Online Bachelor's Degrees in Health Sciences - BHS & BSHS Programs
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Healthcare and social assistance make up one of the largest employment sectors in the United States, and it’s growing rapidly. By illustration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2021) predicted 32 percent job growth nationally for health service managers nationwide between 2020 and 2030—much faster than the projected average for all occupations during that same decade (8 percent).
Considering this higher-than-average growth projection and strong employment outlook, a degree in health sciences may be a wise investment for those contemplating professional work in health-related industries—those new to the workforce and career-changers alike.
Two types of degrees are available in health sciences: bachelor of science (or a bachelor of health sciences) and bachelor of applied science. The BS or BHS is best suited to students seeking a general overview of the health industry, those who are undecided in their career but want to explore the options in non-clinical healthcare professions or pursue a health-related graduate degree in the future. Examples of such professions are human services, medical case management, corporate wellness, medical sales, and pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution, among others.
Graduate or professional health science programs include physical therapy, chiropractic medicine, public health, hospital administration, and health informatics. If considering an advanced degree in a health-related field, be sure to consult program-specific requirements to ensure that a health sciences bachelor is an accepted precursor to graduate study at that institution.
The BAS is considered a career training degree with a more hands-on, experiential nature than traditional BS or BHS degrees. Such programs are specifically designed to provide workplace skill development; the BAS generally builds upon the training students received in associate-level (AAS) programs to gain access to work in a particular segment of the health industry.
Undergraduate programs in the health sciences entail around 120 credit-hours of coursework. Programs tailored to students already in possession of an associate degree accept transfer credits and typically take two years to complete. Program length varies depending on the number of transferable credits, completion of pre-and co-requisite courses, and full- or part-time study.
Featured Online Bachelor’s in Health Sciences Programs
SNHU offers an online bachelor’s of science (BS) in health sciences degree for associate degree-holders in allied health professions. This includes individuals working as emergency medical technicians, medical assistants, dental hygienists, laboratory technicians, nuclear medicine technologists, and diagnostic technicians and technologists. Composed of both general education and degree-specific courses, SNHU awards up to 90 credits for prior coursework to ensure that each student’s 120-credit program is as streamlined as possible.
The general education program focuses on writing, communication, analysis, problem-solving, an introduction to anatomy and physiology, and statistics for healthcare professionals. Seven core courses allow for in-depth study of healthcare finance, economics, delivery systems, healthcare reimbursement, ethical and legal considerations of healthcare, healthcare quality management, and a capstone project.
In addition to its affordability and the convenience of six, eight-week terms per year allowing students to study at their own pace, SNHU has a simple online application. The admissions committee can request transcripts from applicants’ prior educational institutions for them.
- Location: Manchester, NH
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to four years
- Estimated Tuition: $320 per credit; $225 for service members and spouses of officers on active duty
Six academic pathways are available to students in the online bachelor’s in health sciences (BHS) at USD; these areas of study provide a foundation for entry-level jobs in healthcare and/or qualification for graduate study in a specific aspect of the health sciences field:
- Pre-professional studies (graduate study in chiropractic medicine, optometry, public health)
- Healthcare studies (healthcare industry careers)
- Healthcare advancement studies (current healthcare workers with AA, AS or AAS degrees seeking advancement or a graduate degree)
- Undergraduate clinical informatics (intro to using of technology and electronic health records)
- Undergraduate public health (explore careers in public health, epidemiology, global health)
- Undergraduate research (fast-track to research careers in health disparities, clinical or translational research and data methodologies, biostatistics, biomedicine, and epidemiology)
Core requirements for the degree include the study of principles of healthcare, professional communication and relationship-centered care, health literacy and culture care, human anatomy and physiology, and patient safety and quality improvement. Electives include topics as varied as global health, native people’s healthcare, promotion and policy, computerized medical records regulatory compliance, and medical Spanish.
These undergraduate programs are available to first-time college applicants as well as transfer and returning students. Some courses require immunization, criminal background checks, and CPR certification along with instructor permission.
- Location: Vermillion, SD
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Four years
- Estimated Tuition: $354.75 per credit
Designed for students with associate of applied science (AAS) degrees, ASU’s online bachelor of applied science (BAS) in health sciences is cross-disciplinary, preparing graduates for a variety of health careers.
In addition to foundation courses, this 120-credit online degree program includes the study of the fundamentals of wellness, applied medical/healthcare ethics, health issues in later life, supporting the health of older adults, and population health management.
ASU’s college of health solutions partners with institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, HonorHealth, and Dignity Health to provide BAS students in health sciences with professional resources and networking opportunities. Applicants who do not meet admission requirements may still be granted entry to the program through the “earned admission track.”
At the end of the program, graduates can pursue opportunities such as home health coordinator, school health specialist, health and patient educator, community health worker, high school teacher, medical and health services manager, public relations specialist, and social services director.
- Location: Tempe, AZ
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: One to two years (degree completion)
- Estimated Tuition: $688 per credit
Housed in the College of Medicine, the online bachelor of science (BS) in health and rehabilitation sciences at Ohio State prepares students for careers in the health industry or graduate study in a health-related field. The faculty of the program includes distinguished professionals who prepare students for taking the next step in their health-related careers.
Offering a blend of business and healthcare courses, students are immersed in all aspects of the management and use of healthcare data. Sample courses for this 120-credit program include health promotion and disease prevention, the application of ethical decision-making in healthcare, and individual differences in patient populations/client populations (ability, disease, disparity, culture).
This program may be pursued 100 percent online after the completion of prerequisites at any institution of higher education. Program prerequisites include college-level math, three science courses (chemistry, biology, microbiology, and/or physics) with one laboratory component, and anatomy and physiology. Co-requisite courses may be completed after admission to the program and include psychology, sociology, medical terminology, and statistics. There are no on-campus requirements for OSU’s online BS in health and rehabilitation sciences.
- Location: Columbus, OH
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years of full-time study (degree completion); full- and part-time study options available
- Estimated Tuition: Ohio residents ($20,579.20); non-Ohio residents ($21,379.20)
Online bachelor of science (BS) in health sciences students at Indiana University have the option of concentrating their studies in one of four tracks: gerontology, global health and rehabilitation studies, rehabilitation and disabilities, and preparation for graduate health professions programs.
The degree is delivered 80 to 99 percent online, and classes are taught by the same faculty members who instruct on-campus. Additional resources available to IU online students are success coaching, math and writing support, technology tools and training, an orientation to online learning, a 24/7 contact center, and career services.
Students may transfer 64 to 90 credits from accredited colleges and universities for this 120 credit program. Forty-four credits of core health sciences courses are required of all students and include topics such as a survey of U.S. healthcare systems and services, health promotion and disease prevention, disability and society, human nutrition through the lifespan, and the aging and the older person.
This program is available to residents from all 50 states. Graduates will be prepared for careers such as insurance analyst, behavior support technician, medical sales representative, medical research coordinator, hospital administrator, and health program coordinator.
- Location: Bloomington, IN
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to four years
- Estimated Tuition: Indiana Residents ($296.09 per credit); out-of-state residents ($1031.33 per credit)
The University of Missouri’s bachelor of health science (BHS) in health science is offered 100 percent online with no required campus visits. Geared for individuals seeking careers in non-clinical health-related fields or graduate study, Mizzou online offers up to a 10 percent discount on tuition for veterans, military service members and their dependents, and community college graduates. Transfer students typically need 64 credits beyond their associate’s degree to complete the BHS in health sciences program.
In addition to the study of core health science curriculum topics such as introduction to the health professions, healthcare in the United States, contemporary health issues, clinical ethics, introduction to research, and hands-on experiential learning, students participate in capstone experiences including a health sciences internship and a healthcare organization and leadership course. Graduates entering the workforce typically occupy professional roles such as health educators, sales representatives, healthcare IT consultants, patient representatives, and clinical data managers.
Applicants are required to have at least a 2.5 GPA and 24 credits of relevant prior coursework to apply as a transfer student. Those who have less than 24 hours of coursework may apply as a freshman. Candidates who speak English as a second or additional language must submit English language proficiency test scores: TOEFL iBT (79) or IELTS (6.5).
- Location: Columbia, MO
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to four years
- Estimated Tuition: Freshman student ($410.25 per credit); transfer student ($419.57 per credit)
Maryville currently offers two bachelor’s programs in healthcare: general studies with a healthcare concentration and healthcare management. Both are delivered in 100 percent online formats with no campus visits and no entrance exam requirements.
The general studies bachelor’s degree provides students with a foundation in the skills needed to succeed in non-clinical healthcare professions within government, health education, and community health settings. The curriculum combines health science core courses in human development, statistics, and anatomy and physiology with healthcare concentration courses in ethics, software and technology in healthcare, public health, and healthcare terminology.
The healthcare management bachelor’s degree program combines the study of business, information systems, and communications with a chosen area of focus within the healthcare industry. The coursework entails general education, healthcare management, and business classes which prepare students for a mentored, immersive practicum experience and a culminating capstone project that addresses a pressing issue in modern healthcare. Courses include healthcare operations, medical law and risk management, financial management in healthcare, business operations, and revenue cycle management.
Both of Maryville’s bachelor’s degrees in health sciences accept transfer credits and may be completed in preparation for graduate study in a health-related area of specialization. Both programs require 128 credits to complete.
- Location: Saint Louis, MO
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to four years
- Estimated Tuition: $500 per credit
The bachelor of science in health sciences offered by Keiser University is a degree completion program designed for students who have already completed an associate of science program in an allied health field. The program helps students in enhancing their interdisciplinary understanding and providing them with a solid base for graduate education.
For admission to the program, students will be required to have a minimum of 24 credits of general education courses (life span development, English composition, microeconomics, statistics, and college algebra) earned from their associate degree in an allied health field.
To graduate from this program, students must earn 60 upper-division credits in courses such as financial issues in healthcare, public policy in healthcare, conflict management in healthcare, epidemiology, client education in healthcare, program planning and evaluation, and healthcare marketing, among others.
On successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to explore political, ethical, and legal issues impacting healthcare, expand interdisciplinary understanding and collaboration, and develop a healthcare provider’s ability to educate colleagues, students, or clients.
- Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to four years
- Estimated Tuition: $20,800 for the program
Old Dominion University offers an online bachelor of science in health sciences program with a major in health services administration which is designed for both new as well as current health professionals. Students who already have some college credits can consider this as a degree completion program, while new students can finish the program from start to finish. A minimum of 30 credits must be earned at ODU.
This 120 credit program includes courses such as principles of public health, principles of environmental health science, public health science, population health, the U.S. healthcare delivery system, health aspects of aging, policy and politics of health, healthcare marketing, and managerial epidemiology.
At the end of the program, graduates can take up healthcare careers in public health policies, management and administration, program planning and management, communication, budgeting, and program analysis.
- Location: Norfolk, VA
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to four years
- Estimated Tuition: In-state Virginia residents ($360 per credit); out-of-state students ($407 per credit)
Professors to Know in Online Bachelor’s in Health Sciences Programs
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Musheera Anis Abdellatif, PhD University of South Dakota
Dr. Musheera Anis Abdellatif is an assistant professor in the health sciences department at the University of South Dakota, where she leads courses in nutrition and research methods, among others. She has more than 15 years of clinical experience as a pediatric neuropsychiatrist and is interested in developmental psychology, psychiatric disorders, disability studies, and attachment theory. Her current research includes a trans-cultural study of attachment theory in three countries: the US, Nigeria, and Egypt, through which she mentors both graduate and undergraduate students.
Dr. Anis Abdellatif holds a PhD in child development and educational psychology from the University of South Dakota and an MD from Mansoura University. She is the 2018 recipient of a USD School of Education Research Center grant to study the structure and function of adolescent attachment networks, and co-author of an article published in the Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing on cultural competency, sexual victimization, and student behaviors (2016). -
Botswana Blackburn, PhD University of Missouri
Dr. Botswana Blackburn is the current program director of the health sciences program in the School of Health Professions at the University of Missouri and an associate teaching professor, where she leads courses in public health, healthcare in the U.S., and healthcare organizations and leadership. She has received several awards such as the William T. Kemper Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching award and the School of Health Professions Faculty Engagement Award.
Dr. Blackburn holds a Ph.D. in education and the social science consortium from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, an MEd in health education and promotion from the University of Missouri–Columbia, and a BA in broadcast journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Notably, she worked as a public health specialist and health educator for the Kansas City Health Department and as a treatment adherence coordinator for the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network. -
Crystal Dunlevy, EdD Ohio State University
Dr. Crystal Dunlevy is an associate professor and the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of her work as an educator, faculty member, and scholarly writer. In 2015 alone she was honored with three such awards: the Sphinx/Mortar Board Outstanding Educator, the Ohio State College of Medicine Faculty Award, and the Ohio State Emerging Service-Learning Award. She teaches or has taught courses such as critical phases in life, service learning in vulnerable C, individual differences in patient populations or client populations, and pharmacologic aspects of practice in health and rehabilitation sciences.
Among her many publications are two book chapters focused on respiratory care and an article in the Respiratory Care Education Annual on the use of tobacco in the LGBT young adult community in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Dunlevy completed her EdD in educational theory, policy, and administration from Rutgers University, and her MS, BA, and AAS from the University of Akron. Her research interests include teaching and learning, community health, and healthcare disparities.
