Students with a variety of career plans can be found in the Health and Science Studies major. Students pursuing the 5 1/2 year BS/Masters in Occupational Therapy program, the 6 1/2 year BS/Doctor of Physical Therapy program and the 6 year BS/Physician Assistant program will all complete their undergraduate BS in Health and Science Studies before entering the professional phase of their major.

Qualified students may complete the BS in Health and Science Studies and move directly into graduate programs in Cardiovascular Perfusion (total of 6 years), Medical Laboratory Sciences (total of 5 years), or move into the MBA in Health Care Management in the School of Business (total of 5 years) or even start classes in their junior year in the Master of Arts in Teaching program (total of 5 years).

Other first-year health science students who may be undecided about professional career goals can use the Health and Science studies major as preparation for entry level jobs or to continue in a field not offered by Quinnipiac - such as pharmacy, nutrition, optometry or nontraditional medicine. Students will have careful advisement with considerations about personal interests, capabilities and available career opportunities.

Consistent with the four-year specific programs in the basic and health sciences, the School of Health Sciences provides a general first-year experience for the undeclared students. During this time, they pursue work in biology, chemistry, mathematics and the liberal arts while exploring potential areas of concentration. Through a special one-hour course (AH 101) and regular meetings with a special advisory committee (including the dean, the chairperson of the biomedical sciences department and a health sciences faculty member), students receive guidance and encouragement to focus more clearly on the available options.

The four-year bachelor of science degree in health and science studies permits students, in conjunction with an academic adviser, to design a program tailored to meet their interests and their career goals. Given the broad applicability of course work in the first two years of study, it is often quite possible for a student to matriculate into a different major in the School of Health Sciences without falling behind in specific program requirements.

Courses
Basic science core (biology, chemistry & physics) (20 credits)
Health/science electives (30 credits)
Open electives (33 credits)
University curriculum requirements (39 credits)
*Total 122

*It is possible that courses taken within the basic science core may also satisfy the University curriculum’s science requirement (i.e., 8 credits).