Online Bachelors Degree in Medicine

Online medical bachelors degree programs examine the different methods and techniques to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries in patients. Typically, programs also look at ways of providing preventative care and plans so that people may live a healthy life.

Did You Know?

45% of medical school admissions officers say a low MCAT score is the “biggest application deal breaker” in the primary application.

All About Earning an Online Medical Bachelors Degree

An online medical bachelors degree strives to teach all of the different aspects of treating patients. As a result, there are many majors or concentrations for you to choose from while pursuing your bachelors degree. However, many have similar requirements and usually take about the same amount of time.

For instance, the most common 3 admissions requirements for an online bachelors degree in medicine include:

  1. High school or GED equivalent diploma

  2. Official transcripts

  3. Completed application

Some schools may have stricter requirements than others, such as a minimum GPA or minimum SAT scores. Others may not have either of those requirements. Check with a few schools to find one that matches your current academic standing and your goals.

Most online health and medicine bachelors degrees take full-time students four years to complete. However, this typically depends on the program design and the availability of courses. Some programs may be offered as Accelerated Programs or 4+1 degrees, where you earn your bachelors in about the usual four years but then your masters in as little as one single year! Learn more about Accelerated Programs in our deep-dive here.

In addition, part-time students who have full-time jobs or family responsibilities may have the option of pursuing their degree at their own pace, though this normally takes longer to earn a degree.

Different Online Bachelors Degrees in Health and Medicine

While health care is providing effective and efficient care to treat patients’ injuries and illnesses, there are many fields under the general topic of health care. These can cover every aspect of care, from the technology of health informatics and biotechnology, to the science and processes of health sciences, all the way to the business side of health care in management and administration.

As a result, there are a wide variety of majors and concentrations that you may be able to pursue while earning an online medical bachelor degree. Some of these options are listed below, with the key topics in that particular field as well.

Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of all the health and medicine bachelors degrees available. You should research many of the available majors and check with a number of schools to find the perfect program for you and your goals.

Online Bachelors Degree in Health Care Administration

Sometimes referred to as health care management, online health care administration bachelors degree programs cover the major issues facing the community and public health services. Typically, this includes topics such as:

  • Legal and ethical issues in health care

  • Financial principles for decision making and strategic planning

  • Integration of information systems at various levels of health care organizations

  • Impact of different leadership styles in health care system

Therefore, health care administration refers to the many processes of providing patients with effective care. This may include lessons in budgeting and planning and implementing new technology, while upholding professional standards.

Online Kinesiology Bachelors Degree

Kinesiology is the study of movement of the human body. As a result, many online kinesiology bachelors degree programs combine physical education and exercise science courses. Therefore, programs teach the science behind human anatomy and movement in order to teach how to treat injuries.

Many programs also teach how to provide preventative care and rehabilitation for injuries. Some of the other topics kinesiology students may cover include:

  • Collecting and analyzing data to identify community needs

  • Evaluate programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles

  • Understand, describe, and apply the functions of the human body

Some programs may require students to go on-campus in order to complete some hands-on courses and clinical studies. However, each program has a unique design, so that may not apply to all programs.

Biotechnology Bachelors Degree Online

Online biotechnology bachelors degree programs look at how to harness the cellular and biomolecular processes in order to develop technologies to help society. This may include creating new fuels, antibiotics and other medicines, and making new food products

Some of the key topics biotechnology programs look at include:

  • Ethical standards in regards to scientific practices and professional conduct

  • Use scientific procedures and emerging technologies to conduct laboratory experiments

  • Think critically and solve complex problems in biotechnology

Typically, biotechnology programs include a number of courses in biology, genomics, and quality control, among many other science and mathematics courses. This may help teach an understanding of how biotechnology can help create new medicines and other ways of treating patients in the future.

Health and Wellness Bachelors Degree

Typically, online health and wellness bachelors degree programs teach how to combine exercises, wellness, nutrition, and health sciences. This type of curriculum, which covers such a wide variety of topics, has the goal of providing students with a solid foundation in preventative care.

Some of the specific topics in health and wellness include:

  • Analyze lifestyle factors which affect health and wellness

  • Describe the functions of the human body

  • Assess the health and wellness of individuals and examine chronic conditions

Some programs also look at how to create personalized wellness programs for individuals. In addition to nutrition and other aspects of a healthy lifestyle, these plans may include motivational strategies and counseling techniques.

Additional Bachelor Degree Options in Medicine

While those mentioned above are a sample of some of the different types of an online medical bachelors degree offered in health and medicine, there are many other options available. While many of these cover various aspects of providing care, many also include using science and technology to offer better techniques and opportunities to serve patients.

Some of the other online medical bachelors degrees include:

Still, these are just some of the bachelors degrees that offered under the umbrella of health and medicine. Keep this in mind while searching for the perfect program for you in order to find a major and a school that matches your goals.

What Are Majors for Pre Med?

Many students consider the best majors for pre med students to be in the sciences. That’s because medical schools typically require that applicants complete a number of science courses. As a result, choosing a science as an undergraduate major often seems like the best way to earn those credits.

However, choosing a non-science major has become more popular over the years. In fact, some medical schools prefer applicants that have a non-science major in order to show an interest in treating a patient as a complete human being and not simply a compilation of organs and systems.

Therefore, there are no specific pre med majors. Instead, there are academic requirements for admission. Typically, these include a number of science courses.

Some of the typical course requirements for medical school include:

  • Biology

  • Chemistry

  • Physiology

  • Statistics or Data Analysis

  • Psychology

Keep in mind that every medical school will have unique admissions requirements, which may include additional courses. Also, many undergraduate programs have special pre med counselors that may help you choose a course of study that meets all of the course requirements for medical school, but this may not be an option at all schools.

Do You Want to Study Medicine?

Studying medicine is no easy task. Typically, it combines a strong foundation in biology and other sciences with a willingness to explore beyond science to understand the principles of medicine and the medical field.

By immersing in the study of anatomy and physiology, students also examine how to identify and treat diseases, and learn how to dedicate themselves to the commitment of the best interests of their patients. As a result, studying medicine often combines a passion for helping others and a passion for science.

Online Medical Bachelors Degree: What You’ll Learn

Regardless of the specific health and medicine major or concentration you choose for your online medical bachelors degree, there are some core principles and topics that you may examine.

First and foremost is how to more effectively serve patients. Whether this is through efficient health care administration and management, or through providing preventative health and diet plans, the patient’s care is the most important aspect of health and medicine.

Other general topics you may study while earning your online medical bachelors degree include how to:

  • Record patients’ medical history and symptoms

  • Administer medicines and treatments to patients

  • Operate and monitor medical equipmenti

  • Plan and implement comprehensive programs to prevent injury and illness

  • Perform administrative tasks, such as keeping records and writing reportsii

These are just a sample of some of the key concepts that you may study while earning your online health and medicine bachelors degree. However, the specific curriculum may vary depending upon your school and major.

Common Courses in Health and Medicine

With so many variations of online health and medicine bachelor degrees, the specific courses you take depends on which major you choose for your online medical bachelors degree.

However, regardless of your major, some of the most common health and medicine courses you may take include:

  • Health Coaching Concepts and Skills

  • Eating for Lifelong Health

  • Human Nutrition

  • Health care Economics

  • Health care Strategic Management and Policy

  • Ethical and Legal Considerations in Health care

  • Health Promotion Theory and Planning

  • Principles and Foundation of Health Promotion and Wellness

  • World Health Issues

  • Epidemiology

  • Stress and Stress Management

Keep in mind that your specific course of study will depend on the school and the unique makeup of the program. As a result, the courses and their names may vary from school to school.

Common Careers in the Medical Field

Along with so many types of degrees and concentrations, there are at least that many types of careers that you may pursue upon earning your bachelors degree.

Some of the most common careers in health and medicine that you may pursue upon earning your online medical bachelors degree, and their 2016 median annual salary, include:

  • Athletic Trainers: $45,630iii

  • Dieticians and Nutritionists: $58,920iv

  • Exercise Physiologists: $47,340v

  • Recreational Therapists: $46,410vi

  • Registered Nurses: $68,450vii

While the specific responsibilities for each of these positions varies, all are tasked with promoting the health of patients and creating plans to manage disease.viii Some of the other responsibilities may include performing health and stress tests on patients and measuring patient vitals.ix

Additional Licenses and Certifications

Many careers in the healthcare industry require that you earn additional licenses or certifications in order to treat patients. This ensures that professionals have acquired a certain amount of knowledge and may include clinical practice, which may help to reassure patients and their families in regards to the level of care they may receive.

For instance, many states require that dieticians and nutritionists to be licensed. This typically includes having a bachelors degree in health and nutrition, or a related field, completing supervised practice, and passing an exam.x

In addition, many employers, especially hospitals and other clinical settings, prefer candidates for recreational therapist positions to be certified. The most common certification is the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). While employers may prefer these candidates, only four states require that recreational therapists to obtain a license.xi

Many other professions in health care require a certification or license. However, the specific requirements may vary from state to state and depend on the specific field. Keep this in mind while pursuing your online medical degree in order to properly prepare yourself for a career in the health care industry and in your specific field.xii

Many bachelor degree programs are designed to prepare students for specific licensure and certifications upon graduation. However, this may not be the case for all programs. As a result, it is up to you to make sure that you are achieving the proper prerequisites.

It's Time to Earn Your Online Medical Bachelors Degree

Are you looking for a bachelors degree where you can truly make a difference in the lives of others? Are you looking to combine that with a passion for science? Then make the next move toward earning your online medical bachelors degree.

Click on any of the sponsored listings for program descriptions, a list of courses, and admissions requirements.

You can even contact your favorite schools directly and apply today.


[i] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-2 [ii] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/athletic-trainers.htm#tab-2 [iii] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/athletic-trainers.htm#tab-5 [iv] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm#tab-5 [v] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/exercise-physiologists.htm#tab-5 [vi] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/recreational-therapists.htm#tab-5 [vii] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-5 [viii] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm#tab-2 [ix] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/exercise-physiologists.htm#tab-2 [x] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm#tab-4 [xi] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/recreational-therapists.htm#tab-4 [xii] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/exercise-physiologists.htm#tab-4