What Will I Study in a Health Sciences Degree Program?

Image of health science students for our FAQ on What Will I Study in a Health Sciences Degree Program

The study of health sciences prepares you for a wide range of opportunities in the field of health care. The classes you take as a health sciences major can equip you with the skills you need to work in:

  • health education
  • health administration
  • health care delivery
  • radiology

Core Coursework in a Health Sciences Program

Much of what you study revolves around a core curriculum in health care administration and delivery. The essential courses you take in a health sciences program may include:

  • health care law and legal issues
  • management and leadership in health care
  • anatomy and physiology
  • medical terminology
  • health care policy
  • medical pharmacology
  • health information systems
  • health care organizations and administration
  • biostatistics

Are building on the education you received while earning an associate’s degree? If so, you will most likely spend two years of full-time study taking health sciences and related courses. Otherwise, your education will probably take four years and include general education studies in subjects like:

  • science
  • mathematics
  • the humanities

Health science is a non-clinical program, according to U.S. News & World Report. You certainly can enter the field from a clinical background. In fact, having clinical experience can be an asset. However, most of what you study in a health sciences degree program is more closely related to administration and health education than to providing care in a clinical setting.

Concentrations in Health Sciences Programs

To help you develop a mix of the skills and knowledge that will most benefit you in your health sciences career, many degree programs offer a variety of academic concentrations. Beyond the required core courses, what you will study in your health sciences degree program depends a lot on the concentration you pursue. The concentration you choose determines what you will study in your health sciences program. So it’s important to consider a school’s academic offerings when picking a college.

There are many possible concentrations for health sciences programs. These options range from child development to gerontology and aging studies. Some students focus on health promotion and wellness. Others explore disaster and emergency management.

Other popular concentrations in the field of health sciences are:

  • nutrition
  • global health and cultural diversity
  • public administration
  • environmental health
  • health informatics

You might focus on:

  • rehabilitation
  • management
  • health communication
  • preparing for graduate school

Some health sciences programs even offer the option to complete a self-designed concentration tailored to your unique interests and career goals.

The exact curriculum you will study varies from one school to another, as well as from concentration to concentration. Whichever program you choose, you can feel confident that what you study in a health sciences degree program will prepare you for a career in the rapidly growing field of health care.

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