School of Health Sciences & Education
Health Science, Bachelor of Science
Discover Your Future in Health Science
At Saint Francis University, our Health Science program empowers students to explore the diverse opportunities within the healthcare field and discover their unique pathway to improving the well-being of individuals and communities. For those eager to advance their careers more quickly, our Accelerated Pre-Professional program provides a streamlined route to graduate study and professional practice in healthcare.
The SFU Advantage
Our mission-driven approach is designed to help you further define your sense of purpose so you can make a real impact in the world. You will be able to tailor your course selection in the health sciences to explore broadly or focus quickly on a specific career. The student-centric design promotes personalized advising, mentoring, and support to ensure you succeed in your undergraduate studies with an eye toward career aspirations.
Accelerated 3-Year Program Snapshot:
- Faster Progression: Graduate in 3 years with summer courses (Pre-Professional or General tracks).
- Career-Focused Curriculum: Tailor your course selection to your specific career goals.
- Grad School Ready: Pre-Professional track includes prerequisites and clinical prep.
Traditional 4-Year Program Snapshot:
- Broad Health Curriculum: Explore your options through electives, then tailor your career path.
- Flexible Formats: Choose on-campus or fully online options.
Program Pathways at a Glance
Accelerated Health Science B.S. – Pre-Professional
- Ideal for: Highly motivated students aiming for medical, PA, PT, or other professional schools
- Format: On-campus, accelerated (3 years with summers)
Note: SFU has many exceptional pre-professional pathways. You may also want to explore a Pre-Medicine Concentration or our accelerated direct-entry programs in OT, PA, and PT.
Health Science B.S. – Traditional
- Ideal for: Students seeking a traditional 4-year campus experience with broad career options in health fields
- Format: On-campus, 4-year degree
Accelerated Health Science B.S. – General
- Ideal for: Students interested in public health, health policy, or research (not requiring clinical graduate school)
- Format: On-campus, accelerated (3 years with summers)
Note: SFU also offers a Public Health, B.S. that makes an excellent path for students who wish to sit for Certified Health Education Specialist Certification (CHES) or pursue a clinical path for graduate school.
Online Health Science B.S.
- Ideal for: Working adults or non-traditional learners needing flexible, online education
- Format: Online, flexible pace (3–5 years)
Find Your Fit: Comparing Health Science Degree Options at SFU
| Student Type | Recommended Program | Why This Program? | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly motivated students aiming for medical, PA, PT, or other professional school | Accelerated Health Science B.S. – Pre‑Professional | Designed with structured prerequisites, clinical shadowing, and a fast-track path to professional graduate programs. Note: SFU has many exceptional pre-professional pathways. You may also want to explore a Pre-Medicine Concentration or our accelerated direct-entry programs in OT, PA, and PT. | On-campus, accelerated (3 years with summers) |
| Students seeking a traditional 4-year campus experience with broad career options in health fields | Health Science B.S. – Traditional | Allows more time to explore interests, build liberal arts depth, and pursue health-related roles or grad school later | On-campus, 4-year degree |
| Students interested in public health, health policy, or research (not requiring clinical grad school) | Accelerated Health Science B.S. – General | Offers a broad health science foundation in a condensed timeframe, ideal for early workforce entry or policy careers
Note: SFU also offers a Public Health, B.S. that makes an excellent path for students who wish to sit for Certified Health Education Specialist Certification (CHES) or pursue a clinical path for graduate school.
| On-campus, accelerated (3 years with summers) |
| Working adults or non-traditional learners needing a flexible, online education | Online Health Science B.S. | Fully online program with part-time pacing for those balancing career, family, or distance challenges; strong for administration or community health roles. For details view the Online Health Science program page. | Online, flexible pace (3–5 years) |
Curriuculum
What You’ll Learn as a Health Science Major
The Bachelor of Science in Health Science combines a solid health science core with a general education curriculum infused with Franciscan values. Key courses focus on biology, human anatomy, medical terminology, public health foundations, statistics, ethical/ legal responsibilities, leadership, and health policy.
- Format allows students to tailor their course selection in the health sciences toward specific careers.
- The student-centric design promotes personalized advising, mentoring, and support to ensure students succeed in their undergraduate studies with an eye toward career aspirations.
- Coursework in research, leadership, and a final applied learning capstone project helps equip students for evidence-based practice.
- Franciscan values are embedded in the curriculum, which emphasizes service, ethics, and community engagement.
Accelerated Health Science B.S. – Pre-Professional
Format: In-Person
Total Credits Required: 128 credits
Estimated Completion Time:
Typically, 3 years of full-time study, including two full-time summer sessions
Admission Requirements:
Note: SFU has many exceptional pre-professional pathways. You may also want to explore a Pre-Medicine Concentration or our accelerated direct-entry programs in OT, PA, and PT.
Health Science B.S. – Traditional
Format: In-Person
Total Credits Required: 128 credits
Estimated Completion Time:
Typically 4 years of full-time study
Admission Requirements:
Accelerated Health Science B.S. – General
Format: In-Person
Total Credits Required: 128 credits
Estimated Completion Time:
Typically, 3 years of full-time study, including two summer sessions.
Admission Requirements:
Note: SFU also offers a Public Health, B.S. that makes an excellent path for students who wish to sit for Certified Health Education Specialist Certification (CHES) or pursue a clinical path for graduate school.
Online Health Science B.S.
For information on taking this program 100% online, please visit the Online Health Science program page.
Students are encouraged to talk with their SFU advisor early to align their studies with future graduate school plans.
The Bachelor of Science in Health Science is structured to meet common graduate school prerequisite courses like Anatomy & Physiology, Statistics, and Medical Terminology. However, Pre-Professional concentrations are not available online, and students are guided to select electives strategically for graduate readiness. Many graduate programs require additional lab-intensive courses such as Chemistry. Students who plan to apply to graduate school are recommended to carefully review graduate school admissions requirements to ensure that they are taking courses that meet those requirements.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Critical Thinking and Research Skills: Students will learn to apply critical and scientific inquiry to identify and evaluate health-related issues prevalent in today’s society. From this inquiry, students will identify a gap in the literature, design and conduct a research project to solve a pressing health care issue. (Assess through PUBH 430).
- Healthcare Systems and Practices: Students will develop an understanding of the current U.S. and global healthcare systems and foster a vision to bring forth healthcare reform. (Assess through PUBH 101, PUBH 401)
- Ethical and Legal Responsibilities: Students will apply ethical principles and legal responsibilities to foster effective interventions in the delivery of healthcare. (Assess through PUBH 320, PUBH 430, PHIL 212).
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: Students will promote preventative actions and health behaviors to optimize health and wellness across the lifespan. (Assess through PUBH 101,PUBH 202, PUBH 110).
Experienced Faculty, Excellent Mentors
Our seasoned faculty members will accompany you on your individual journey, leaning into your passion to improve the health of society, your academic strengths, and your ultimate career interests. Professors hold advanced degrees and bring research expertise in both academic and applied settings. Many faculty members have worked in clinical, community, or nonprofit health organizations. Their firsthand experience ensures that what you learn in the classroom is grounded in current health challenges and solutions.
Program Chair: Dr. Kristofer Wisniewski, kwisniewski@francis.edu, 814-471-1132
Career Outlook with a Degree in Health Science
Job Market Demand: National Growth
The career outlook for graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Health Science at Saint Francis University is strong and steadily growing, fueled by expanding opportunities across the healthcare sector.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that healthcare occupations will grow by 13% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations, largely due to an aging population, chronic health conditions, and workforce turnover. The Health Resources and Services Administration data substantiates this need, projecting a significant shortage in allied health, long-term services, health care providers, and support occupations by 2037 (Health Workforce Projections | Bureau of Health Workforce).
Career Path: Graduate/Professional Study
The accelerated 3-year Health Science B.S. prepares graduates to apply for advanced study for these careers:
- Physician
- Pharmacist
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physician Assistant
Career Path: Direct-Entry Fields
Graduates of the Health Science B.S. are well-positioned to enter roles in:
- Healthcare Administration & Coordination
- Community Health & Outreach
- Health Informatics & Data Analysis
- Medical Sales & Customer Support
- Clinical Research Coordination
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About the B.S. in Health Science at Saint Francis University
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You can pursue clinical and non-clinical roles with this degree, including health educator, health administrator, clinical research coordinator, public health specialist, and healthcare informatics specialist. Other options include positions like dietitian, nutritionist, and even roles in pharmaceutical sales. You can also use this degree as a stepping stone to a graduate school or professional program in dentistry, pharmacy, occupational therapy, audiology, physical therapy, and much more.
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Yes! The Bachelor of Science in Health Science is structured to meet common graduate school prerequisite courses like Anatomy & Physiology, Statistics, and Medical Terminology. However, Pre-PA and Pre-OT concentrations are not available online, and students are guided to select electives strategically for graduate readiness. Many graduate programs require additional lab-intensive courses such as Chemistry. Students who plan to apply to graduate school are recommended to carefully review graduate school admissions requirements to ensure that they are taking courses that meet those requirements.
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The time varies by student. A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete. It can take considerably less time for students who have an associate degree with eligible transfer credits. Some students choose an accelerated 3-year option with summer courses. Other students choose online study at a slower pace to balance family and work challenges.
You can pursue clinical and non-clinical roles with this degree, including health educator, health administrator, clinical research coordinator, public health specialist, and healthcare informatics specialist. Other options include positions like dietitian, nutritionist, and even roles in pharmaceutical sales. You can also use this degree as a stepping stone to a graduate school or professional program in dentistry, pharmacy, occupational therapy, audiology, physical therapy, and much more.
Yes! The Bachelor of Science in Health Science is structured to meet common graduate school prerequisite courses like Anatomy & Physiology, Statistics, and Medical Terminology. However, Pre-PA and Pre-OT concentrations are not available online, and students are guided to select electives strategically for graduate readiness. Many graduate programs require additional lab-intensive courses such as Chemistry. Students who plan to apply to graduate school are recommended to carefully review graduate school admissions requirements to ensure that they are taking courses that meet those requirements.
The time varies by student. A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete. It can take considerably less time for students who have an associate degree with eligible transfer credits. Some students choose an accelerated 3-year option with summer courses. Other students choose online study at a slower pace to balance family and work challenges.
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