Health Sciences
| Degree: | Bachelor of Science (B.S.) |
| Major: | Health Sciences |
| Specialization: | Healthcare Administration |
| Minor: | Behavior Analysis |
| Department: | Health Sciences and Administration Building 38, Room 135A (850) 474-3468 https://uwf.edu/ukcoh/departments/health-sciences-administration/ |
| College: | Usha Kundu, MD College of Health |
| CIP Code: | 51.0000 |
| Semester Hours Required For Degree: 120 | |
The B.S. in Health Sciences Program is designed for undergraduate students who wish to pursue their studies in health and healthcare. 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 or (2) the specialization in Healthcare Administration. 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: UWF State Authorization Status.
This program will not meet immigration requirements for students holding an F1 or J1 Visa to maintain status. Contact International Affairs for further information.
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/BSC 1085L and CHM 2045/CHM 2045L to meet the General Education Requirements:
| Mathematics: | 6 | |
| MAC 1105 | College Algebra | 3 |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| PSY 2012 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Natural Science: | 4 | |
| BSC 1005+L | General Biology for Non-Majors (+Lab) | 4 |
| or BSC 1085 & 1085L | Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory | |
Multicultural Requirement
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.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam |
| Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter | Complete both a course and exam |
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.
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
| BSC 1005+L | General Biology for Non-Majors (+Lab) *, ** | 4 |
| MAC 1105 | College Algebra * | 3 |
| PSY 2012 | General Psychology * | 3 |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics * | 3 |
| Total Hours | 13 | |
| * | Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements. |
| ** | or any BSCXXXX with lab course. Students interested in pursuing graduate programs in health should speak to their advisors about taking BSC1085/L. |
Lower Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 sh in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement. Students interested in pursuing graduate programs in health should speak to their advisors for guidance on how to meet these requirements. | 15-27 | |
| Total Hours | 15-27 | |
Major
| HSC 3034 | Career Essentials for Healthcare + | 3 |
| HSC 3535 | Medical Terminology + | 3 |
| HSC 2622 | Introduction to Global Health Sciences + | 3 |
| BUL 4602 | Legal Fundamentals of Healthcare + | 3 |
| PCB 4703 | Human Physiology + | 3 |
| ENC 3213 | Professional and Technical Writing + | 3 |
| GEY 4001 | Gerontology + | 3 |
| HSC 4404 | Medical Disaster Management + | 3 |
| HSA 3551 | Health Ethics and Professionalism + | 3 |
| HSC 3147 | Pharmacology for Health Professionals + | 3 |
| HSC 3510 | Data Analysis in the Health Sciences + | 3 |
| HSA 3111 | Understanding U.S. Healthcare + | 3 |
| HSC 4502 | Principles of Human Disease + | 3 |
| HSC 4050 | Health Sciences Capstone Course + | 3 |
| HSA 4192 | Current Topics in Health Informatics + | 3 |
| MCB 4276 | Epidemiology of Infectious Disease + | 3 |
| Approved Electives *, + | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
| + | Courses included in the major GPA |
| * | Students should discuss their career plans with a faculty member and advisor before choosing electives to support their career goals. Students are recommended to consider electives which are included in certificates and minors. Electives must receive prior approval. Potential electives include but are not limited to: DEP 4404 Adulthood and Aging, ECO 3003 Principles of Economic Theory and Public Policy, HSA 4002 Healthcare Administration, HSA 4430 Health Economics, HSA 3140 Strategic Planning in Healthcare, HSA 4383 Quality Improvement in Healthcare, BSC 4854 Bioterrorism, HSA 3170 Principles of Healthcare Finance, HSC 3032 Foundations in Health Education, HSC 3102 Health Science Essentials of Behavior Analysis, and PCB 3103 Cell Biology. |
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:
| Mathematics: | 6 | |
| MAC 1105 | College Algebra | 3 |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| Social Science: | 3 | |
| PSY 2012 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Natural Science: | 8 | |
| BSC 1085 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 |
| CHM 2045 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
Multicultural Requirement
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.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam |
| Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter | Complete both a course and exam |
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.
Common Prerequisites
| BSC 1005+L | General Biology for Non-Majors (+Lab) *, ** | 4 |
| MAC 1105 | College Algebra * | 3 |
| PSY 2012 | General Psychology * | 3 |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics * | 3 |
| Total Hours | 13 | |
| * | Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements. |
| ** | or any BSCXXXX with lab course. |
Lower Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 sh in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement. Students in the Interdisciplinary Specialization should see the list of Lower Division Requirements for guidance on how to meet these requirements. | 15-27 | |
| Total Hours | 15-27 | |
Major
| Major Requirements | ||
| HSC 3034 | Career Essentials for Healthcare + | 3 |
| HSC 3535 | Medical Terminology + | 3 |
| HSA 4002 | Healthcare Administration + | 3 |
| BUL 4602 | Legal Fundamentals of Healthcare + | 3 |
| HSA 4430 | Health Economics + | 3 |
| HSA 4340 | Personnel Administration in Healthcare + | 3 |
| Choose one | 3 | |
| Introduction to Global Health Sciences + | ||
| Essentials of Public Health + | ||
| HSA 3111 | Understanding U.S. Healthcare + | 3 |
| MAR 3023 | Marketing Fundamentals + | 3 |
| HSA 3551 | Health Ethics and Professionalism + | 3 |
| HSA 4192 | Current Topics in Health Informatics + | 3 |
| HSA 3140 | Strategic Planning in Healthcare + | 3 |
| HSA 4383 | Quality Improvement in Healthcare + | 3 |
| HSA 3170 | Principles of Healthcare Finance + | 3 |
| HSA 4941 | Internship + | 3 |
| Choose one | 3 | |
| Healthcare Operations + | ||
| Health Sciences Capstone Course + | ||
| Approved Electives* + | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
| + | Courses included in the major GPA |
| * | Students should discuss their career plans with a faculty member and advisor before choosing electives to support their career goals. Students are recommended to consider electives which are included in certificates and minors. Electives must receive prior approval. Potential electives include but are not limited to: DEP 4404 Adulthood and Aging, ECO 3003 Principles of Economic Theory and Public Policy, BSC 4854 Bioterrorism, HSC 3032 Foundations in Health Education, HSC 3102 Health Science Essentials of Behavior Analysis, HSC 3114 Problem Identification and Functional Assessment in Health Science , HSC 3406C Advanced First Aid and Emergency Care, HSC 4404 Medical Disaster Management, HSC 4580 Functional Applications of Applied Behavior Analysis in Health Science, HSC 4720 Methodology in Applied Behavior Analysis in Health Science, MAN 3025 Management Fundamentals, MAN 3301 Human Resources Management, PHC 4363 Occupational Safety and Health in the Health Care Environment,ACG 3082 Accounting for Non-Majors, and GEY 4001 Gerontology. Students with prior military service are encouraged to discuss their military transcripts with their advisor. |
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.