Navigating the Health Science Major Curriculum: A Comprehensive Guide

The ever-evolving healthcare industry demands professionals equipped with a diverse skill set and a comprehensive understanding of health sciences. For students aspiring to contribute to this dynamic field, a Health Science major provides a strong foundation for career advancement and further academic pursuits. This article delves into the curriculum of a Health Science major, with a focus on programs offered at institutions like the College of Central Florida (CF), Seminole State College, the University of West Florida (UWF), and the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Central Florida (UCF), providing a roadmap for prospective students.

Health Science Programs: An Overview

The College of Central Florida offers a wide variety of Health Sciences programs designed to give you the knowledge and experience you need to succeed in the health care industry. Each Health Sciences program at the College of Central Florida has earned accreditation from the respective national commissions. All health sciences programs are limited access. Limited access programs have admissions processes and criteria beyond general college admissions. While any student meeting the minimum criteria is encouraged to apply, not all applicants may be accepted for the desired term.

Seminole State College offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) is an interdisciplinary completion program focused on career and academic advancement for current practitioners as well as to deliver a well-rounded generalist curriculum by providing the skills, competencies, and values needed to advance and professionally contribute to the evolving health care industry. The BSHS program will include four specialty tracks: Respiratory Therapy and Clinical Leadership, Health Coaching and Human Performance, Healthcare Management and Professional Services, and Clinical Science.

The B.S. in Health Sciences program at UWF is designed for undergraduate students who wish to pursue their studies in health and healthcare. This degree is geared toward developing health professionals, healthcare administrators, and assistant behavior analysts 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.

The Department of Health Sciences at the University of Cincinnati offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree is an online associate to bachelor’s completion program. Bachelor’s degree-seeking students at the University of Cincinnati are required to complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours for graduation. Up to 90 semester credit hours of prior college coursework taken at an accredited institution can be transferred in and applied to the program. Students may be required to take additional coursework to meet the 120 credit hour minimum requirement.

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As the second largest major at UCF, many students start their path to a health career by majoring in Health Sciences. Often referred to as pre-med, our science-based, application-oriented curriculum is designed for students with an interest in human health who plan to pursue careers in medicine, other health professions, clinical/behavioral health research, health promotion and public health.

Admission Requirements and Application Deadlines

Navigating the admissions process is the first step towards pursuing a Health Science major. Several institutions, including CF, have specific requirements and deadlines that prospective students must adhere to.

Many health sciences programs at CF require attendance to an information session in order to be accepted into the program. Our Health Sciences Outreach Specialist is here to help!

To see if you qualify for the Bachelor's Degree scholarship and view application instructions, visit the Scholarship Information webpage.

Here are some important deadlines for CF:Fall 2025July 14: Priority Application DeadlineAug. 18: General Application DeadlineSpring 2026Dec. 1: Priority Application DeadlineJan. 5: General Application Deadline

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Your complete application, including the online form and official transcripts showing your posted degree and applicable prerequisite coursework, must be received by the College by the application deadline. Submitting by the priority application deadline ensures your admission is processed for your preferred semester. Applications received after the general deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis. For more information on program requirements, please refer to the Admissions Requirements for Baccalaureate Students.

Applicants seeking admission to Seminole State College's bachelor's degree programs must comply with the College's General Admissions procedures. In addition, students must meet the following program-specific requirements listed below prior to being accepted into upper-division coursework:• Have a 2.0 or higher GPA in previous course work.• Completion of an Associate degree from a regionally accredited institution.• Students who have earned a minimum of 60 college credit hours from any regionally accredited institution may request to have their admission reviewed and determined by the faculty committee.* An Associate of Science (AS) or an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in a health-related field from a regionally accredited institution satisfies the Foundation requirements detailed in the Bachelor of Science (BS) Health Science degree program. Students with any other degree must complete the Foundation courses with a grade of "C" or higher.

Acceptance to the University of West Florida 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 successfully complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or better prior to taking major courses.

Core Curriculum and Specializations

A Health Science major typically encompasses a core curriculum that provides a broad understanding of the fundamental principles underlying health and disease. This foundation is then supplemented by specialized tracks that allow students to focus on specific areas of interest within the healthcare field.

The curriculum includes a central core of health science courses that will allow students from different health care disciplines the opportunity to work and collaborate as an interdisciplinary team. Specialty elective courses will focus on content designed to further expand the student's expertise in their chosen area of study.

Seminole State College BSHS program will include four specialty tracks: Respiratory Therapy and Clinical Leadership, Health Coaching and Human Performance, Healthcare Management and Professional Services, and Clinical Science.

At UWF Students choose to pursue either (1) the generalized Health Sciences degree, (2) the specialization in Healthcare Administration, or (3) the specialization in Behavior Analysis.

Core Courses

Common core courses in a Health Science curriculum may include:

General Biology: Covering molecular biology, cellular biology, genetics, metabolism, and replication. It is a study of the molecular and cellular composition and function of living organisms. Emphasis will be given to structure, chemical metabolism, and genetic mechanisms.
Anatomy and Physiology: Examining the structure and function of the human body, often utilizing a "system" approach to explore organ systems at cellular, tissue, organ, and system levels. This is the first part of a two-semester course that investigates in detail the structure and function of humans. The course is primarily designed for students of healthcare professions, biology or physical education.
General Psychology: Providing an overview of the fundamental principles of psychology.
Elements of Statistics: Introducing statistical concepts, data analysis, and the design of statistical studies. A one-semester comprehensive introduction to statistics suitable for students in biology, nursing, allied health, and applied science. Discussion of data, frequency distributions, graphical and numerical summaries, design of statistical studies, and probability as a basis for statistical inference and prediction. The concepts and practice of statistical inference including confidence intervals, one and two sample t-tests, chi-square tests, regression and analysis of variance, with attention to selecting the procedure(s) appropriate for the question and data structure, and interpreting and using the result.
Medical Terminology: Introducing the language of medicine and allied health, while reviewing the major organ systems of the body.
Health Science Research Methods: Incorporates basic research methods, processes and models in analyzing research studies and incorporating current quality standards and evidence-based protocols into healthcare. Students are introduced to the formal study of research methods, including literature search, hypothesis generation and testing, sampling theory, research design, data analysis and report-writing. Application of these methods will be utilized to research health-related and health administration-related topics.
Health Informatics: This course provides an overview of technology and information systems employed in the healthcare industry today. Students will acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed in college-level research by identifying, evaluating and using diverse information sources from the internet and library databases.
Health Care Ethics and Law: This course provides an overview of the legal and ethical aspects faced by healthcare consumers, practitioners, administrators and healthcare facilities. Students will be introduced to the structure of the American legal system and the principles of health law. Ethical theories and philosophies and their application to various components of the healthcare delivery system will be introduced. Medical professional ethics, HIPAA privacy and security issues will be reinforced.
Health Economics: This course examines the principles of economics as it relates to health systems and applies this information to current healthcare issues. Topics include healthcare markets, supply, demand and evaluation of the healthcare system. The role of government entities and health disparities will be explored.

Specialization Tracks

Clinical Science: The Clinical Science Specialization at Seminole State is designed for pre-professionals who intend to pursue a career in the healthcare provider role. Students interested in earning credit at Palmer Chiropractic will need to consult with their advisor to ensure they are enrolled in the appropriate courses. The Pre-Clinical track at UCF is designed for students pursuing careers as a physician, physician assistant, dentist, pharmacist and other healthcare careers. The core curriculum provides a foundation in chemistry, biology, physics, and social sciences. Upper-level core requirements focus on areas such as research methods, pharmacology, epidemiology, nutrition and pathophysiology.
Respiratory Therapy and Clinical Leadership: The Respiratory Therapy and Clinical Leadership Specialization at Seminole State allows graduates of an accredited Associate Degree program, eligible for the National Board of Respiratory Therapy credential, to complete their bachelor's degree. This degree program is designed to provide respiratory therapists with a deeper understanding of healthcare operations, economics, leadership, health information management, ethics and research methods.
Health Coaching and Human Performance: The Health Coaching and Human Performance Specialization at Seminole State has been developed in response to the emerging demand for wellness professionals. Companies are seeing wellness as an investment toward decreasing healthcare costs. Prevention-based health coaching models are being implemented to help patients manage chronic diseases and prevent disease occurrence. Additionally, community-based wellness programs are increasing. Labor market trends also indicate a strong and growing need for wellness professionals in healthcare settings, fitness organizations and corporate settings. Health coaches promote wellness through the development and implementation of strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities. Health coaches work in hospitals, nonprofit organizations, government, physician's offices, private businesses and colleges.
Healthcare Management and Professional Services: The Healthcare Management and Professional Services Specialization at Seminole State is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide career advancement opportunities for current health profession practitioners as well as individuals seeking future careers in healthcare. Medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct and coordinate medical and health services. They may manage an entire facility or specialize in managing a specific clinical area or department. They may also manage a medical practice group of physicians. Most medical and health services managers work in offices in healthcare facilities including hospitals, nursing homes and group medical practices as well as with insurance providers in the area of health-related sales and services. 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.
Behavior Analysis: Upon completion of a bachelor's degree with a specialization in Behavior Analysis at UWF, graduates have completed the curriculum requirements to apply for the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) exam and/or the Qualified Autism Services Provider Supervisor (QASP-S) exam. Students also complete all of the requirements to earn the Undergraduate Certificate in Behavior Analysis at UWF. The Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst's career field is in high demand, with more than a thousand job ads posted on multiple employment searches.

Additional Courses

Nutrition Science: This nutrition science course at the University of Cincinnati will provide an overview of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals including food sources and requirements of each, and the basic physiological processes involved in digestion, absorption, and metabolism. The principles of healthy dietary planning will be examined from the standpoint of socioeconomic, cultural, psychological, and environmental factors that influence intake and considerations for maintaining a healthy diet and reducing the risk of chronic diseases in the modern world. Students will learn basic dietary assessment skills, collect scientific data, and compare diet intake to national reference standards (i.e. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Dietary Reference Intakes) and to recommended dietary patterns.
Biomechanics and Kinesiology: This online course at the University of Cincinnati is designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of the fields of Biomechanics and Kinesiology. This includes terminology, an examination of concepts and principles, and performing the analyses and calculations necessary to examine mechanical characteristics of basic human movements. Students will also examine the basic structural and kinematic characteristics of the musculoskeletal system, including the major joints of the spine and the extremities. This course is designed to meet the skills sets described by the ACSM and the NSCA as necessary components for entry level certifications.
Pharmacology: This is the fourth course in the foundations sequence of classes for Health Science majors in the College of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. The course focuses on common pharmacologic agents and their effects on health and health behaviors. The students will learn the general classifications and sub-classifications of common pharmacologic substances, their indications and contraindications for use, and their actions and side-effects. Included in the course is a discussion of basic physiology and how these agents alter it, how those alterations affect activity tolerance, and the necessary adjustments in activity programs in order for those programs to remain safe.
Exercise Physiology: This course at the University of Cincinnati covers the study of the physiological systems of the human body and how they relate to exercise and stress. This course is intended for senior health sciences students who are destined for graduate school and/or advanced health care training. The students will be introduced to the systems or organ-based pathologies of diseases and their treatments. The course will briefly review normal physiology of various organs and systems and then proceed to describe diseases of various etiologies which affect them. Standard treatments for these diseases will be discussed and evaluated.
Human Surface Anatomy: In this course at the University of Cincinnati, students will study the interactions between nutrition and exercise with emphasis on training as well as health promotion and fitness. This course is designed to provide the student with basic information in human surface anatomy and the origins, insertions, actions and nerve supply of the major muscles of the body. It also introduces the students to basic palpation and other handling techniques necessary to perform physical assessments.

General Education Requirements and Common Prerequisites

In addition to major-specific coursework, Health Science programs typically include general education requirements designed to provide students with a well-rounded education. These requirements often encompass subjects such as mathematics, social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities.

In addition to the General Education requirements, students must satisfy all additional State of Florida requirements, including the College-Level Communication and Computation, Civic Literacy, 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 State University Requirements and Degree Requirements sections of this catalog.

State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.

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 by passing an assessment or taking AMH 2020 United States Since 1877 or POS 2041 American Politics. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. In 2024, the Board of Governors made an additional revision, recognizing two new courses meeting the Civic Literacy requirement, AMH 2010 United States to 1877 and AMS 2010 Civil Discourse and the American Political Order.

Mathematics Pathway

Students are advised to complete the following courses to fulfill the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and their career goals. Students should refer to their academic advisor for questions about the math pathway for their program. For information about this requirement, refer to the catalog page for Mathematics Pathways. These courses may also fulfill requirements for General Education and Common Prerequisites.

Common Prerequisites

Common prerequisites for Health Science programs often include:

General Biology for Non-Majors and General Biology Laboratory for Non-Majors
General Psychology
Elements of Statistics

Experiential Learning: Internships and Capstone Projects

Many Health Science programs emphasize experiential learning through internships and capstone projects, providing students with opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings.

Partnering with healthcare facilities, community organizations and research entities. An internship is a hands-on experience in which a student can explore career options, draw conclusions between their academic knowledge and practice, and network with professionals in their field of interest. These experiences, which occur in healthcare facilities, community organizations and research entities, are developed in partnership with the UCF Department of Health Sciences Internship Program. While participating in an internship, students engage in direct, learner-centered activities outside the traditional academic classroom. Students must submit an application to be considered for an internship spot. Interns must complete at least 80 hours at the assigned internship site to earn 3 credit hours. In addition to the internship, students complete course assignments to facilitate interactive learning.

This course is a culminating experience for Health Science majors involving a substantive project that demonstrates a synthesis of learning accumulated in the major, including broadly comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and its methodologies. With faculty approval, students will complete a capstone project that aligns with their career goals in the form of a team project or internship. This capstone course at the University of Cincinnati concludes Pre-Occupational Therapy-DL and Health Sciences-DL students' undergraduate education by allowing students to assess the available literature on a clinical-based question of their choice. Students, in collaboration with their instructor, will select a clinical-based question and then locate and critically appraise available literature to create a summary of findings and a presentation detailing the key findings from the research.

Career Opportunities and Further Education

A Health Science major opens doors to a wide array of career opportunities in the healthcare sector. Graduates may find employment in hospitals, clinics, research institutions, public health agencies, and various other healthcare settings.

Occupations in health sciences are projected to grow roughly 15% through 2029.

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 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.

Common career paths for Health Science graduates include:

Medical and Health Services Managers
Health Educators
Wellness Coordinators
Research Assistants
Clinical Research Coordinators
Healthcare Administrators
Assistant Behavior Analysts

Furthermore, a Health Science major provides a strong foundation for pursuing advanced degrees in medicine, allied health professions, public health, and other related fields.

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