Health Science Discipline

Studying a health science major provides a strong foundation for a variety of careers in the healthcare field, public health, and research, while also offering flexibility for further education. It's a field with strong job growth and the opportunity to make a positive impact on people's lives. A bachelor's in health science equips graduates with skills that are in high demand. By combining subjects like biology, chemistry, sociology, and psychology, the field gives you a comprehensive understanding of the human body and factors that impact health. Health sciences majors focus on improving wellness for all, creating healthier communities and stronger health care systems.

Specific Health Science Majors

• General Health Sciences: This major provides a broad overview of the health field, often serving as a stepping stone to specialized graduate programs like physical therapy, occupational therapy, or physician assistant programs.

• Nursing: A direct path to becoming a Registered Nurse (RN). Involves clinical practice and patient care.

• Public Health: Focuses on population health, disease prevention, and health promotion. Can lead to careers in areas like epidemiology, health education, and public policy.

• Pre-Professional Health: Prepare students for specific graduate programs like medical school, dental school, or pharmacy school. Often involve a strong foundation in science coursework.

• Healthcare Administration: Focuses on the management and leadership of healthcare organizations. Can lead to careers in hospital administration, healthcare consulting, or health policy.

• Occupational Therapy: Focuses on helping people with disabilities participate in everyday activities. Medical Laboratory Sciences: Involves performing laboratory tests to diagnose and monitor diseases.

• Exercise Science: Focuses on the study of human movement and its impact on health. Pharmaceutical Sciences: Focuses on the development and use of medications.

• Dental Hygiene: Focuses on preventative dental care and education.

Undergraduate Sample Schedule for A Health Science Major

Year	Fall Semester	Spring Semester
First Year	TRU 120: First Year Seminar HLTH 255: Intro to Community and Public Health MATH 186: Precalculus BIOL 107: Cells, Molecules, and Genes	HLTH 290: Public Health Education Principles CHEM 130: Chemical Principles 1 ENG 190: Writing as Critical Thinking STAT 190: Basic Statistics Dialogues Curriculum course
Second Year	CHEM 131: Chemical Principles 2 PSYC 166: General Psychology PHYS 185: College Physics 1 COMM 170: Public Speaking Dialogues Curriculum course	HLTH 349: WE/Research Methods in Health Science HLTH 325: Health Management and Policy CHEM 329: Organic Chemistry 1 BIOL 104: Ecology and Evolution of the Organism BIOL 325: Human Physiology
Third Year	HLTH 366: Program Assessment & Planning CHEM 331: Organic Chemistry 2 PHYS 186: College Physics 2 JINS 3XX: Junior Interdisciplinary Seminar Missouri Statute course	HLTH 410: Health Communication Methods HLTH 270: Health Systems and Consumers CHEM 335: Biochemistry 1: Structure and Function CHEM 333: Organic Chemistry Lab * Take MCAT, OAT, or DAT (and review course, if desired)
Fourth Year	Elementary Foreign Language 1 Dialogues Curriculum course Elective courses * Register for the CHES Exam (Senior Test)	Elementary Foreign Language 2 HLTH 440: Program Implementation & Evaluation HLTH 400: CHES Exam Review * Take CHES Exam in April/October (Senior Test)

*The Dialogues curriculum requires a certain number of courses/credit hours in the following Perspectives: Social, Arts and Humanities, STEM, Communications, and Statistics.

Best Colleges for a Health Science Major

1. Rice University

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

3. Emory university

4. University of Virginia

5. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Classes to take in high school to prepare for a health science major

To prepare for a health science major in college, focus on strong foundations in science and math, particularly biology, chemistry, and potentially physics, in high school. Biology, chemistry, and physics are three nearly universal medical school prerequisites that most high school students have access to. Take them in high school to get a head start on the material. Consider advanced placement (AP) or honors courses in these subjects, as well as math courses like calculus. Additionally, courses like Anatomy & Physiology, medical terminology, and psychology can be very helpful.

Popular Career Paths

• Registered Nurse: Provide direct patient care, administer medications, and educate patients and families.

• Physician Assistant: Work under the supervision of physicians, diagnosing and treating illnesses, and performing procedures.

• Occupational Therapist: Help patients develop, recover, or maintain the skills needed for daily living and work.

• Physical Therapist: Diagnose and treat movement and functional limitations.

• Speech Pathologist: Assess and treat communication and swallowing disorders.

• Paramedic: Provide emergency medical care in pre-hospital settings.

• Surgical Technician: Assist surgeons and other members of the surgical team during operations.

• Dental Hygienist: Provide preventative dental care, such as cleaning teeth and taking x-rays.

• Medical Laboratory Technician: Perform laboratory tests to diagnose and monitor diseases.

• Public Health Consultant: Advise organizations and communities on public health issues.

• Health Services Manager: Oversee the operations of healthcare facilities and departments.

• Health Educator: Develop and implement health education programs in various settings.

Schooling you need to complete to be successful in the health science field

The amount of schooling needed for a successful health science career varies widely depending on the specific profession, but generally ranges from an associate's degree to a doctoral degree. An associate's degree can be a good starting point for some roles, while others, like physicians, require extensive education and training. Roles like a medical assistant or pharmacy technician only require two-year associate programs. Roles like a registered nurse or medical laboratory technician require a bachelor's degree. Roles like a physician assistant require a masters degree and roles like a physician require a medical degree.