Health science degrees cover a wide range of wellness, nutrition, fitness, and medical topics. They usually focus on human health and prepare students for careers in public health, healthcare, or research. Since health science is a broad field, students can earn a bachelor's degree while exploring different interests through undergraduate schooling. It's a good degree for those who want exposure to different niches before specializing with a master's or doctorate. In fact, many health science degrees have pathways into higher education within their host university.
Another advantage of a health science degree is a student's exposure to multiple field experts. Program faculty are often from diverse backgrounds. Students will have opportunities to discuss career options with nurses, business people, athletic trainers, researchers, dieticians, and certified health specialists.
Can you get a health science degree online?
Yes, you can get a health science degree through many online programs. Most are fully remote, which means you attend classes online. This is a good option for students who work full time, have busy families, or live far from a university campus. Other programs use a hybrid format, which requires students to attend some classes in person while attending others online. This format is popular amongst programs with hands-on coursework.
When choosing the right online program, you must also consider its flexibility. Some are synchronous, which means the courses are remote but in real-time with other students and faculty. Assignments are also more likely to have strict schedules. Other programs are asynchronous, which allows you to complete lectures and assignments at your own pace. But asynchronous courses may have a deadline where all assignments must be turned in by the end of the semester, keeping you on track to graduate within a certain timeline. Most online degrees are between 120 and 130 credit hours, and take two to four years to complete.
Are there bachelor's of health science programs online?
Many universities offer bachelor's degrees in health science through online education. Most require a minimum 2.0 or 2.5 GPA, and some require prerequisite coursework to show that you're ready for the program's coursework. Tuition varies greatly depending on the program's scope, part-time or full-time attendance, and residence. We've listed a few reputable examples below.
Arizona State University - Online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences
Arizona State University offers a 120-credit-hour online program, which costs around $8,000 per academic year. This program allows you to choose your cadence. Part-time students are encouraged to take six credit hours, while full-time students take between 12 and 18. Students have the opportunity to choose a focus area in community-based health, health and media, health legislation, integrated care, or mental health. The degree also includes an internship for students to explore a potential career path.
This university's curriculum includes the following courses:
- Biostatistics
- Global health care systems
- Cultural aspects of health
- Health communications
- Historical and contemporary issues in health
- Applied medical care ethics
Focus area courses may also include:
- Population health management (Community-based health focus)
- Podcasting (Health and media focus)
- Health legislation (Health legislation focus)
- Eating for lifelong health(Integrative care focus)
- Body image and wellness (Mental health focus)
To apply, you'll need a high school diploma (or an equivalent) and a 3.0 minimum GPA or 12 hours of transferrable coursework from another university.
Southern California University - Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Program
Southern California University offers a flexible two-year online program designed to prepare students for master's or doctoral programs. This program costs $450 per credit hour and allows you to attend asynchronously, which means you can listen to lectures and complete assignments at your own pace. Students only take two courses at a time, each lasting about seven weeks, which is ideal for those with full-time jobs.
This university's curriculum is tailored to your concentration goal. Possible concentrations include:
- Health education (with certification prep to become a Certified Health Education Specialist)
- Health promotion
- Human genetics
- Functional anatomy
- Chiropractic sciences
- Eastern medicine
- Ayurvedic sciences
- Pre-genetic counseling
- Integrative nutrition and wellness
- Psychology
Depending on your concentration, coursework may include:
- Chronic disease of aging
- Evidence based practice in healthcare
- Abnormal psychology
- Introduction to epidemiology
- Health behavior
To apply, you'll need a minimum 2.0 GPA from previous undergraduate coursework. This program prides itself on being transfer-friendly, so most of its prerequisites expect a minimum of 60 credit hours already completed (or at least 48 credits with the intention to complete missing coursework with a guidance counselor's help).
Georgia Southern University - Online Bachelor of Health Science
Georgia Southern University offers a 124-credit-hour program available online or in person. It serves as a pathway towards a master's or doctoral degree aimed at providing thorough foundational knowledge in nutrition, medical terminology, epidemiology, professional development, and legal issues in healthcare. Unlike other programs listed so far, this degree maintains a wide scope, allowing students to fully explore different niches before specializing. Like many universities on this list, tuition depends on your goal. Georgia Southern University encourages prospective students to reach out for more information.
This university's curriculum includes the following courses:
- Health communication
- Health issues and resources
- Introduction to the disease continuum
- Ethics in health professions
- Data visualization
- Population health sciences
The application process is online through the university's portal, so you'll need to create an account and complete all digital forms. The university doesn't list all prerequisites under its requirements, but similar GPA expectations may apply.
Louisiana State University of Alexandria - Online Bachelor of General Studies in Health Sciences
Louisiana State University of Alexandria offers a 12-credit-hour online program. Each credit hour costs $340 or about $40,800 total before fees. This program is synchronous, so lectures are remote but live. Its coursework is designed to prepare students for administration or health communication careers, but like Georgia Southern University, it doesn't have built-in specializations.
This university's curriculum includes the following courses:
- Client care interactions
- Healthcare economics
- Medical ethics and law
- Politics and policy of elder health care
- Healthcare administration
- Quality management
To apply, you must show completion of high school core curricula with a minimum 2.0 GPA or an ACT composite score of 20 or higher. Transfer students must have earned a transferable associate's degree, at least 18 hours of college-level credit hours (including a math course) with a 2.0 GPA, or at least 12 hours from the university's Bridge Program with a 2.0 GPA.
The Ohio State University - Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences
The Ohio State University offers a fully asynchronous online health science program, which is designed for full or part-time students. This program consists of 120 hours and costs around $500 per credit hour, although this may vary if you're out of state. If you're interested in medical or pharmaceutical sales or health care administration, this degree will prepare you with the basic knowledge you need to earn an entry-level job after graduation.
This university's curriculum includes the following courses:
- Health promotion and disease prevention
- Management principles and human resources for health care professionals
- Critical phases in life
- Individual differences in patient/client populations
- Epidemiology in public health
- Community policy influence in health care
To apply, you'll need to have completed 30 college credits with a minimum 2.5 GPA or show that you're actively completing the prerequisite courses. Required prerequisite courses include certain math, general science, anatomy, and physiology credit hours.
What degree do you need to work in the health science field?
If you hope to work in the health science sector, a bachelor’s in health science is a great start. It offers foundational knowledge in a wide range of topics, making you a well-rounded candidate for entry-level positions. However, the health science field is also full of specialties that pay well. Those who want to specialize may need a master’s or doctoral degree, especially if you’re interested in patient care.
Other similar bachelor’s degrees include exercise science, kinesiology, sport science, and health promotion. Each has slight differences in typical coursework, but they’re all foundational degrees that serve as stepping stones to higher education. The right degree depends on master’s or doctoral prerequisites, like anatomy, physiology, chemistry, civics or policy, and other wellness or healthcare-related topics.
Popular master’s and doctoral pathways after a health science degree include public health, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutrition, and research.
But if you don’t want to earn another degree, you can earn certifications instead. Programs like Southern California University prepare students for different certifications to become a health specialist, nutritionist, wellness coach, or strength and conditioning coach.
Typical coursework you might take in this degree
Coursework in health science degrees can vary greatly. Some programs remain generalized, while others offer focus areas. However, most courses offer introductions to popular topics in wellness and medicine, like nutrition or patient care. This gives students a taste of each potential specialization, which is especially helpful for those who want to explore options before committing to a niche.
Another popular topic among online health science degrees is public health and policy. Most programs offer more than one course in this topic, delving into health legislation and the United States healthcare system. If you’re interested in making a difference in the local or federal government, pairing a health science degree with a minor in communications, political science, or public policy could be a good idea.
What can you do with a degree in health science?
A degree in health science offers two distinct pathways: entry-level careers or a pathway toward higher degrees.
If you choose to enter the workforce after your bachelor’s in health science, you’ll have enough knowledge to start careers in medical sales, health administration, or health instruction and coaching (like personal training, health coaching, or life coaching with the right certifications). Some graduates may also find opportunities in research.
If you choose to continue in education, you could become a clinician or earn a master’s in your favorite topic. You might specialize to leverage your higher degree for more pay or to complete internships that propel you up the corporate ladder.
Either way, a health science degree sets you up for a range of opportunities, including:
- Medical or pharmaceutical sales
- Clinical research coordination
- Dental hygiene
- Nursing
- Case management
- Medical science liaison
- Medical writing or journalism
- Healthcare social work
- Community health work
- Environmental health specialist
- Non-profit wellness program coordinator
- Health services management
- Physical or occupational therapy
