KU’s online Bachelor of Health Sciences is a degree completion program that provides students hoping to enter health science professions the opportunity to strengthen their background in content related to their anticipated healthcare profession. The program also lets students explore elective courses that help them concentrate their knowledge in areas including nutrition, public and population health, and health management and policy. Students should be sure to discuss their longterm plans with their academic success coach for help selecting the best courses for their desired educational pathway and career.
The field of health sciences covers a variety of in-demand professions, including public health, health care, nutrition and more. Someone with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences might apply their knowledge in the following ways:
- Continuing to graduate school in a variety of specialized areas in health care or medicine
- Entering healthcare administration or continuing to graduate school in healthcare administration
- Researching and implementing public health initiatives
- Advising local or state governments regarding elements of healthcare or public health policies
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Unless they are college transfer students with at least 24 hours of credit, prospective students must send ACT or SAT scores to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
The Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) degree will be a JCERT funded 100% online completion degree for students transferring from community colleges or KU Lawrence. Elective courses will afford students the ability to concentrate in the following areas focus; Nutrition, Public and Population Health, and Health Management and Policy. BHS degrees will prepare students to directly enter the workforce or continue on to pursue graduate education in Public Health, Hospital Administration, Nutrition and Dietetics, among other Health related management graduate degrees.
The proposed Bachelor of Health Sciences program is unique because it draws upon coursework from multiple programs and disciplines. The flexible curriculum of this science program allows students to create an academic experience consistent with their health care career goals.
The proposed Bachelor of Health Sciences degree is comprised of six parts:
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| 6-8 |
MATH 101 | College Algebra: _____ | 3 |
| 3-5 |
MATH 365 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
BIOL 240 | Fundamentals of Human Anatomy | 3 |
BIOL 246 | Principles of Human Physiology | 3 |
BTEC 310 | Scientific Communications | 3 |
or HMGT 310 | Health Communication |
HMGT 320 | Applied Healthcare Law and Ethics | 3 |
HSES 371 | Medical Terminology for Health Professionals | 3 |
or HEIM 230 | Medical Terminology |
BSCI 400 | Microbiology | 3 |
HSCI 340 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
HMGT 300 | Introduction to Healthcare Management | 3 |
HMGT 305 | Health Policy and Healthcare Systems | 3 |
HSCI 315 | Exploring Careers in Health Science | 1 |
HSCI 415 | Career Readiness in Health Sciences | 1 |
| |
BIOS 704 | Principles of Statistics in Public Health | 3 |
EVRN 543 | Natural Hazards and Environmental Risks | 3 |
EVRN 730 | Environmental Toxicology | 3 |
HMGT 450 | Economics and Finance of Healthcare | 3 |
HMGT 460 | Healthcare Law and Regulation | 3 |
HMGT 500 | Introduction to Clinical Trials Management | 3 |
HSCI 320 | Principles of Nutrition | 3 |
or HSES 330 | Principles of Nutrition and Health |
HSCI 420 | Nutrition Through the Life Cycle | 3 |
HSCI 421 | Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
HSCI 422 | Nutrition Assessment | 3 |
HSCI 440 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 3 |
HSCI 441 | Population Health | 3 |
HSCI 445 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 3 |
HSCI 450 | Epidemics, Pandemics, and Pestilence | 3 |
HSCI 521 | Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism | 3 |
HSCI 545 | Advanced Environmental Health | 3 |
HSES 308 | Drugs and Diseases in Society | 3 |
HSES 310 | Research and Data Analysis in Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences | 3 |
HSES 331 | Sport and Exercise Nutrition | 3 |
HSES 489 | Health and Human Sexuality | 3 |
HEIM 415 | Healthcare Delivery Systems | 3 |
HEIM 420 | Legal Aspects of Healthcare | 3 |
HEIM 575 | Applied Statistics and Research Methods in Healthcare | 3 |
SOC 424 | Sociology of Health and Medicine | 3 |
SOC 425 | Sociology of Global Health | 3 |
HSCI 499 | Topics in Health Sciences: _____ | 1-3 |
| |
| 3 |
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the Bachelor in Health Science. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill KU Core Goals, please visit the KU Core website.
Freshman |
---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
CHEM 130 (KU Core Goal 3 Natural Science, General Science Requirement) | 5 | COMS 130 (KU Core Goal 2.2) | 3 |
ENGL 101 (KU Core Goal 2.1) | 3 | KU Core Goal 3H Arts and Humanities Course | 3 |
BIOL 150 (KU Core Goal 3 Natural Science, Major Requirement)1 | 3 | BIOL 152 (KU Core Goal 3.2) | 3 |
MATH 101 (KU Core Goal 1.2) | 3 | ENGL 102 (KU Core Goal 2.1) | 3 |
Elective or Minor Course | 2 | KU Core Goal 1.1 Critical Thinking Course | 3 |
| 16 | | 15 |
Sophomore |
---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
BIOL 240 | 3 | LA&S 172 | 3 |
SOC 104 | 3 | MATH 365 | 3 |
KU Core Goal 3S Social Science Course | 3 | BIOL 246 | 3 |
Elective or Minor Course | 3 | KU Core Goal 4.2 Culture, Diversity & Global Awareness Course | 3 |
BIOL 154 | 2 | Elective or Minor Course | 3 |
| 14 | | 15 |
Junior |
---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
HSCI 340 | 3 | HSES 371 | 3 |
HMGT 350 Professional Development in the Health Sciences | 3 | BSCI 400 | 3 |
Health Science Elective | 3 | HMGT 305 | 3 |
BTEC 310 | 3 | Health Science Elective | 3 |
HMGT 300 Introduction to Healthcare Management | 3 | Health Science Elective | 3 |
| 15 | | 15 |
Senior |
---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
Health Science Elective | 3 | Health Science Elective | 3 |
Health Science Elective | 3 | Health Science Elective | 3 |
Health Science Elective | 3 | Elective or Minor Course | 3 |
Elective or Minor Course | 3 | Elective or Minor Course | 3 |
BTEC 501 | 3 | HSCI 599 (KU Core Goal 6) | 3 |
| 15 | | 15 |
Total Hours 120 |
Please note:
The same course cannot be used to fulfill more than one KU Core Goal. However, overlap of a KU Core course with a major or degree-specific requirement is allowed. Overlapping is recommended to allow more opportunities to explore other majors and/or minors.