Bachelor of Science-Health Science

Degree Requirements

Students should refer to their DegreeWorks degree audit located in their Digital Backpack for more information regarding their specific degree requirements. 

General Education Requirements42
Major Requirements
6 Credits from:6
Biology for Science Majors I satisfies core curriculum
Biology for Science Majors II
Biology for Non-Science Majors I
General Chemistry I
PSYC 2301General Psychology satisfies core curriculum3
MATH 1314College Algebra satisfies core curriculum3
MATH 1342Elementary Statistical Methods3
BUSI 1301Introduction to Business satisfies core curriculum3
HSCI 300Epidemiology3
HSCI 301Healthcare for a Diverse Population3
HSCI 302Healthcare Administration History, Culture, and Language3
HSCI 303Health Information Systems3
HSCI 406Quality Control Management in Healthcare3
HSCI 407Healthcare, Human Resources, and Employment Law3
HSCI 408Healthcare Strategic Management3
HSCI 409Disaster & Emergency Preparedness Management3
HSCI 410Healthcare Reimbursement3
HSCI 434Healthy Aging3
ECON 2301Principles of Macroeconomics3
LEAD 305Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practices3
MGT 395Principles of Management3
FIN 354Financial Management3
BIOL 335Medical Terminology3
MKT 363Marketing3
ACCT 2301Principles of Accounting I3
ACCT 2302Principles of Accounting II3
HSCI 347Foundations of Health Care Ethics3
HSCI 348Introduction to Health Policy3
NURS 336
COMM 380Professional Communication3
Electives as needed to meet minimum degree requirements
Minimum Hours for Degree120

Note: A minimum of 54 upper division hours (300 and 400 level courses) are required for this degree. Resident credit totaling 25% of the hours is required for the degree.  A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in three areas for graduation:  Overall GPA, Institutional GPA, and Major GPA.

First Year

Fall
ENGL 1301Composition I minimum grade of 'C' required; satisfies core curriculum3
HIST 1301United States History I satisfies core curriculum3
MATH 1314College Algebra satisfies core curriculum3
PSYC 2301General Psychology satisfies core curriculum3
Elective3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours15
Spring
ENGL 1302Composition II minimum grade of 'C' required; satisfies core curriculum3
or ENGL 2311 Technical Writing & Communication
HIST 1302United States History II satisfies core curriculum3
BIOL 1306Biology for Science Majors I satisfies core curriculum3
or BIOL 1307 Biology for Science Majors II
or BIOL 1308 Biology for Non-Science Majors I
or CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I
BIOL 1106Biology for Science Majors I Lab1
or BIOL 1107 Biology for Science Majors II Lab
or BIOL 1108 Biology for Non-science Majors I Lab
or CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I (Lab)
SPCH 1315Public Speaking satisfies core curriculum3
or COMM 1307 Introduction to Mass Communication
or COMM 1311 Introduction to Communication Studies
Creative Arts Core Curriculum Requirement3
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours16
Total First Year Semester Credit Hours31

Second Year

Fall
HSCI 434Healthy Aging3
PSCI 2305U.S. Government and Politics satisfies core curriculum3
BIOL 1306Biology for Science Majors I satisfies core curriculum3
or BIOL 1307 Biology for Science Majors II
or BIOL 1308 Biology for Non-Science Majors I
or CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I
BIOL 1106Biology for Science Majors I Lab satisfies core curriculum1
or BIOL 1107 Biology for Science Majors II Lab
or BIOL 1108 Biology for Non-science Majors I Lab
or CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I (Lab)
Language, Philosophy and Culture Core Curriculum Requirement3
Elective1
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours14
Spring
MATH 1342Elementary Statistical Methods3
PSCI 2306State and Local Government satisfies core curriculum3
ECON 2302Principles of Microeconomics satisfies core curriculum3
LEAD 305Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practices3
MGT 395Principles of Management3
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours15
Total Second Year Semester Credit Hours29

Third Year

Fall
FIN 354Financial Management3
BIOL 335Medical Terminology3
MKT 363Marketing3
ACCT 2301Principles of Accounting I3
Elective3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours15
Spring
HSCI 347Foundations of Health Care Ethics3
HSCI 348Introduction to Health Policy3
HSCI 300Epidemiology3
BUSI 1301Introduction to Business3
ACCT 2302Principles of Accounting II3
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours15
Total Third Year Semester Credit Hours30

Fourth Year

Fall
NURS 336
COMM 380Professional Communication3
HSCI 301Healthcare for a Diverse Population3
HSCI 302Healthcare Administration History, Culture, and Language3
HSCI 303Health Information Systems3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours15
Spring
HSCI 406Quality Control Management in Healthcare3
HSCI 407Healthcare, Human Resources, and Employment Law3
HSCI 408Healthcare Strategic Management3
HSCI 409Disaster & Emergency Preparedness Management3
HSCI 410Healthcare Reimbursement3
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours15
Total Fourth Year Semester Credit Hours15
Total Hours required for Degree120

HSCI 1106. Safety, First Aid, and CPR. 1 Hour.

This course is an introduction to the current standards and techniques for first aid and provides information on the prevention of accidents, functional first aid knowledge, and the skills to care for basic emergencies, obstructed airways, rescue breathing, and CPR. Students will have the option of American Red Cross certification in adult or child CPR, responding to Emergencies First Aid, and/or Automated External Defibrillation.

HSCI 1323. Nutrition and Health. 3 Hours.

This course will emphasize the role of nutrition in health promotion and maintenance. Sources and roles of nutrients and the processes of ingestion, digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients provide the foundation of the course. The student will perform a nutritional assessment and apply nutritional guidelines and food safety to self and others and analyze nutritional facts and myths. Cultural, religious and ethnic differences, age-related nutritional needs, and an examination of nutrition myths will be integrated. The course will include an introduction to clinical nutrition.

HSCI 189. Independent Study in HSCI. 1-6 Hours.

HSCI 300. Epidemiology. 3 Hours.

Introduces students to the essential principles of epidemiology within the context of healthcare administration. Focusing on the study of disease patterns and health determinants, students will learn how to apply epidemiological methods to address population health challenges. The course covers foundational topics such as disease distribution, study design, and data analysis, while emphasizing public health concepts like health promotion and risk assessment.

HSCI 301. Healthcare for a Diverse Population. 3 Hours.

Prepares students to examine the complex healthcare needs of diverse populations, with a focus on enhancing culturally competent care and reducing health disparities. Students will explore the impact of social, cultural, and economic factors on health outcomes and access to healthcare.

HSCI 302. Healthcare Administration History, Culture, and Language. 3 Hours.

Provides an overview of the historical development, cultural influences, and language dynamics within healthcare administration. Students will explore how these elements shape healthcare policies, patient-provider interactions, and organizational practices.

HSCI 303. Health Information Systems. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of health information systems (HIS) and their critical role in supporting healthcare operations and patient care. Students will explore topics such as electronic health records (EHRs), health data management, and system interoperability, with an emphasis on data security and privacy.

HSCI 346. Wellness and Holistic Health Practices. 3 Hours.

This fully online course is an introduction to the practice of holistic health practices as they relate to one's own state of wellness. Health and harmony of the body, mind, and spirit to obtain a richer state of health balance will be emphasized. This class will explore how complementary and alternative therapies can be used to create and support a state of balance within yourself and with your environment. Local, regional, and state complementary and alternative medicine resources will be discovered and identified. Cross listed with HSCI 546.

HSCI 347. Foundations of Health Care Ethics. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of healthcare ethics and their application in contemporary health sciences. Students will explore the philosophical roots of ethics, examine major ethical frameworks, and analyze common dilemmas faced in healthcare delivery. Topics include end-of-life decisions, hospice care, abortion, patient rights, refusal of treatment, and the medical use of marijuana for pain management. Legal documents and precedents relevant to healthcare practice will also be reviewed to help students understand the intersection of ethics, law, and patient care.

HSCI 348. Introduction to Health Policy. 3 Hours.

This course will provide experiential learning to explore a health care advocacy or policy project at the local, regional, or national level. This project-based learning will enable the student to work policy makers and interdisciplinary providers to solve a healthcare issue.

HSCI 406. Quality Control Management in Healthcare. 3 Hours.

Introduces students to the fundamentals of quality control in healthcare settings, focusing on the principles, practices, and systems designed to ensure the provision of high-quality care. The course emphasizes the role of healthcare administrators in leading quality improvement initiatives, monitoring performance metrics, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement within healthcare organizations.

HSCI 407. Healthcare, Human Resources, and Employment Law. 3 Hours.

This course examines the intersection of human resources management and employment law within healthcare organizations. Students will explore HR functions such as recruitment, staffing, and employee relations, with a focus on legal issues like ADA, HIPAA, and labor laws. Emphasis will be placed on strategies for ensuring legal compliance and promoting a healthy work environment in healthcare settings.

HSCI 408. Healthcare Strategic Management. 3 Hours.

This course provides an overview of strategic management principles applied to healthcare organizations. Students will explore strategic planning processes, SWOT analysis, and decision-making models, with a focus on the healthcare environment. The course emphasizes developing strategies for improving organizational performance and patient outcomes in response to industry challenges, including policy changes, market dynamics, and healthcare regulations.

HSCI 409. Disaster & Emergency Preparedness Management. 3 Hours.

Prepares students to examine the principles of disaster and emergency preparedness within healthcare settings. Students will explore the key elements of creating, implementing, and evaluating emergency preparedness plans for healthcare organizations. Topics include risk assessment, crisis communication, response coordination, resource management, and recovery strategies in the face of natural, man-made, or technological disasters. The course also emphasizes the role of healthcare leaders in ensuring resilience and continuity of care during emergencies.

HSCI 410. Healthcare Reimbursement. 3 Hours.

This course explores healthcare reimbursement systems, focusing on payment models, insurance programs, coding, billing, and revenue cycle management. Students will learn how reimbursement structures, including Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, impact healthcare organizations and patient care.

HSCI 434. Healthy Aging. 3 Hours.

This course will provide an overview of issues related to public health and aging and will explore in-depth information regarding the health issues of aging individuals, including physical health, psychological health, legal and ethical issues of health, and Medicare/Medicaid. The course will continue to cover the concept of successful aging, the implications of chronic illness and disability for public health, health promotion for older adults, and other topics central to public health in an aging society.