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Online Bachelor Degree Programs in Health Science
Online bachelors degree in health science programs are designed to teach many of the different components of the health care system. This may include topics such as health information systems, health care management, and how to properly treat patients. Some programs include clinical requirements while others are more focused on the management and leadership of health care facilities and personnel.
Did You Know?
Spending on healthcare increased faster than the GDP in the United States in all but seven years from 1960 to 2010.
Online Bachelors Degree in Health Science: What You’ll Learn
While pursuing your bachelors degree in health science, your curriculum may integrate social, behavioral, and analytical areas in a variety of topics in health care. By teaching the fundamentals of many of the aspects of health science, courses are designed to teach how to efficiently treat patients at every step of the health care process.
Some of the main topics may include:
- Public health principles
- Epidemiology
- Global health issues
- Clinical research and data methodologies
- Preventative care
In addition to those listed, health care informatics and health care information systems continue to increase in importance. This is a direct result of technology becoming more prevalent in every step of health care and the increased accessibility to data and analytics.
Plus, because health science includes such a variety of subjects, typically bachelors degree courses cover an overview the main topics, theories, and concepts in many of these subjects. This may provide students an opportunity to learn about many of the different fields in order to narrow in on one that interests them.
Important Topics in Health Science
Online health science bachelors degrees analyze the many aspects in the modern health care field. Typically, this includes theories and concepts that approach how to treat the health of a population more effectively, such as through better nutrition, exercise, and other preventative care.
Though health science covers a wide variety of subjects, many of the general topics remain the same in the different fields. Some of the key topics you may study while pursuing your online bachelors degree in health science include:
- Use health information technology to maximize efficiency
- Apply continuous improvement practices and quality management processes to improve outcomes
- Execute decisions in compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory considerations in the health care industry
- Harness big data and health informatics to improve patient outcomes
- Use advanced technology to monitor and promote healthy lifestyles
These topics may vary depending on whether or not you choose a concentration for your bachelors degree. For instance, a health informatics concentration analyzes more technology and data than a more clinically-focused concentration. Let's take a closer look.
Concentrations in Health Science
While pursuing an online bachelors degree in health science, many programs offer you the ability to choose a concentration. This may provide you with a chance to tailor your course of study to specifically meet your academic goals and to narrow the scope of your studies.
Choosing a concentration may also benefit students who may pursue a graduate degree in a specific field. This may be beneficial because health science covers such a wide range of topics and aspects of the health care industry. Therefore, choosing a concentration may provide a deeper understanding of the core topics and principles in that specific field.
Some of the available concentrations in health science include:
- Health Care Studies
- Health Care Advancement Studies
- Public Health
- Medical Radiology
- Nuclear Medicine Technology
- Health Care Administration
- Gerontology
- Rehabilitation and Disability Studies
While researching various schools, keep in mind that there may be additional concentrations available. Check with a number of schools to find one that has the specific concentration you’re looking for.
Common Health Science Online Courses
In order for students to properly analyze all of the different aspects of health science, many schools offer a number of courses in a variety of fields. This is usually a way to provide an interdisciplinary approach to learning and to teach the core principles in many of the fields of health science so that you may understand how they are related.
Balancing courses in a variety of different subjects in health science with courses focused on a particular aspect of the field may help hone your knowledge while developing critical thinking and analysis skills. As a result, courses in health science range from the clinical care of patients to the business side of health care all the way to leadership principles and practices.
Some of the common courses you may take while pursuing a bachelors degree in health science include:
- Introduction to Public Health
- Principles of Health Care
- Human Anatomy
- Applied Medical and Health Care Ethics
- Biostatistics
- Evaluations of Health Sciences Research
- Strategic Leadership and Workforce Planning in Health Care
- Managing Population Health
- Health Care Systems and Operations
- Economics of Health Care
Remember, this is not a complete list of courses you may take while earning an online bachelors degree in health science. Also, many bachelors degree programs require that students fulfill general education or liberal arts requirements in order to earn your degree.
This may mean you will take courses in history, English, and other social sciences. However, check with a number of different schools about their specific requirements.
Definition of Health Sciences
Health science is the group of disciplines related to the health care of humans and animals through the application of science and technology. Because humans have always had to deal with illness and injury, it can be said that health science has been around since the cavemen.
However, health science has taken on more of a role as technology continues to impact our way of living. Technology has provided more opportunities to create new medications, analyze the effectiveness of different aspects of care, and to improve the process of health care.
Branches of Health Science
Health science covers a number of sub disciplines, which include both Western and alternative medicine.
Some of these specific branches of health science include:
- Nutrition
- Physical therapy
- Pediatrics
- Health care management
- Acupuncture
These include many of the different methods of effectively treating patients, from creating preventative care plans to analyzing data to more efficiently prescribe medication. These, and many other topics, fall under the umbrella of health science.
These are just some of the many fields available. As a result, when searching for the perfect online bachelors degree in health science for you, consider your passions and goals before applying.
Online Bachelors in Health Science: Basics
Similar to the field of health science in general, bachelor degrees in the field cover a wide variety of topics. For instance, some online programs are designed for students who have earned an associates degree in the allied health field and have completed clinical studies. This may help keep your bachelors degree course of study entirely online.
On the other hand, some online programs that are clinically focused, such as Gerontology or Physical Therapy, may require students to come to campus to complete some requirements.
Other programs are more focused on leadership, management, and informatics. As a result, these programs don’t have any clinical requirements and can be earned completely online.
Therefore, while researching online health science bachelors degrees, check each school for the specific design and requirements.
What Is a BHSc?
A BHSc is the Bachelor of Health Science degree. Typically, this degree is only offered outside of the United States. Currently, there are no BHSc programs available in the U.S.
However, there are a number of schools in the United States that offer a bachelors degree in public health. Typically, these programs are bachelor of science degrees, though there are some that offer public health as a concentration in the field of health science.
What Are the Admissions Requirements for Online Bachelor Degree Programs in Health Science?
Every school has unique admissions requirements.
Some of the most common admissions requirements for online bachelors degree in health science programs include:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Completed application
- Official transcripts
Keep in mind that some schools require that you earned your high school diploma with a minimum GPA or that you earned a minimum score on the ACT or SAT. On the other hand, some schools don’t require that you take the SATs at all.
Also, admissions requirements may vary for transfer and international applicants.
How Long Does It Take to Earn an Online Bachelors Degree in Health Science?
Typically, full-time students can earn their online bachelors degree in health science in four years. However, this may depend on when courses are available and the specific design of each preogram. This may also depend on whether or not you need to go to campus to perform any clinical practice.
Many online programs are also designed for students to take courses at their convenience. This is especially true for health science bachelors degrees because of the variety of topics, concentrations, and requirements. Keep in mind that earning a bachelors degree typically takes longer than four years for part-time students.
Is Health Science a Good Major for Medical School?
If you plan on going to medical school upon earning your bachelors degree, it’s important to keep those admissions requirements in mind. However, many students make the assumption that they have to major in pre-med in order to be accepted into medical school.
In reality, this is simply not the case. In fact, in 2012, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) found that only 51% of students who enrolled in medical school that year majored in biological sciences.
As a result, the other 49% of students enrolling in medical school majored in health science, physical science, or other similar degrees. However, keep in mind that most medical schools do have requirements when it comes to specific courses you must complete while earning your bachelors degree. These are typically science and math courses, though specific requirements may vary.
Some of these course requirements may include:
- Biology
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Calculus
If you are hoping to apply to medical schools upon earning your online bachelors degree in health science, check out a number of schools to find a program that matches your goals. Then you can tailor your course of study to meet the requirements.
Common Health Science Careers
After earning your online bachelors degree in health science, students typically pursue a career in one of the particular fields. This may depend on the design of your program and if you decided to choose a concentration.
Some of the careers in health science, and their 2016 median annual salary, include:
- Dietician and Nutritionists: $58,920i
- Medical and Health Services Managers: $96,540ii
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists: $74,350iii
In order to become a dietician and nutritionist, typically a bachelors degree is required.iv On the other hand, you can become a nuclear medicine technologist with an associates degree, though bachelors degrees are common, too. In addition, half of the states in the U.S. require nuclear medicine technologists to be licensed. Other requirements vary from state to state.v
Many medical and health services managers have a bachelors degree, though masters degrees are becoming increasingly more common.vi
Get Started!
Are you passionate about helping people? Do you enjoy science? Are you interested in learning about the science of health care? If you answered yes to these questions, then take the next step to earning to your online bachelors degree in health science.
Click on any of the sponsored listings on this page to learn more about each school. This may include program descriptions, available concentrations, courses, and requirements. You can contact schools directly to request more information and even apply today.
[i] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm#tab-5 [ii] bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-5 [iii] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nuclear-medicine-technologists.htm#tab-5 [iv] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm#tab-4 [v] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nuclear-medicine-technologists.htm#tab-4 [vi] bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-4