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Bachelor of Science in Health Science

Student Practicing Medical Procedures

Idaho LAUNCH Eligible Program

The Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) degree is offered at ISU through the Division of Health Science and provides several avenues for students to work in health-related professions depending upon the student's ultimate educational and career goals. Students graduating with an AAS or AS are provided the opportunity to apply their associate degree in a health-related field toward graduation requirements for the B.S. in Health Science and satisfy many of the prerequisites for a variety of health science-related graduate programs. The objective of the Bachelor of Science in Health Science program with the associate degree emphasis is to allow students who have graduated or are enrolled in health occupations training at the level of an associate degree to pursue a bachelor's degree with an advanced general health science focus.

This degree provides a curriculum for students who desire an education that can serve as a foundation for additional professional or graduate work in several health science professions, including medicine, dentistry, hospital administration, medical technology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. All students are encouraged to work closely with an advisor within their associate degree programs to ensure that the courses they plan to take will meet their specific career goals.

Program Overview

  • Associate degree requirements: Be a graduate or enrolled in a health-related program that awards associate degrees
  • General education requirements: Completion of Bachelor of Science general education goals with a minimum of 36 credits
  • BSHS core courses: 20-24 credits
  • Complete College of Technology Health Occupations Department requirements
  • Upper division credits: 36 total credits
  • Total minimum credits required: 120

BestSchools.org rank ISU BSHS as one of the best in the US

Degree Option

  • Bachelor of Science in Health Science (4+ years)

Career Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) degree provides a curriculum for students who desire an education that can serve as a foundation for additional professional or graduate work in areas related to health science.

BSHS Requirements

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Health Science should be in or have graduated from an Associate degree program that has been approved by the Idaho State Board of Education.* Students may transfer up to a maximum of 50 credits from this degree (all lower division credits). Students must complete 15 general education credits & 1 semester in a Health Occupations focused Associates Program.

Degree Requirements:

The B.S. in Health Science degree with the associate degree emphasis includes the following credit requirements which can be divided into four components: Associate Degree Requirements; General Education Requirements; B.S in Health Science Core Courses; and Associate Degree/Health Occupations Concentration Requirements.

  1. Associate Degree Requirements

    Each student must be a graduate of or be enrolled in a health occupations program that awards an associate degree.* Students with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree may apply up to a maximum of 50 credits from this degree (all lower division credits) toward the 120 total credit requirement. In addition, students with an Associate of Science (AS) Degree in Respiratory Therapy from ISU may apply 15 upper division Respiratory Therapy (RESP) credits to this degree.

    * Out-of-state associate degrees must be evaluated for meeting the Idaho State Board of Education standards. If the associate degree is over five years old, the degree must be evaluated for currency in the technical field.

  2. General Education Requirements:

    Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Health Science Degree must complete 8 of the 9 General Education Objectives (a minimum of 36 credits—see the Academic Information section of the Undergraduate Catalog). Specific requirements may be listed under individual health occupations program curricula (choose programs above).

  3. BSHS Core Courses:

    BSHS students across all ISU colleges and programs are required to complete a common core of 20-24 credits.

    Core Requirements (20-24 credits)

    Required Courses (12 credits)*
    Course Number Course Credits
    BIOL 2227 & 2227L    
    CPH 2200 Promoting Wellness 3
    Biol 3301 & 3301L Anatomy and Physiology, and Lab 4
    CPH/HCA 2210 or HO 0106 Medical Terminology 2
    DHS 4426 Evidence-Based Research in Health Sciences 3
    Professional Competencies (choose 3 credits)
    Course Number Course Credits
    CPH 4405 Leadership and Policy  3
    HCA 4475 Health Care Law and Bioethics 3
    HO 0107 Medical Law and Ethics 3
    PHIL 2230 Medical Ethics 3
    PHIL 4456 Ethical Issues in Healthcare Law and Policy  3
    Health Care (choose 3 credits)
    Course Number Course Credits
    HCA 1115 U.S. Health Systems 3
    ANTH 4411 Advanced Global Health  3
    CPH 4432 Community and Public Health  3
    GLBL 4420 Global Health and Policy  3
    SOC 3330 Sociology of Health and Illness  3
    Communication (choose 3 credits)
    Course Number Course Credits
    CMP 3308 Groups and Communication  3
    CMP 3309 Communication Inquiry  3
    CMP 4422 Conflict Management  3
    CPH 4446 Communication Strategies in Community and Public Health  3
    CPH 4451 Basic Addiction Treatment Skills  2
    COUN 3300 Interpersonal Skills for Health Professionals 2
    ENGL 3307 Professional and Technical Writing 3
    CPH 4410 Behavior Change Theories 3
    CPH 4425 Patient Education Strategies 2
    Diversity (choose 0-3 credits)
    Course Number Course Credits
    ANTH 4409 Clinical Medical Anthropology 3
    COUN 3300 Interpersonal Skills for Health Professionals 2
    HCA 4475 Health Care Law and Bioethics 3
    CPH 4425 Patient Education Strategies 2
    ANTH 4406 American Indian Health Issues   
    ANTH 4407 Anthropology of Global Health   
    ANTH 4408 Topics in Medical Anthropology   
    DHS 4402 Survey of Aging Issues   
    SOC 2248 Critical Analysis of Social Diversity   
    SPAN 2210 Spanish for Health Care I   

     

  4. Health Occupations Concentration Requirements: (25 credits minimum)
    Required Courses (8 credits)
    Course Number Course Credits
    BIOL 3302/3302L Anatomy and Physiology and Lab 4
    MATH 1153 Introduction to Statistics 3
    Chemistry – choose one set (9 credits or 7 credits):
    Course Number Course Credits
    CHEM 1111/1111L
    and
    CHEM 1112/1112L
    General Chemistry I and Lab

    General Chemistry II and Lab
    5

    4
      OR  
    CHEM 1101
    and
    CHEM 1102/1103
    Introduction to Chemistry

    Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry and Lab
    3

    4
    Physics – choose one combination (4 or 8 credits):
    Course Number Course Credits
    PHYS 1111/1113
    and
    PHYS 1112/1114
    General Physics I and Lab

    General Physics II and Lab
    4

    4
      OR  
    PHYS 1100 Essentials of Physics 4
    Choose one:
    Course Number Course Credits
    BIOL 3305 Introduction to Pathobiology 3
    CPH 4406   3
    RESP 2214 Introduction to Pulmonary Disease 4
    Choose one course (3 credits):
    Course Number Course Credits
    NTD 3340 Nutrition for Health Professionals 3
    PE 3300 Movement Theory and Motor Development 3
    HPSS 3370 Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries  2
    PSYC 3301 Abnormal Psychology I 3
    PSYC 3341 Social Psychology 3
    SOC 3330 Sociology of Health and Illness 3

Students pursuing a non-teaching minor in Health Education should contact the Health Education and Promotion Program for details.

A student must fulfill 8 of the 9 General Education Objectives (a minimum of 36 credits—see the Academic Information section of the Undergraduate Catalog), BSHS Core requirements (20-24 credits), and Associate Degree requirements (up to a maximum of 50 credits), and Health Occupations Concentration requirements (a minimum of 25 credits), and earn a minimum of 120 total credits, of which a minimum of 36 must be upper division credits, for a Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree.