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.

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 & Nutrition Track
• Health & Science 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 or Physician Assistant, and Accelerated Nursing programs. Students in the Clinical Preparation Track are required to take the following courses:

Exercise & Nutrition 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 Physiologists, and Nutrition/Dietitian. Students interested in a more in-depth exploration of nutrition may consider earning a minor in nutrition. Students in the Exercise & Nutrition 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:

Physician Assistant (PA) Preparation Track (Invitation Only)

A limited number of Health Science Studies students also may 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 did not get 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. 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: