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Bachelor's degrees in health science are designed for students who are interested in healthcare occupations. Enrollees can pursue an online health science degree to study patient care coordination, leadership, and public health policy.

Some students begin their college experience studying for a bachelor's degree, while many others first earn an associate degree in a specialization, such as nursing, medical assisting, or laboratory science. These alumni with associate degrees can enroll in a two-year completion program to earn their online bachelor's. 

Faculty design bachelor's degrees in health sciences to teach the structure and function of the U.S. healthcare system from a multidisciplinary perspective. These degrees also emphasize soft skills that students can use regardless of their chosen healthcare career. 

Online health science degrees are mainly asynchronous, with classes that don't meet at set times. Some online programs may have live video class meetings, and others are hybrid programs with a mix of online and in-person elements. Schools may use online laboratory simulation software, but they could require students to complete lab work with designated equipment at home or at an approved facility.

Bachelor's degrees in the health sciences are often degree-completion programs. This means that they're designed for students who already hold a certificate or associate degree. Candidates transfer credits they've earned into the bachelor's degree program and complete any necessary courses at the new school.

Degree-completion health science programs usually require an applicant's certificate or associate degree to be in an allied healthcare field. Allied health professionals help doctors and nurses with specialized aspects of patient care. Although COVID-19 has stressed the healthcare workforce, it's also inspired a new generation to join the ranks, so allied health programs remain popular.

Explore our pages featuring allied health certificates and associate degrees that can lead to growing occupations:

• Dental Assistant Programs
• Medical Assistant Programs
• Associate Degrees in Medical Billing and Coding

An undergraduate degree in health science is similar to a bachelor's in healthcare administration and a bachelor's in public health. In fact, many of the same courses are included in the curriculum for each of these degree programs. However, subtle differences in the educational outcomes may lend themselves to some occupations more easily than others. 

The following distinctions may be helpful to students when they're deciding which type of degree to pursue:

Health Science: While all three disciplines train students to perform nonclinical roles, health science is broader in scope and includes elements of healthcare management, public health and policy issues, and healthcare informatics. The versatility of this degree qualifies graduates for a wide range of patient-focused support positions, such as healthcare facilities managers and health informatics managers.

Healthcare Administration: A degree program in healthcare administration focuses almost entirely on managerial functions in healthcare settings. Students learn about the healthcare system and medical terminology and also explore management topics in more depth than health science students. Public health and healthcare policy practices are generally not covered.

Public Health: A program in public health often incorporates a study of both clinical and nonclinical practices to promote best practices among future health professionals who want to provide education, prevent public health crises, and address public health issues.

Administrations design health science bachelor's degrees to last four years, but many students take more than four years to finish. Degree-completion programs can take as little as two years to complete. 

Administrators will tell you that your health science bachelor's degree will take four years to complete (or two years if you opt for a degree-completion program). But the truth is that only finish their program within 150% of the expected time, which is six years for a bachelor's degree. This is because many choose to attend part time or need to take leaves of absence to attend to personal business.

Most schools require students to complete 120 credit hours, split between general education and major courses. Students in degree-completion programs can typically transfer up to, but no more than, 90 credits from their original institution. Because health sciences is a broad subject, programs often feature a choice of specialized concentrations, such as healthcare leadership, public health, and health policy. 

As a science-focused major, students in a health sciences program typically take a few courses that require laboratory work. Most programs culminate in a one- or two-semester capstone course or senior seminar, which allows students to apply what they've learned in real-world settings. This may be in the form of an internship at a healthcare-related agency or organization, or it may be a research-oriented capstone project. 

While the curriculum for an online health science program focuses primarily on healthcare administration, it also addresses the forces that shape health services, public policy, and the various healthcare professionals involved. Coursework also helps students develop valuable critical thinking and communication skills. 

The following courses are often included in an online health science degree program:

• Law and Ethics in Healthcare: Patient choice and provider responsibility are just two of the many broad areas within healthcare that are governed by numerous regulations. This course explains specific healthcare-related laws and the principles behind major policies. Real-world examples are often used to discuss ethical models and decision-making in healthcare.
• Healthcare Economics: Health economics professors aim to teach supply and demand for medical services and how they're financed. They usually touch on government policy, insurance, and risk calculation.
• Health Information Systems: Students learn the latest technology for keeping health records in this class. Most faculty also offer a deep dive into the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and how it protects patient confidentiality.
• Epidemiology: Many health science programs provide students with a course on the causes and distribution of infectious disease epidemics. This class may cover new diseases, such as COVID-19, and recurring diseases, such as whooping cough. Coursework may cover disease prevention, outbreak investigation, factors that influence distribution, public health policy, and more.
• The U.S. Healthcare System: In this course, students learn how the U.S. healthcare delivery system is structured and funded. Some of the topics often addressed include employment-funded and government-funded health insurance, access to quality healthcare, and other current issues. Students may also learn about the politics surrounding healthcare reform and the future of the U.S. system.
• Medical Terminology: Whether they're interested in pursuing clinical or nonclinical roles in healthcare, health science majors need to be familiar with the vocabulary used in the medical field. Coursework typically covers the terminology used to describe anatomy, diseases and conditions, and treatment methods. The course may also introduce students to the root sources of these terms.

Students often select a concentration to study a subject of personal interest, set themselves apart as well-qualified candidates for particular jobs, and/or position themselves for acceptance into graduate school. In health science, concentrations sometimes require courses, such as electives, from other fields besides health. 

Some of the more common concentrations include the following:

• Aging: Students who opt for a concentration in aging may be required to take several courses related to healthcare for older adults, such as Gerontology and Health Issues Across the Lifespan. There may also be one or two required courses in Business Management to help graduates prepare for managerial roles in healthcare service organizations catering to the aging population in the U.S.
• Health and Wellness: Health science majors interested in the field of public health may consider focusing on health and wellness. Some of the possible courses in this area of emphasis include Public Health Principles, Health Communication and Education, and Health Services Administration. Graduates can choose one of several career paths, such as working in health promotion or wellness programming through a nonprofit organization or pursuing a graduate degree in occupational therapy.
• Healthcare Management: Enrollees who already know they would prefer a nonclinical career in healthcare may focus on healthcare management. Required courses will most likely be an interdisciplinary combination of Business Management and Leadership along with Health Informatics and Health Services Administration. This concentration helps prepare graduates to become health services managers, but they could also become community health program managers or pharmaceutical sales representatives.
• Physical Rehabilitation: A concentration in rehabilitation could be a logical choice for bachelor's degree students who want to complete pre-professional studies on their way to earning graduate degrees in rehabilitation, such as physical therapy, orthotics, or chiropractic care. It may also be of interest to clinicians who have earned associate degrees in healthcare 鈥� for example, respiratory care therapists 鈥� and now want to pursue a bachelor's program. Two of the more common courses for this concentration include Health and Disability and Occupational Health and Safety.

A health sciences education can help you start down a number of educational and career paths. Health sciences is a broad field of study, so many students use this bachelor's degree as a foundation for a career that requires an advanced degree, but others seek work at the bachelor's level.

Health Science Careers

A health sciences bachelor's degree might qualify you for several . For example, as a degree-completion program graduate, you might use your new degree to improve your chances for promotion or salary increases in an allied health field. You may even pursue management positions in medical billing and coding, health information technology, or medical assistant roles.

You can work in many parts of the healthcare industry if you earn a bachelor's degree in health sciences, such as medical office administration, healthcare management, or laboratory research. If you hold an associate degree in the allied health field, you might continue in that work at a higher level once you get your bachelor's degree.

You could also seek a new occupation after earning your degree. Here are a few possible career options:

• Doing research as a
• Supervising administrative teams as a
• Getting certified as a and helping patients improve their wellness through fun activities

Very few professionals in health science need licensure to practice, except for nursing home administrators. In the U.S., these professionals must apply to their state boards and pass an exam administered by the to become licensed. Assisted living facility managers may also be required to obtain licensure in some states.

Some health science professionals may decide to pursue one of the many optional certifications available. Certification adds credibility to an individual's qualifications and may make a person more attractive as a job candidate, especially when applying for advanced or specialized roles in healthcare management. Below are some examples of healthcare certifications that may help professionals advance their career after graduation.

FACHE

offers a respected and versatile certification in the healthcare industry. Passing the exam requires a deep knowledge of healthcare management principles and practices. This certification is valued by many healthcare professionals working in a wide range of patient care facilities.

CMM

A certification is designed for healthcare services managers of smaller private physician practices. The Professional Association of Health Care Office Management administers a 200-question exam that covers topics such as revenue, risk, and business management.

CHFP

A certification is for health services administrators with a strong interest in financial management. CHFP certification is an opportunity to demonstrate their financial acumen, strategic and analytical skills, and collaborative work abilities. To obtain CHFP certification from the Healthcare Financial Management Association, candidates must complete a preliminary course before taking an exam. This certification may be beneficial to those who intend to become executive-level financial managers at large healthcare organizations.

RHIA

A certification is designed for healthcare professionals who aspire to become higher-level health informatics managers and executives. The RHIA credential demonstrates an individual's abilities in managing IT systems as well as interpersonal, communication, and people management skills. The American Health Information Management Association administers the certification exam.

You'll probably find at least some parts of a health sciences degree to be challenging. The curriculum draws from several disciplines and covers laboratory research, policy analysis, historical research, economics, and finance. Most students tend to excel in some of these areas and struggle with others.

Yes, as you can see with our list of 100% online options above. Many colleges feature online bachelor's degrees in health science. Applicants can choose a general degree path or specialize by putting electives toward a concentration, such as aging or healthcare management. In an online format, most health science degrees feature asynchronous courses that let students complete coursework on their own time.