Are you driven by curiosity, creativity, and the desire to improve the health of others? Are you equally fascinated by the human body and the sciences? If so, a health science degree may be the perfect path for you.

A major in health science equips you to implement scientific principles together with practical clinical experience toward improving quality of life for patients in a variety of healthcare settings.

PLNU’s Bachelor of Science in Health Science prepares you for a rewarding professional career in the rapidly growing healthcare industry. 

This program serves perfectly to prepare you for graduate school in the following health-related fields: Athletic Training, Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Chiropractics, and many more.

At PLNU, our Health Science B.S. program focuses on two goals:

• Preparing you to understand the human body, analyze health data, and support prevention and treatment across diverse populations
• Engaging you in hands-on learning and collaborative research with faculty and peers in areas such as public health, physiology, and rehabilitation sciences

Early courses in kinesiology, chemistry, and biology will provide the framework for you to apply concepts toward analyzing human movement, designing interventions to prevent injury, and improving function. Advanced courses in biomechanics, exercise physiology, and pathology, as well as electives like therapeutic exercise, orthopedic assessment, or gross anatomy, will connect your passions for healthcare, fitness, and exercise into applicable coursework.

At the same time, you can look forward to relevant practical experience working closely with other students and professors in clinical environments. With a high emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning, you will find yourself immersed in internships with local clinics (sport medicine, medical offices, and outpatient surgery) and hospitals (acute care or outpatient physical therapy, emergency rooms, primary care, pediatrics, cardiac rehabilitation, or Veteran's Administration hospitals).

As a health science student, you’ll receive the academic and personal support to achieve the following during your undergraduate years:

• Targeting the graduate schools you are most interested in attending and understanding the prerequisites unique to those institutions
• Gain direct entry into one of our graduate schools in the health sciences via our Scholars programs, including: Athletic Training Scholars, Occupational Therapy Scholars, and Physician Assistant Scholars.
• Completing a program that includes all necessary prerequisites for your targeted graduate schools
• Taking part in internships tailored specifically for your interests
• Engaging in original research with the faculty and students in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
• Requesting professor and/or supervising internship clinicians to write letters of recommendation
• Participating in departmental and graduate school application seminars

For information about the courses required for the Health Science, B.S. program, view the PLNU Catalog. 

Course Information

Explore physician assistant post-graduate programs.  |  Explore physical therapy post-graduate programs.  |  Read about the graduate record examination.

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Those interested in health science are entering a field with tremendous growth and potential. The U.S. Department of Labor projects faster-than-average job growth in this area over the next eight years. PLNU health science majors build the skills needed for graduate programs or credentials in fields like physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, and public health. Whether in healthcare or research, PLNU’s degree provides a strong foundation for your future.

What can you do with a health science degree?

As one of the most common degrees chosen by those aspiring for a pre-health track or medical school, a health science major offers students many resources on their educational journey, including references for volunteer, shadowing, research, or internship opportunities; as well as meetings with ourpre-health advisor (just to name a few). As a result, 90% of PLNU students who have applied to health professions schools have been admitted. Alumni have combined their passion for health sciences and strong academic foundation into careers in pharmacology, biotechnology, biomechanics, and many others.

Some of the positions PLNU graduates currently hold:

Making a lasting impact on patients and families

Upon completion of PLNU’s Health Science B.S., you will be equipped with knowledge of how to provide quality care and support in the medical field. This program prepares you with a versatile set of skills to flourish in a variety of settings within healthcare.

If you’re ready to make an impact and begin your journey at PLNU, head to our contact form and get connected with one of our counselors. Or, you can apply today!