Health Sciences BS

Major: Health Sciences
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 183.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.1199
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-9111

About the Program

The bachelor’s degree program in Health Sciences at Drexel University exposes students to a wide variety of careers in health care and related professions. Our emphasis on interdisciplinary study, coupled with expert faculty, gives students the opportunity to explore different facets of health-related professions before matriculating to specialized graduate programs or entering the workplace. Whether you are on the fast track to a career in health professions or still finding your path, our Health Sciences program offers a multitude of options for completing your degree.

What You Will Learn

The Health Sciences program offers a rigorous four-year curriculum for students interested in pursuing careers in health-related professions. Courses in health and clinical sciences, research methods, statistics and health care ethics are combined with a core curriculum of mathematics, humanities and social sciences to provide a fully integrated and comprehensive curriculum.

Career Opportunities

Health care professions are one of the fastest growing job sectors in the United States. There is tremendous demand for trained health care providers at all levels. In the Health Sciences program, our multidisciplinary approach, flexible curriculum and co-op experience provide students with a highly competitive edge in the marketplace and in the pursuit of graduate program admission. Some of the fields Health Sciences graduates can expect to pursue post-graduation include:

  • Rehabilitation Professions
    • Physical therapy
    • Occupational therapy
    • Speech and language pathology
    • Cardiac rehabilitation
  • Physician Assistant Studies
  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Optometry
  • Audiology
  • Clinical Research
  • Public Health and Health Advocacy
  • Nursing
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Nutrition Sciences
  • Bioethics
  • Health Psychology

Co-op Experience

Drexel University has long been known for its cooperative education programs. As part of the Health Sciences curriculum, students incorporate a six-month co-op experience into their plan of study. This allows students to learn from health care leaders at renowned facilities nationwide. By building career-related employment into undergraduate study, students gain work experience, network with health care professionals and hone their clinical and research skills. Some local co-op employers of Health Sciences students include Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital, Hahnemann University Hospital, Good Shepherd Penn Partners, NovaCare and many other health care facilities in the region.

Bridge Program Options

The Health Sciences program offers accelerated Bridge Program options for high-achieving students to pursue degrees in the Physician Assistant Studies program and the Doctor of Physical Therapy program within the College of Nursing and Health Professions. 

Articulation Agreement Options

  • Drexel’s Health Sciences Department and Salus University’s Occupational Therapy Department have partnered to offer a BS/MSOT sequential degree program. In the BS/MSOT option, students first complete a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Health Sciences at Drexel University, then enroll in the two-year Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program at Salus University.
  • Drexel’s Health Sciences Department and Thomas Jefferson University’s Athletic Training Department have partnered to offer a BS/Master of Science in Athletic Training sequential degree program. In the BS/MSAT option, students first complete a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Health Sciences at Drexel University, then enroll in the two-year Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program at Thomas Jefferson University.
  • Drexel’s Health Sciences Department and Philadelphia’s University of the Sciences PharmD Department have partnered to offer a BS/PharmD sequential degree program. In the BS/PharmD option, students first complete a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Health Sciences at Drexel University, then enroll in the four-year PharmD program at the University of the Sciences.

Optional Concentration in Exercise Science

The concentration in Exercise Science helps prepare Health Sciences majors for graduate studies in Exercise Physiology. In addition, the concentration provides foundational knowledge and skills for a variety of fitness certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association and others. These certifications are often required of graduates interested in seeking employment in the fitness industry.

Drexel Graduate Options in Biomedical Sciences

Graduates of the Health Sciences program may also continue their education in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies which offers over 40 doctoral, master's and professional development programs. These academic programs emphasize real-world experience and help guide students to make career decisions that best fit their abilities and evolving needs.

Additional Information

For more information, visit the Health Sciences Program page at the College of Nursing and Health Professions website.

Degree Requirements

General Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
HSCI 111Introduction to Health Professions1.0
UNIV NH101The Drexel Experience1.0
English Sequence **
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
Biology Sequence **
BIO 131
BIO 134
Cells and Biomolecules
and Cells and Biomolecules Lab
5.0
BIO 132
BIO 135
Genetics and Evolution
and Genetics and Evolution Lab
5.0
BIO 133
BIO 136
Physiology and Ecology
and Anatomy and Ecology Lab
5.0
BIO 226Microbiology for Health Professionals5.0
Chemistry Sequence **
CHEM 101General Chemistry I3.5
CHEM 102General Chemistry II4.5
CHEM 103General Chemistry III4.5
Mathematics Sequence **
MATH 101Introduction to Analysis I4.0
MATH 102Introduction to Analysis II4.0
Communications
COM 320 [WI] Science Writing3.0
Health Systems
ECON 240Economics of Health Care Systems4.0
HSAD 210Health-Care Ethics I3.0
Select one of the following courses:3.0
Advanced Health-Care Ethics
Introduction to Health-Systems Administration
Ethics in Health Care Management
Psychology
PSY 101General Psychology I3.0
Select two of the following courses:6.0
Any BACS (Behavorial Health Counseling) 100-499 courses
Any PSY (Psychology) 100-499 courses
Sociology
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3.0
Select two (SOC) Sociology 100-499 courses8.0
Humanities
Select three of the following courses:9.0
Any ANTH (Anthropology) 100-499 courses
Any ARBC (Arabic) 100-499 courses
Any CHIN (Chinese) 100-499 courses
Any FREN (French) 100-499 courses
Any GER (German) 100-499 course
Any HBRW (Hebrew) 100-499 courses
Any HIST (History) 100-499 courses
Any HUM (Humanities) 100-499 courses
Any ITAL (Italian) 100-499 courses
Any JAPN (Japan) 100-499 courses
Any KOR (Korean) 100-499 courses
Any PHIL (Philosophy) 100-499 courses
Any SPAN (Spanish) 100-499 courses
Public Health
PBHL 101Public Health 1013.0
Select any (PBHL) Public Health 300-499 course3.0
Anatomy & Physiology Courses
HSCI 206Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Sciences I5.0
HSCI 207Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Sciences II5.0
HSCI 208Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Sciences III 5.0
Research Courses
HSCI 310Introduction to Research Methods4.0
HSCI 315Current Issues in Health Sciences4.0
or HSCI 450 Undergraduate Research Experience
Statistics and Assessment
HSCI 201Health Assessment through the Lifespan4.0
HSCI 345Statistics for Health Sciences4.5
Health Sciences Electives
Select 29.0 credits from the list below:29.0
Any HSCI (Health Sciences) 100-499 courses
Any NFS (Nutrition & Food Science) 100-499 courses
Up to two courses from the list below may be used as Health Sciences electives with advisor permission
Any BIO (Bioscience & Biotechnology) 200-499 course
Any CHEM (Chemistry) 200-499 course
Any PHYS (Physics) 100-499 course
Free electives
Select any unrestricted 100-499 courses21.0
Total Credits183.0
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 101 in place of COOP 101.

**

 All 100-Level freshman course requirements in BIO, CHEM, ENGL, and MATH must be completed by the time a student reaches 135.0 credits.


Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.


Sample Plan of Study

4 year, one co-op (Fall/Winter)

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 131
BIO 134
5.0BIO 132
BIO 135
5.0BIO 133
BIO 136
5.0VACATION
CHEM 1013.5CHEM 1024.5CHEM 1034.5 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
HSCI 1111.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0MATH 1024.0 
UNIV NH1011.0MATH 1014.0  
 13.5 17.5 16.5 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 2265.0COOP 101*1.0COM 3203.0SOC 1013.0
HSCI 2065.0PSY 1013.0HSAD 2103.0Free Elective6.0
HSCI 3104.0HSCI 2075.0HSCI 2085.0Health Sciences Elective**3.0
Free Elective3.0HSCI 3454.5Health Sciences Electives**4.0PSY Elective3.0
 Free Elective3.0  
 17 16.5 15 15
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCEPBHL 1013.0HSCI 2014.0
  HSCI 315 or 4504.0Free Elective 3.0
  HSAD 309, 310, or 3453.0Health Sciences Electives**4.0
  Health Sciences Elective**3.0Sociology Elective4.0
 0 0 13 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
ECON 2404.0Free Elective3.0Health Sciences Electives**6.0 
Free Elective3.0Health Sciences Elective**3.0Humanities/Social Science Electives***3.0 
Health Sciences Electives**6.0Humanities/Social Science Electives***6.0PBHL Elective3.0 
 Sociology Elective4.0PSY Elective3.0 
 13 16 15 
Total Credits 183
*

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select student may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

**

Health Sciences electives include HSCI or NFS courses at the 100-499 level. Up to two science courses (BIO 200-499, CHEM 200-499, PHYS 100-499) may be used as Health Sciences electives with advisor permission. All 100-Level freshman course requirements in BIO, CHEM, ENGL, and MATH must be completed by the time a student reaches 135.0 credits.

***

Three Humanities (courses at the 100-499 level in ANTH, HIST, HUM, PHIL) or language electives (courses at the 100-499 level in ARBC, CHIN, FREN, GER, HBRW, ITAL, JAPN, KOR, SPAN) for a minimum of 9.0 credits.

4 year, one co-op (Spring/Summer)

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 131
BIO 134
5.0BIO 132
BIO 135
5.0BIO 133
BIO 136
5.0VACATION
CHEM 1013.5CHEM 1024.5CHEM 1034.5 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
HSCI 1111.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0MATH 1024.0 
UNIV NH1011.0MATH 1014.0  
 13.5 17.5 16.5 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 2265.0COOP 101*1.0COM 3203.0SOC 1013.0
HSCI 2065.0HSCI 2075.0HSAD 2103.0Free Elective6.0
HSCI 3104.0HSCI 3454.5HSCI 2085.0Health Sciences Elective**4.0
Free Elective3.0PSY 1013.0Health Sciences Electives**4.0PSY Elective3.0
 Free Elective3.0  
 17 16.5 15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
HSCI 315 or 4504.0HSCI 2014.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
PBHL 1013.0Free Elective3.0  
HSAD 210, 309, or 3453.0Health Sciences Elective**4.0  
Health Sciences Elective**3.0Sociology Elective4.0  
 13 15 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
ECON 2404.0Free Elective 3.0Health Sciences Electives**6.0 
Free Elective3.0Health Sciences Elective**3.0Humanities/Social Electives***3.0 
Health Sciences Electives**5.0Humanities/Social Science Electives***6.0PBHL Elective3.0 
 Sociology Elective4.0PSY Elective3.0 
 12 16 15 
Total Credits 183
*

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to replace COOP 101 with COOP 001.

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

**

Health Sciences electives include HSCI or NFS courses at the 100-499 level. Up to two science courses (BIO 200-499, CHEM 200-499, PHYS 100-499) may be used as Health Sciences electives with advisor permission. All 100-Level freshman course requirements in BIO, CHEM, ENGL, and MATH must be completed by the time a student reaches 135.0 credits.

***

Three Humanities (courses at the 100-499 level in ANTH, HIST, HUM, PHIL) or language electives (courses at the 100-499 level in ARBC, CHIN, FREN, GER, HBRW, ITAL, JAPN, KOR, SPAN) for a minimum of 9.0 credits.

Facilities

The College of Nursing and Health Professions is located on Drexel University’s University City Campus. Students have access to the Center for Interdisciplinary Clinical Simulation and Practice (CICSP), which utilizes patient actors and automated simulation manikins to mimic real-life human physiology. The CICSP provides undergraduate Health Sciences students the opportunity to learn assessment and communication skills in a controlled setting. The College of Nursing and Health Professions also maintains the Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services of Drexel University, a comprehensive, community-based health center where students have unique opportunities to observe and participate in health care delivery.

Program Level Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the physical, biological and social sciences as they apply to health-related professions.
  • Implement a career goal plan.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Demonstrate culture/language sensitivity in community health and wellness.
  • Demonstrate professionalism regarding ethical issues.
  • Engage in lifelong learning by consuming and utilizing scientific knowledge.
  • Communicate effectively in all settings.
  • Understand and utilize research design and techniques.

Health Sciences Faculty

Michael Bruneau, Jr., PhD ACSM EP-C (Springfield College, University of Connecticut) Director of Undergraduate Research. Associate Teaching Professor. Clinical exercise physiology; lifestyle therapies for prevention, treatment, and management of preclinical and clinical populations.
Jodie Haak, PhD (University of Iowa). Associate Teaching Professor. Physiology and applied physiology, Aging and STEM pedagogy.
Micah Meltzer, MD (SUNY Downstate Medical School). Assistant Teaching Professor. Musculoskeletal physiology, evolutionary medicine, health assessment, regional anatomy, and advanced anatomy.
Anne Nixon Dower, PhD (Penn State College of Medicine). Assistant Teaching Professor. Investigating the role of iron regulation and metabolism in health and disease. Anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, regional anatomy, and advanced anatomy.
Jacqueline Phillips, PhD (Temple University). Associate Clinical Professor. Anatomy and physiology
Meghan E. Smith, PhD (Colorado State University). Assistant Teaching Professor. Anatomy and physiology, statistics, healthy aging, exercise, inflammation, and vascular function.
Steven Vitti, PHD, ACSM-EP (Springfield College). Assistant Teaching Professor. Dietary supplements, sports nutrition, human performance, skeletal muscle damage, peripheral fatigue.