BS Health Sciences

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Ohio State University Columbus

Program Overview

The Health Sciences B.S. at The Ohio State University provides a strong foundation in healthcare and the sciences, preparing students for entry-level healthcare careers as well as graduate and professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, public health and dietetics. Students combine science-based study with coursework in health promotion, pathophysiology, epidemiology, research, healthcare management, ethics and healthcare policy.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin in the Pre-Health Sciences pathway, building their scientific and healthcare foundation through courses such as MATH 1148 or higher, Biological Science, Physical Science, PSYCH 1100: Introduction to Psychology and SOCIOL 1101: Introduction to Sociology. This stage also includes general education coursework and establishes the prerequisites needed to progress into the professional Health Sciences program.

Year 2:

Students develop a stronger understanding of the human body and healthcare practice through courses such as ANATOMY 2300: Human Anatomy, HTHRHSC 2500: Medical Terminology, EEOB 2520: Human Physiology and Statistics. Students also complete their remaining science prerequisites, general education requirements and minor/certificate coursework before entering the professional program.

Year 3:

Students begin the professional Health Sciences curriculum with courses including HTHRHSC 3000: Introduction to Health Sciences, HTHRHSC 3400: Health Promotion, HTHRHSC 5300: Management and HR and HTHRHSC 5500: Pathophysiology. The year combines health promotion and disease prevention with healthcare management and an in-depth study of disease processes, while students also complete major electives and their chosen minor.

Year 4:

The final year focuses on ethical, population and research perspectives in healthcare through courses such as HTHRHSC 4000: Ethical Decision Making, HTHRHSC 4400: Patient/Client Populations, PUBHEPI 2410: Epidemiology and major electives. Students can also develop their understanding of healthcare policy and contemporary health issues while completing the remaining minor and degree requirements.

Focus Areas:

Health promotion, disease prevention, pathophysiology, epidemiology, healthcare management, human resources, healthcare research, statistics, medical terminology, ethics, healthcare policy, patient/client populations and contemporary health and society.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop scientific and healthcare knowledge, understand health and disease processes, analyze healthcare data and research, examine ethical and policy issues, develop health-promotion skills and gain an understanding of healthcare systems and patient/client populations. The program also allows students to tailor their studies through major electives and a required minor.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Health Sciences B.S. is designed as a foundational undergraduate degree rather than a program leading to one specific professional license. It prepares students for entry-level healthcare and health-related services and provides prerequisite preparation for graduate and professional programs including medicine, dentistry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, public health, physician assistant, nurse practitioner and medical dietetics. Students who complete specified coursework are also eligible to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination.

Reputation & Employability:

Ohio State reports strong employer recognition of its graduates: in its 2024 employer survey, 91% of responding employers rated Ohio State graduates as well or exceptionally prepared for employment. The university also reports that recent graduates were ranked among the 20 most employable new graduates in the United States and top 60 worldwide in a higher-education employability ranking.

The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences also reports that 80% of Health Sciences students eventually pursue graduate or professional school, while graduates who enter the workforce find opportunities in areas such as hospital management, long-term care, health administration and nonprofit organizations.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Health Sciences B.S. at The Ohio State University gives students opportunities to connect classroom learning with real healthcare environments, research and interprofessional experiences. Students have access to the resources of the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, can participate in ongoing research projects, and benefit from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences' connections with healthcare providers and facilities across Ohio.

The program also provides opportunities to work with faculty researchers, engage with students from other health disciplines and gain exposure to patient-centered healthcare through Ohio State's health-sciences campus. These experiences help students explore healthcare careers while building practical skills in research, health promotion, clinical environments and teamwork:

Wexner Medical Center: Health Sciences students can participate in current and ongoing research projects at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, giving them exposure to a major academic medical and research environment.
Research opportunities: Students can pursue research experiences across HRS, including areas such as community health and wellness, pediatric and adult rehabilitation, sports medicine and other health-related fields. Students interested in intensive research can pursue Research Distinction and complete thesis work with faculty.
CARESTREAM experiential learning: Ohio State offers CARESTREAM, an undergraduate experiential-learning program that connects health-systems education with patient-facing clinical experiences at the Wexner Medical Center.
Interprofessional education: Students can participate in collaborative experiences with students from other health-sciences disciplines. Ohio State's ECLIPSE (Education for Clinical Interprofessional Simulation Excellence) uses case-based simulation and brings together students from across the university's health-sciences colleges.
Simulation facilities: Interprofessional learning takes place in facilities including the Atwell Hall simulation lab, College of Nursing simulation lab, Clinical Education and Assessment Skills Center in Prior Hall, and Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Center (IHSC).
Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Center: The IHSC, completed in 2024, provides flexible facilities specifically designed to support interprofessional education across medicine, dentistry, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, public health and veterinary medicine.
Research laboratories: HRS has dedicated research environments including the Applied Immunology Laboratory, Funderburg Lab, Laboratory for Investigatory Imaging, LIFT Lab, IGNITE Lab, MEND Lab and PEARL Lab, among others.
Health Sciences Library: Students are part of an academic medical environment that includes the Health Sciences Library, located within the Wexner Medical Center health-sciences campus.
Faculty mentorship: Health Sciences students work with a dedicated faculty advisor throughout their time in the program, providing academic guidance and helping students connect with university and medical-center resources.
Health Science Scholars Program: Students interested in health-related careers can join the Health Science Scholars Program, which provides opportunities to explore career areas, learn about health professions and participate in service activities.
Service learning and patient interaction: HRS provides opportunities outside the core curriculum for patient interaction and skill-building through local and global community experiences.
Future Health Professionals Learning Community: Students can participate in a residential community focused on health and medical fields, with career programming, networking and site visits involving HRS programs and advisors

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Health Sciences B.S. at The Ohio State University can enter a range of health-related roles or use the degree as preparation for graduate and professional education. Ohio State reports that 80% of Health Sciences students eventually pursue graduate or professional school, while graduates entering employment work in areas including hospital management, health administration, long-term care and nonprofit organizations.

Typical career options include: Health Services Manager, Healthcare Administrator, Health Promotion Specialist, Clinical Research Coordinator.

Key opportunities for career development include:

Career services: Ohio State's Buckeye Careers provides students with career coaching, résumé and cover-letter reviews, interview preparation, career fairs, employer events and job/internship resources. Health Sciences students can also receive career guidance through the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Graduate outcomes: Ohio State reports that approximately 80% of Health Sciences students continue to graduate or professional school, demonstrating that the degree is commonly used as a foundation for advanced healthcare education.
Employment preparation: Students can develop professional experience through research, healthcare experiences, service opportunities and exposure to the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, helping them build experience relevant to healthcare employment and further study.
Employer connections: Ohio State's career programs connect students with employers through career fairs, employer information sessions, networking events and on-campus recruiting, giving Health Sciences students opportunities to engage directly with healthcare and other organizations.
Employment statistics: Ohio State publishes university-level employer and graduate information, but it does not publish a Health Sciences B.S.-specific employment rate or median salary on the official program page. Therefore, a program-specific salary figure would not be appropriate to state as an official outcome.
Employer feedback: In Ohio State's 2024 employer survey, 91% of responding employers rated Ohio State graduates as well or exceptionally prepared for employment, providing university-level evidence of employer satisfaction with graduate preparation.
Professional alignment: The program can prepare students for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination when the specified coursework requirements are completed. It also provides academic preparation for graduate and professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, public health, physician assistant and medical dietetics.
Long-term value: Because the degree can lead into multiple healthcare professions and advanced programs rather than a single occupation, students can use their undergraduate preparation to pursue different healthcare specializations as their interests develop.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can continue into medical school, dental school, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant programs, public health, medical dietetics and other health-related graduate programs. Students interested in health education can also pursue the CHES pathway, while those interested in research or leadership can continue into relevant master's or doctoral programs.