The B.S. in Health Sciences Program is designed for undergraduate students who wish to pursue their studies in health, healthcare, and public health. This degree is geared toward developing health professionals and healthcare administrators who are empowered to promote the health and well-being of the populations they serve. The major is intended for students interested in career advancement or for those whose goal is to work in the health professions providing service to individuals and communities. Students choose to pursue either the (1) generalized Health Sciences degree, (2) the specialization in Healthcare Administration, or (3) the specialization in Public Health. Students interested in pursuing occupational therapy, physical therapy, chiropractic, nutrition, physician assistant or accelerated nursing programs after they graduate should plan early to incorporate the course requirements for those programs, if possible, into their Health Sciences Degree.

Federal and state regulations, as well as most healthcare organization policies, require employees to undergo a background check before hire. Background checking and drug screening is also required prior to placement in an internship. Please consider this when deciding on a major and career path.

Program Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must complete at least 120 semester hours with a minimum of 48 specified upper-division hours (3000/4000 level) at UWF.

Acceptance to the University does not constitute admission to the upper division Health Science Program. Students entering UWF or declaring a major in Health Sciences will automatically be placed in a pending status until they meet the requirements for admission.

• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 in all previously attempted college work
• Students must successfully complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or better
• Students must be at the level of a sophomore or higher
• Students must complete the Health Sciences Application form

Those who do not complete these requirements may be denied further registration and may be prevented from further enrollment in Health Sciences courses.

Students are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Academic Conduct. The penalty for any instance of academic misconduct will be handled according to the Office of Students Rights and Responsibilities' Academic Misconduct Process. Depending on the seriousness of the violation, that process may result in additional penalties such as a failing grade for the course, denial of admission to or dismissal from the Health Sciences Program, or even suspension or expulsion from the University. Students are advised to take special care to preserve their academic integrity and not to jeopardize it by any form of academic misconduct.

Not all states authorize online programs, if you are residing outside of Florida you will want to check the status of your state's acceptance of this program:  http://uwf.edu/online/out-of-state-students/state-authorization/.

This program will not meet immigration requirements for students holding an F1 or J1 Visa to maintain status. Contact the International Student Office for further http://uwf.edu/offices/international-affairs/programs-and-services/international-services/.

No more than 24% of the program requirements for this degree may be in traditional business subjects.

Consult with your academic advisor for courses which may satisfy both the General Education requirements and common prerequisites.

Health Sciences 

General Education

In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "University Requirements" section of this catalog.

General Education Curriculum: 

Students should take the following to satisfy components of General Education. Students interested in pursuing graduate programs in health should speak to their advisors about taking BSC 1085/L and CHM 2045/L to meet the General Education Requirements:

Multicultural Requirement

ADDENDUM - 9/23/2021
Civic Literacy Requirement

The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy.  The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.

Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.

There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan. 

Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website.

*BOG 8.006; s.1007.25(4,a-b) 

Common Prerequisites

Lower Division Electives

Major

Major-Related

Students should speak with an academic advisor to discuss prerequisites and possible transfer courses (including credit earned through military service schools or USAFI/DANTES) which may meet requirements.

Healthcare Administration Specialization

Healthcare administrators work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, mental health organizations, and insurance companies.  Demographic pressures, advances in medicine and technology, and increased health regulations have led to a rapid increase in the demand for this field.

General Education

In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "University Requirements" section of this catalog.

General Education Curriculum: 

Students should take the following to satisfy components of General Education. Students in the Interdisciplinary Specialization should take BSC 1085/L and CHM 2045/L to meet the General Education Requirements:

Multicultural Requirement

ADDENDUM - 9/23/2021
Civic Literacy Requirement

The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy.  The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.

Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.

There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan. 

Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website.

*BOG 8.006; s.1007.25(4,a-b) 

Common Prerequisites

 Lower Division Electives

Major 

The Public Health specialization of the Health Sciences, B.S. is only accepting applicants through Summer 2021. A new Public Health, B.S. program will be available for Fall 2021.

Public Health Specialization

Public health practitioners work in a wide range of careers in public health, consulting, consumer advocacy, non-governmental, local, state and federal health agencies. They will have prospects to work in disease surveillance, community engagement, maternal and child health, and environmental health.

General Education

In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "University Requirements" section of this catalog.

General Education Curriculum:

Students should take the following to satisfy components of General Education.  Students in the Interdisciplinary Specialization should take BSC 1085/L and CHM 2045/L to meet the General Education Requirements:

Multicultural Requirement

ADDENDUM - 9/23/2021
Civic Literacy Requirement

The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy.  The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.

Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.

There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan. 

Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website.

*BOG 8.006; s.1007.25(4,a-b) 

Common Prerequisites

Lower Division Electives

Major

This track is designed specifically for military veterans and active duty personal who have served in a medical services capacity with one of the uniformed services. Credit earned through military service schools or USAFI/DANTES credit may be applied to a student’s lower-division electives and their major-approved electives, provided the following criteria are met:

• No more than 29 semester hours of combined non-traditional credit (including lower and upper-division credit) may be applied to the degree.
• No more than 20 semester hours of upper-division transfer credit may be applied to the degree.
• Students must complete 48 semester hours in the upper-division and complete all major requirements to graduate. 

Students should speak to an advisor to discuss the transfer of credit from military service schools or USAFI/DANTES transcripts.

This track is an informal designation used by the department to indicate an area of strength, but has no formal significance, meaning that it will not appear in official lists in the catalog or on the student transcript. Students enrolled in this track must be enrolled in either the general Health Sciences degree or the Healthcare Administration specialization. 

Minor in Behavior Analysis

See the Minor in Behavior Analysis page for more information.