Nov 23, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Health Sciences B.S., with Biological Health Sciences and Health Care Administration Concentration


TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120
Plans of Study

This Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is designed for those interested in health science, the health care industry, and the allied health professions. The degree has a flexible curriculum so students may choose an area of specialization to suit their career interests. Career choices after graduation include working in health-related nonprofit organizations, governmental and community agencies, medical records, patient education, geriatric care settings, diagnostic laboratories, hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry, medical and wellness facilities, and businesses. Students graduating with this degree may enter the workforce or continue their education in a variety of fields that might include advanced degree programs in Health Management, Physical or Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, Health Administration, Healthcare Informatics, Communication Disorders and Social Work, to name a few. This degree has greater flexibility and students may have more exposure to social science, business, and humanities courses than the more natural science- and mathematics-intensive degrees sometimes required for some health-based professional schools.

University Admissions - College of Public Health


Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:

Graduation Requirements - Health Sciences B.S.


All students earning a B.S. in Health Sciences must complete the following course prior to graduation: 

This course can be taken as one of the Concentration Elective options if students choose.

Health Sciences Required Courses: (65 credit hours)


State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites - Health Sciences B.S. (23 credit hours)


Following Florida BOG Regulation 8.010, state mandated common course prerequisites are lower-division courses that are required for progression into the upper division of a particular baccalaureate degree program. 

Transfer students should complete the State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at a Florida College System institution, they must be completed before the degree is granted. Successful completion of the common prerequisites alone does not guarantee a student admission into the degree program. 

  • BSC X005 OR (BSC X010 AND BSC X010L) OR (BSC X007C OR BSC X005L) – 3-4 credit hours
  • MAC X105 College Algebra – 3 credit hours
  • PSY X012 Introduction to Psychological Science– 3 credit hours
  • STA X023 OR STA X014 - 3 credit hours
  • DEP X053 OR DEP X004 OR DEP X000 OR CLP X140 – 3 credit hours
  • APK X105C OR (BSC X085 AND BSC X085L) OR BSC X093 OR BSC X094 – 3-4 credit hours
  • ENC X210 OR ENC X254 – 3 credit hours

State Mathematics Pathway – Health Sciences B.S. (6 Credit Hours)*


The Health Sciences B.S. uses the Statistical Reasoning Mathematics Pathway with the following requirements:

Health Sciences Required Courses (12 credit hours)


Major Core Courses: 2 courses; 6 credit hours


Other Required Courses: 2 courses; 6 credit hours


Health Sciences Major (Restricted) Electives: 30 credits


Students complete the general Health Sciences program of study and one of the following five concentrations:

Students choose 30 credit hours in one (1) concentration or 15 credit hours each in two (2) concentrations. Nutrition Science cannot be combined with a second concentration.

Biological Health Sciences and Health Care Administration Concentration (30 credit hours)


Biological Health Sciences Concentration: 5 courses; 15 credit hours


Students choose fifteen (15) credit hours from the following list of courses.

Communication Sciences & Disorders Cluster


These courses are recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate degrees in Communication Sciences.

Health Care Administration Concentration: 5 courses; 15 credit hours


Students choose fifteen (15) credit hours from the following list of courses.

Two SPC, MMC, and/or COM courses may apply to this concentration.


Additional Information - Health Sciences B.S.


GPA Requirements


A minimum adjusted grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on all coursework taken at USF and an overall 2.0 GPA average on all college-level coursework.

Grading Requirements


Unless stated otherwise, a grade of “C-” is the minimum acceptable grade.

Residency Requirement


Students in the College of Public Health are expected to complete a minimum of 50% of their major and/or minor coursework in residence at USF.

Research Opportunities - Health Sciences B.S.


A maximum of 4 credits of Undergraduate Research  IDS 4910 - Community Research  may be applied to the major with a maximum of 1 credit taken per semester.

Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914 course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of High Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research (HIPUR) is able to assist with further inquiries.

Advising Information - Health Sciences B.S.


Physical Address: The WELL – USF Health Shared Student Services (MDA), 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612
Phone: (813) 974-4633
Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Web Address: https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/undergrad/advising 
Contact Email: UG-COPHAdvise@usf.edu
Declaration of Major: https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/undergrad/declaration