Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

Transfer up to
113 Credits
A median of 54 credits accepted
Receive credit for certain health care licenses and certifications

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Expand Your Career Potential with an Online Bachelor’s in Health Sciences

The fully online bachelor’s in health sciences program covers the scope of responsibilities related to a spectrum of health care careers, and teaches you how to succeed as an employee in treatment centers, public health agencies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other medical service or nonclinical health organizations.

Learn how to foster behavioral change and empower clients to maintain optimum health and wellness throughout their life span. In this flexible online program, you learn to help people overcome obstacles to wellness by applying strategies that support the health of individuals and communities. Study approaches to stress reduction, nutrition, physical fitness, treatment of obesity and addictions, and management of chronic illnesses. Course modules also explore career opportunities and health and wellness coaching credentials.

In your core health sciences curriculum, you learn about the organization, purpose, and quality of U.S. health care and insurance provider systems, and master subjects you need to know on the job: state health care policies and federal regulations; cultural competencies for working with diverse clients and coworkers; and strategic approaches to regional health issues.

Over the course of this program, you also develop interpersonal communication and critical reasoning skills that enable you to express your thoughts and ideas in writing, prepare informative reports, and interact professionally with clients, colleagues, executives, and direct reports in health care organizations.

Undergraduate Areas of Emphasis

Health and Wellness, Management, Public Health, No Emphasis Option

Fast Facts:

Health care industry employment is projected to grow 18 percent by 2026 (Source: BLS)


BS degree holders earn, on average, 17 percent more than those with no degree (Source: BLS)


Health Sciences degree holders can be found in careers as diverse as athletic trainer, medical assistant, and nutritionist


120

credit hours

Online BS in Health Sciences Program Details

Depending on the health care licenses and certifications you have, you could potentially be awarded 9-38 credits toward this degree. Learn more about credit for health care credentials.

120 credits are required for the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences.

  • Cornerstone Course
  • Written English Requirement
  • Humanities
    • Ethics (minimum of 2 credits)
    • Humanities electives
  • Social Sciences
    • Social science electives
  • Natural Sciences and Mathematics
    • Natural science supportive of health sciences (minimum 2 credits)
    • Statistics (minimum 2 credits)
    • Additional courses
  • Arts and Sciences Electives
  • INL 102 Information Literacy

The health sciences component provides you with a strong foundation in the health care field and offers the opportunity to choose an area of emphasis to develop knowledge in a specific area.

Core Health Sciences Courses

Writing and Communication in the Health Science Professions

This course covers professional writing, speaking, and presentation skills that help you succeed in interviews for health care jobs and clearly communicate with clients, co-workers, and supervisors in health organizations. Learn how to write concise and persuasive summaries and reports; how to use best practices to inform communication with clients, colleagues, supervisors, and community members; how to manage meetings; how to design and talk through visual presentations; and how to interact with diverse groups.

Health Care Issues in Culturally Diverse Populations

Discover how cultural diversity relates to health, illness, and the health care delivery system. Learn how to create more inclusive health organizations and services that respect religious, racial, ethnic, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic, disability, regional, and other differences.

Research Methods

During this course you will investigate how research is conducted in the social sciences. You will learn research methods and techniques that you are likely to come across in your professional and personal lives. Throughout the course, you will have opportunities to apply the different research methods and techniques that you have learned. Lastly, you will leave the course with an understanding of research methods that will give you the knowledge and skills needed to gather, evaluate, and apply information and research findings.

Introduction to Health Care Delivery Systems

In this comprehensive overview, you study the U.S. health care delivery system continuum from prevention to individualized clinical health care. Topics include the history of American health care and insurance systems and organizations; government health care costs, financing, and federal reform; safety and health care provider quality assurance; access to services; workforce issues and collaboration in the health care industry; and emerging issues and trends in public health, allied health, and nursing careers.

Introduction to Health Care Informatics

This multidisciplinary undergraduate course surveys the role of information management systems in health care. Course material covers electronic health records and clinical systems; database structures; patient privacy policy and regulations; telehealth services and government health information exchange; health data security strategies; and consumer mobile health technology and wearable health devices. Learn more about jobs in informatics and bioinformatics and genetics and genomics research in consumer health, public health, and dental health.

Health Sciences Electives (Lower Level or Upper Level)

Elective requirements may be satisfied by prior coursework in radiology, dental hygiene, cardiovascular technology, pharmacy technology, nursing, medical laboratory technology, related arts and sciences subjects, or credit awarded for approved licenses and certifications. Visit the Credit for Health Care Credentials page to learn more.

Area of Emphasis (Choose One)

Health and Wellness

Prepare for a career as a holistic health coach, health educator, personal fitness trainer, or wellness counselor with an emphasis in health and wellness. Learn about the impact of nutrition, exercise, natural healing, spirituality, and lifestyle on human physiology and psychology, and how certain behaviors can contribute to optimum health and well-being.

  • Health and Wellness
  • Two approved upper-level courses, such as Exercise for Health; Mind, Body, Health; Introduction to Health Coaching; Nutrition for Wellness; Managing Stress

Management

Develop leadership skills in the business of health care by choosing this emphasis in management. Online courses in this area provide instruction in administrative and managerial work. Learn how to prepare a budget, how to monitor worker safety and staffing practices, how to make ethical decisions as a health care manager, and how to approach employee relations and internal communication in health care settings.

  • Budget and Finance in Health Care Organizations
  • Management of Human Resources in Health Care Organizations
  • Leadership and Management in Health Care Seminar

Public Health

The emphasis in public health increases your understanding of disease prevention, population health protection, and public health promotion strategies. Required courses prepare you for jobs in government health agencies, health research labs, community organizations, and nonprofit service organizations.

  • Introduction to Epidemiology
  • Principles of Public Health
  • Public health elective course

No Emphasis Option

Create your own emphasis by exploring different health science-related subjects or applying additional credit to satisfy the requirement.

Bachelor’s in Health Sciences Capstone

In this end-of-program capstone course of the Bachelor of Sciences in Health Sciences curriculum, you work individually and as part of a team to apply what you’ve learned to analyze cases in health care and propose evidence-based solutions in written reports and persuasive audio-visual presentations. During the last three weeks, you learn how to interview for jobs and prepare a career development plan for continuing your studies in a graduate program or gaining employment or advancing in health care organizations.

View our catalog for additional information.

Common Careers with an
Online BS in Health Sciences

  • Ancillary Services Manager
  • Community Health Educator
  • Health Care Financial Manager
  • Health Program Administrator
  • Medical Billing Manager
  • Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Coordinator

Explore Common Careers

Graduates at commencement
Excelsior gave me the opportunity to follow my dreams … there’s no time frame on getting your education.

Caleen Oliver
Bachelor of Science, 2015

Recognitions & Accreditations

Forbes Advisor Best of 2023

Best Online Health Sciences Degrees

Middle States Commission on Higher Education logo

Institutional Accreditation

Excelsior University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. Excelsior University’s accreditation status is accreditation reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 23, 2022 was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.

All of Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered (i.e., approved) by the New York State Education Department.