Wellness Track
• Health and Science Track
• Human Movement Track
• Sports Medicine Track
• Physician Assistant (PA) Preparation Track (Invitation Only)

Clinical Preparation Track

This track provides students with a solid foundation in patient communication and evidence-based medicine. This foundation helps to prepare students for graduate education in a variety of medical fields, such as (but not limited to) MD, DO, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Optometry, Audiology, Speech Language Pathology, Genetic Counselor, Anesthesiologists’ Assistant, Pathologists’ Assistant, Physician Assistant, and/or Accelerated Nursing programs. Students in the Clinical Preparation Track are required to take the following courses:

Exercise & Wellness Track

This track provides students with a foundation in exercise prescription and nutrition. This foundation helps prepare students for graduate studies in areas such as Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics or Nutrition/Dietetics. Students interested in a more in-depth exploration of nutrition may consider earning a minor in nutrition. Students in the Exercise & Wellness Track are required to take the following courses:

Health & Science Track

The most flexible curriculum to prepare for careers or graduate studies in one of the many other fields a student may go in with this degree, such as Health Care Management, Health Science Research, or to tailor one of the above tracks to best meet their academic needs. Students in the Health & Science Track are required to take the following courses:

Human Movement Track

The Human Movement Track provides the foundation and application of knowledge related to human movement across the lifespan. The curricular model focuses on developing the early thought processes and disciplinary content for many fields in the health professions related to movement. Through the scientific understanding of human anatomy, kinesiology and biomechanics, students advance toward exploring methods of maintaining healthy movement, preventing disability, and initiating an assessment of movement. The culmination of the track involves the application of human movement in clinical practice, through research in motion analysis, or in the community through the promotion of healthy living. Career paths include continuing on in fields or graduate studies related to Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, Orthopedics or Biomechanics.

Physician Assistant (PA) Preparation Track (Invitation Only)

A limited number of students will be invited into the Physician Assistant (PA) Prep Track. This track is a means for well-qualified students to advance their interests in the PA profession but were not accepted into the Entry-Level Master’s in Physician Assistant (ELMPA) program. During the junior year, depending upon the number of seats available in the ELMPA cohort, approximately 3-5 students will be selected to transition into the ELMPA program. To be considered for transfer into ELMPA, students in the PA Prep program must meet established qualifications. The remaining PA Prep students not admitted into the ELMPA program will continue to follow a curriculum that mirrors that of the ELMPA program. As a result, the PA Prep students will have a robust CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants) application making them a competitive applicant for other PA programs. Students interested in the PA profession who are not invited into the PA Prep Track may take similar courses via the Clinical Preparation Track. Students invited to the PA Prep Track will be required to take the following courses:

Sports Medicine Track

The Sports Medicine Track is grounded in science, targeted toward students interested in healthcare professions, especially those students who have an interest in working either in athletic settings or with a physically active population. The curricular model focuses on developing the early thought processes and disciplinary content for many fields in the health professions related to sports medicine and working with an active and/or athletic population (traditional sports, tactical athletes, performing artists, etc.). Career paths include continuing on in fields or graduate studies related to Athletic Training, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Orthopedics, Orthotist, Paramedics, Strength and Conditioning, or Sports Performance.