BS Health Sciences

2 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Pittsburgh

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Health Services at the University of Pittsburgh’s College of General Studies is a completion degree designed for allied health professionals who already have technical training or professional credentials, such as radiologic technology, respiratory therapy or sonography. Students build on their previous professional education while developing knowledge in health services, administration and related fields, preparing for supervisory, administrative and healthcare leadership roles.

Curriculum Structure:

Unlike a traditional four-year bachelor's program, this is a completion degree, so the curriculum is structured around students' existing professional and transfer credits rather than fixed academic years. Students complete 12 required Health Services credits across three areas: Health Field, Administration/Management, and Related Field, while approved allied-health education and licensure may contribute up to 24 professional credits toward the 120-credit degree.

Health Field: Students can choose courses such as Risk Factors and Health, Biomedical Ethics, Health Psychology, Medical Sociology, or Health and Illness, allowing them to deepen their understanding of health, healthcare practice and the factors affecting patients and communities.

Administration/Management: Students develop organizational and leadership knowledge through options such as Introduction to Management, Organizational Theory & Behavior, Organizational Communication, Practices in Public Administration, and Managing Projects and Contracts. These courses connect healthcare knowledge with the management skills needed in administrative and supervisory positions.

Related Field: Students can further broaden their preparation with courses such as Health Communication, Global Pharmaceuticals, Introduction to Human Nutrition, Principles of Behavioral Modification, or Internship Seminar, giving them flexibility to tailor the degree to their professional interests.

Focus Areas:

Health services, healthcare administration and management, health and illness, biomedical ethics, health communication, organizational practice, public administration, healthcare leadership and related health fields.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop an interdisciplinary foundation in healthcare knowledge and organizational practice, strengthening their preparation for leadership, coordination and administrative roles across hospitals, clinics and healthcare organizations.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The University of Pittsburgh is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), with accreditation reaffirmed in June 2022. The university's official specialized-accreditation listing does not identify a separate professional accreditation for the BS in Health Services, so the degree should be described as institutionally accredited rather than as holding a program-specific professional accreditation.

Reputation (Employability):

Pitt reports a 96.3% successful career outcomes rate for the Class of 2024, based on graduates who were working, continuing education, serving in the military or volunteering, with an 83.6% knowledge rate. The university also reports that Pitt is ranked No. 32 among U.S. public universities in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS in Health Services at the University of Pittsburgh’s College of General Studies is designed as a degree-completion program for allied health professionals, so students can build on their existing professional training while developing broader skills in health systems, administration, and applied research. Practical learning can be added through an internship, which is highly recommended but not required, and students can earn academic credit through CGS’s internship courses while reflecting on and connecting their workplace experience to their academic and career goals.

Students can also make use of Pitt’s academic and experiential resources:

Internships: Health Services students can complete an internship through CGS 1900: Choosing Your Path: Internship, which includes reflection, journaling, workshops, and group discussions connected to the internship experience.
Healthcare-related placements: CGS lists UPMC, the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, and other health-related organizations among internship experiences available to its students.
Flexible digital learning: Many Health Services courses are available in online and hybrid formats, supporting students who are balancing their studies with professional commitments.
Research and experiential support: Pitt’s Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity supports undergraduate research, academic internships, teaching, and service opportunities.
Academic resources: Students have access to Pitt’s university-wide resources, including the University Library System, academic support services, and research resources that support their coursework and professional development.

Facilities:

Students in the program benefit from the wider University of Pittsburgh campus resources, including academic and research facilities, health-related learning environments, libraries, student health services, and resources supporting undergraduate research and internships. The College of General Studies also provides flexible online, hybrid, and in-person study options, making the program particularly suitable for working allied-health professionals.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BS in Health Services at the University of Pittsburgh can use their allied-health background together with training in health services, administration, management, and related fields to move into broader healthcare leadership and coordination roles. The program is particularly suited to professionals who want to progress beyond a technical clinical role into administrative or management positions. Typical career paths include Healthcare Administrator, Health Services Manager, Clinical Coordinator, and Healthcare Program Coordinator.

Students can strengthen their transition from study to employment through Pitt’s career and professional resources:

Career support: Pitt’s Career Center provides career advising, job and internship resources, career fairs, employer connections, resume assistance, interview preparation, and career-management resources.
Employment outcomes: Pitt reports a 96.3% successful career outcomes rate for the Class of 2024, covering graduates who were employed, continuing their education, serving in the military, or volunteering. Pitt does not publish a specific salary figure for BS Health Services graduates on the program page, so a program-specific salary should not be assumed.
University–industry connections: The College of General Studies provides internship opportunities with organizations including UPMC, giving students opportunities to connect their academic learning with professional healthcare environments.
Long-term accreditation value: The University of Pittsburgh is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), supporting the long-term academic recognition of the degree.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can apply their combined professional healthcare experience and bachelor's-level preparation to healthcare administration, management, coordination, and related health-services positions.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS in Health Services, students can continue into graduate-level education in areas such as health administration, public health, healthcare management, health informatics, or other health-related disciplines. Pitt's broader graduate offerings can provide opportunities to develop specialized expertise and prepare for more advanced professional or leadership roles.