Health Sciences Degree Overview
Our health sciences degree program provides you with a strong foundation in the basic, social and health sciences to prepare you to enter the healthcare workforce or continue on to graduate-level health professions education. As a health sciences major, you’ll join a thriving community of peers, faculty and alumni committed to improving the health of our society.
Our campus offers a unique environment where you will be surrounded by classmates with similar aspirations and goals as you collectively work toward your respective health professions. Unlike a general biology program, all our courses are tailored to human health to prepare you to be a knowledgeable practitioner as you continue in your field.
What is Health Sciences?
The health sciences program provides an overview of all aspects of healthcare, from basic biology to patient-centered care. This program was designed as a springboard to allied health professions programs, including, but not limited to, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, athletic training, optometry, dentistry, and cardiovascular perfusion.
Our bachelor’s in health science degree brings faculty together from basic, applied, and clinical departments across the College, providing a comprehensive education that prepares you for the health profession that interests you.
Our bachelor’s in health science degree brings faculty together from basic, applied, and clinical departments across the College, providing a comprehensive education that prepares you for the health profession that interests you.
Experiential Learning In The Health Sciences Program
The health sciences bachelor’s degree has built-in flexibility to allow you opportunities to add important real-world experience to your academic accomplishments by shadowing, volunteering, and working at some of New York State’s most prominent medical centers.
At ACPHS, you can also take full advantage of our physical proximity to major hospitals and specialty healthcare centers (we are directly across the street from a Level I trauma center) to gain valuable experience in the healthcare world.
In addition to rigorous academic preparation, you'll also develop your application to a health professions program, practice interviewing skills, craft a personal statement, and learn about the admissions process for health professions schools through the Preparation for Health Professions sequence.
You can further your experience by participating in events and leadership opportunities in our campus health professions organizations.
At ACPHS, you can also take full advantage of our physical proximity to major hospitals and specialty healthcare centers (we are directly across the street from a Level I trauma center) to gain valuable experience in the healthcare world.
In addition to rigorous academic preparation, you'll also develop your application to a health professions program, practice interviewing skills, craft a personal statement, and learn about the admissions process for health professions schools through the Preparation for Health Professions sequence.
You can further your experience by participating in events and leadership opportunities in our campus health professions organizations.
Health Professions Organizations
- American Cancer Society on Campus
- Alzheimer's Awareness Club
- Animals in Medical Professions
- American Medical Student Association
- Integrative Medicine Club
- Medical Lab Sciences Club
- Doctors Without Borders
- Public Health Association
- Pre-Physician Assistant Club
Jobs Requiring a Bachelor of Health Sciences Degree
Upon graduation, our health sciences students will be prepared for entry-level jobs in healthcare (e.g., health education specialists, patient care advocates, pharmacy sales representative) or to continue their health education in graduate programs, including to become a physician’s assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, cardiovascular perfusionist, clinical laboratory science, nursing, optometry, or chiropractic medicine. Students would also be prepared for entry into ACPHS master’s programs in cytotechnology and molecular cytology or clinical laboratory sciences.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the overall employment in healthcare occupations will grow 13 percent from 2021 to 2031, resulting in roughly 2 million new jobs over the next decade. Also, approximately 1.9 million openings annually are projected to come from growth and replacement needs in the health sector. The average salary of a health professional with graduate training is $101,350.
Whichever career path you choose, your health sciences degree from ACPHS will provide you with the foundational knowledge required to be successful in your profession.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the overall employment in healthcare occupations will grow 13 percent from 2021 to 2031, resulting in roughly 2 million new jobs over the next decade. Also, approximately 1.9 million openings annually are projected to come from growth and replacement needs in the health sector. The average salary of a health professional with graduate training is $101,350.
Whichever career path you choose, your health sciences degree from ACPHS will provide you with the foundational knowledge required to be successful in your profession.
Health Sciences Degree Coursework
The health sciences degree program consists of 121 credits and can be completed in as little as 3.5 years — a popular path for health sciences majors seeking to enroll in a PA program with a January start.
The health sciences program was specifically designed to foster your growth as a future healthcare professional. The core program consists of basic sciences, communication, humanities, professional development, behavioral sciences, and public health classes, representing a total of 79 credits. In addition to this foundation, you can tailor your education by choosing 12 credits of natural science selectives and 9 credits of patient-centered care selectives, designated courses related to health care, ranging from the molecular foundations of disease to best practices in patient-provider interactions. Your final 21 credits are free electives that enable you to choose courses that match your interests, including independent research study with faculty members.
Each student’s curriculum is individually customized to match their desired professional outcomes. We have infused our health sciences program with increased flexibility to support your path to a variety of health professions with various requirements. Our program also offers professional development courses to help you achieve your goals. An Introduction to Health Professions in your first year will help you develop a roadmap toward professions that you are interested in. As you approach graduation, our Preparation for Health Professions course will help you build a strong portfolio to present yourself to future employers or graduate health professions schools.
The health sciences program was specifically designed to foster your growth as a future healthcare professional. The core program consists of basic sciences, communication, humanities, professional development, behavioral sciences, and public health classes, representing a total of 79 credits. In addition to this foundation, you can tailor your education by choosing 12 credits of natural science selectives and 9 credits of patient-centered care selectives, designated courses related to health care, ranging from the molecular foundations of disease to best practices in patient-provider interactions. Your final 21 credits are free electives that enable you to choose courses that match your interests, including independent research study with faculty members.
Each student’s curriculum is individually customized to match their desired professional outcomes. We have infused our health sciences program with increased flexibility to support your path to a variety of health professions with various requirements. Our program also offers professional development courses to help you achieve your goals. An Introduction to Health Professions in your first year will help you develop a roadmap toward professions that you are interested in. As you approach graduation, our Preparation for Health Professions course will help you build a strong portfolio to present yourself to future employers or graduate health professions schools.
Contact the Program Director
Nicole Shakerley, PhD, MB (ASCP) CM
Associate Professor
nicole.shakerley@acphs.edu
518-694-7281
Associate Professor
nicole.shakerley@acphs.edu
518-694-7281
Contact the Admissions Office
106 New Scotland Ave.
Albany, NY 12208
admissions@acphs.edu
518-694-7221
Albany, NY 12208
admissions@acphs.edu
518-694-7221