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2024 2025 Academic Catalog
Health Sciences, B.S.
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 Return to: Programs of Study
Health Sciences Center
70 Lafayette Street
Telephone: (203) 576-4169
Curriculum and Program Requirements
The 120-credit hour B.S. in Health Sciences program prepares students for application to professional programs in the health sciences. Such programs range from medical school and physician assistant programs, to programs in chiropractic, public health, athletic training, nutrition, acupuncture, and pharmacy. Many of these career options can be pursued in the University’s professional programs.
The program offers concentrations in community health education, exercise and fitness, and nutrition for students who desire to enter these professions at the entry level. An additional track in pre-physician assistant provides excellent preparation for physician assistant programs, while pre-professional course options prepare students for studies in pre-physical therapy and pre-occupational therapy.
The program affords this range of options primarily through a liberal arts orientation toward these professions. Thus, all students take a foundation of common courses in English, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, as well as special general education courses such as physics (for pre-med students), psychology, healthcare ethics, and statistics.
A primary conviction of the program is that one of the twenty-first century’s most pressing challenges is providing adequate healthcare to the growing and aging population. Whether students prepare for professional school application, admission, or entry-level opportunities, all are encouraged to develop a philosophy of care consistent with the University’s mission.
HSCI Learning Outcomes
As a result of completing the B.S. in Health Sciences, graduates will be able to apply principles of health and wellness as a lifelong process of learning grounded in the study of basic sciences and the behavioral arts. The students will:
- Understand fundamental biological, chemical, and physical properties underlying life systems;
- Be able to gather and analyze research data and make inferences based on the data;
- Be aware of professional, ethical, and privacy issues that are pertinent to careers in the health sciences;
- Exercise and Fitness students will understand the relationship between exercise and wellness maintenance and be skilled at developing appropriate fitness programs for diverse populations;
- Nutrition students will understand principles of human nutrition and the relationship to health and wellness using evidence based strategies;
- Community health education students will understand principles to help people assume more responsibility for their health and well being through educational development, implementation and evaluation of community health programs;
- Pre-physician assistant and pre-professional students will be broadly prepared to enter professional schools and to successfully meet school admissions criteria.
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General Education Requirements - 51 Credit(s)
The following General Education courses are required of all Health Science concentrations:
Health Sciences Requirements
The following Health Science core courses are required for all Health Science concentrations.
Total Health Science Hours Required 24
Concentration Requirements
In addition to the requirements above, each concentration requires specific additional courses. Health Science students can pursue the following concentrations:
Pre-Physician Assistant
The pre-physician assistant concentration prepares students for admission into a Physician Assistant (PA) master’s degree program. The curriculum of the pre-PA concentration focuses on the sciences, healthcare, and medical knowledge required to pursue a career as a PA. The pre-physician assistant concentration aims to provide students with a strong educational foundation and the necessary prerequisites for PA school. Completion of this concentration does not guarantee admission to the UB Physician Assistant Graduate program. The pre-physician assistant sequence requires the following courses. Please note that 16 credits are from the General Education requirements:
Total Semester Hours Required 120
The Health Sciences major provides excellent preparation for Physician Assistant programs. All phases of the Health Sciences pre-physician assistant study are customized with courses designed to meet the admission requirements for the majority of Physician Assistant programs. Pre-PA applicants should have 1000+ hours of direct patient contact.
Upon successful completion of the program requirements, graduates will be competent in areas of responsibility required for application to physician assistant programs. The learning outcomes for the pre-physician assistant program include:
1. Identify, formulate, and solve broadly-defined technical or scientific problems by applying knowledge of mathematics and science to areas relevant to the discipline .
2. Students will be able to synthesize, integrate, and analyze research in health science literature in selected science courses.
3. Apply scientific knowledge from multiple fields to critically analyze health-related problems.
4. Communicate science and health concepts, data, and analytical arguments professionally, clearly, and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
5. Practice flexible professional skills needed for careers in health sciences professional fields.
6. Understand ethical and professional responsibilities and the impact of technical and/or scientific solutions in health-related care.
7. Recognize, evaluate, and respond appropriately to the needs of a diverse demographic population.
Pre-Physician Assistant Core
Pre-Professional
Upon successful completion of the program requirements, graduates will be competent in areas of responsibility required for most professional health degree programs at medical, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and chiropractic schools. The learning outcomes for the pre-professional program include:
1. Understand fundamental chemical and biological concepts.
2. Demonstrate competence in general lab skills.
3. Apply critical thinking skills and quantitative tools to evaluate data and other scientific information.
4. Acquire basic inquiry skills including developing testable hypotheses and carrying out experimental procedures to test them.
5. Analyze scientific studies considering their environmental, economic, social, ethical, and cultural implications.
6. Communicate science and health concepts, data, and analytical arguments professionally, clearly, and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
7. Develop appropriate professional behaviors for health careers and apply effective basic communication skills for health professionals.
The pre-professional sequence is dependent on the student’s chosen program (see details below). Most programs require a combination of the following courses. Please note that 16 credits are from the General Education requirements:
Pre-Professional Core -56 Credits
Additional Information
The Health Science Major is designed to meet the admission requirements for the majority of professional & medical programs. However, admission requirements do vary, so to fulfill the admission requirements for the broadest possible range of programs, the following are recommended: Pre-PT and Pre-OT students are recommended to take BIOL 101 or 106, 106L, 102, 113, 113L or 213, 114, 114L or 214, plus CHEM 113, 113L or 123, 123L, 114, 114L or 124, MATH 109, and PHYS 201, 201L & 202, 202L. Pre-Med students are recommended to take the following courses: BIOL 101, 102, 213, 214, 307 & 320 plus CHEM 123, 123L, 124, 124L, 205, 206, 360, MATH 109, & PHYS 201, 201L & 202, 202L. In addition to their course work, pre-med applicants should have a well-rounded academic resume that includes involvement in research, community activities, student organizations, & experience working or volunteering in health care that involves patient contact. All phases of pre-professional study are customized with courses that meet the student’s needs for professional programs in the health sciences. Please meet with the Pre-Professional Coordinator to tailor your electives to meet your graduate program requirements.
Community Health Education Track - 49 Credit(s)
The community health education concentration prepares students for a career promoting and protecting the health of our most underserved communities. With a career in community health, students will learn how to provide health and disease prevention education through direct care and community outreach. Graduates from UB’s Community Health Education track go on to have rewarding careers providing patient care and influencing health policy. For students wanting to continue in a career path in public health, the community health track offers an Accelerated Master’s Degree: BS-MPH option for eligible UB undergraduate health science students with a concentration in community health. Students will be able to complete both a BS degree in Health Sciences and a Master’s in Public Health degree within 5 years of their initial matriculation as undergraduate health science students. During the senior year of a student’s undergraduate health science program, eligible students will be able to take up to 15 credits of graduate MPH core curriculum courses. These 15 credits will double-count as undergraduate electives and MPH graduate credits. To be eligible for this accelerated MPH program, students must maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA and have completed 75 credits of undergraduate coursework.
Upon successful completion of the program requirements, graduates will be competent in areas of responsibility that define the role of an entry-level community health specialist. The learning outcomes for the community health concentration, include:
1.Understand community health principles in disease prevention, disease control and promotion of health.
2. Assess community health needs utilizing epidemiological and biostatistical data.
3. Plan, implement and evaluate community health programs at local, state, and national levels with a focus to reduce health disparities and inequities.
4. Examine socio-economic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
5. Identify the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public policy.
6. Collaborate with community organizations to apply public health principles in a real-world setting.
Suggested Program - Community Health Education - 120 Credit(s)
Freshman Year - 30 Credit(s)
Fall Semester - 15 Credit(s)
Spring Semester - 15 Credit(s)
Sophomore Year - 30 Credit(s)
Fall Semester - 16 Credit(s)
Spring Semester - 14 Credit(s)
Junior Year - 30 Credit(s)
Fall Semester - 14 Credit(s)
Spring Semester - 16 Credit(s)
Senior Year - 30 Credit(s)
Fall Semester - 15 Credit(s)
Spring Semester - 15 Credit(s)
Exercise and Fitness Core - 120 Credit(s)
The exercise and fitness concentration provides a comprehensive understanding of exercise, human performance, and healthy living. The curriculum prepares students for careers and/or graduate study in areas such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, health sciences, exercise nutrition, and exercise physiology. The program is science-based and human-oriented. The study of human movement comprises an understanding of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, immune, and metabolic systems. Foundational sciences combined with exercise physiology, kinesiology, and clinical opportunities provide the underpinning of the program. This major enables graduates to pursue careers in strength and conditioning, sports performance, health and fitness promotion, and sports medicine as well as employment at wellness centers, rehabilitation facilities, and clinical research programs.
Upon successful completion of the program requirements, graduates will be competent in areas of responsibility that define the role of an entry-level Exercise Scientist. The learning outcomes for the Exercise & Fitness concentration, include:
1. Understand the global effects of exercise on the human body, and the interactions between different systems of the body that occur during exercise in terms of the scientific facts, principles, and concepts of exercise & wellness.
2. Understand the various training methods and how each method impacts the human body both acutely and adaptively, and be able to plan, implement and evaluate training and rehabilitation programs for patients as well as amateur and elite athletes.
3. Be able to effectively read, comprehend, and critique published research.
4. Communicate the concepts and principles of exercise science to a range of colleagues, clients, and patients.
5. Self-direct learning to further their own knowledge, skills, and abilities as health & fitness professionals.
6. Be able to apply a strong natural sciences foundation to concepts in exercise physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, research, exercise assessment & prescription, and programming.
Suggested Program - Exercise and Fitness Concentration - 120 Credit(s)
Nutrition Concentration - 120 Credit(s)
The nutrition concentration is designed for those who want to pursue either graduate work in nutrition or dietetics, or immediately move to a career in the field. The field of nutritional sciences draws upon several disciplines, including biological sciences, to understand the relationships between food, nutrients, and human health. The concentration in nutrition offers health science majors courses concerned with the nature and biochemical function of essential and non-essential nutrients, nutrient requirements, the role of nutrients in gene expression, and the role of diet in both risks of chronic disease and treatment of existing disease states. Students completing the concentration in nutrition most often choose to continue their education in graduate school and pursue careers in the applied aspects of nutrition or in laboratory-based or epidemiological research.
An Accelerated Master’s Degree: BS-MS Human Nutrition option is available for eligible UB undergraduate health science students with a concentration in nutrition. Students will be able to complete the course work* for both degrees within 5 years of their initial matriculation in the undergraduate health science program. Students in this program take the prerequisite courses for the MS in Human Nutrition program while working toward their bachelor’s, which will earn them nine credit hours of advanced standing in the MS program. Qualified students** will also take up to seven credit hours of graduate core curriculum courses during their senior undergraduate year. These seven credits will double-count as undergraduate electives and MS Human Nutrition graduate credits.
*All courses for both degrees can be completed in five years. Comprehensive exam must be taken 2-3 months after the completion of master’s course work as a requirement of earning the MS degree.
**To qualify for this accelerated program, the student must complete CHEM 113/114, HSCI 230, and BIOL 113/114 with a grade of B or better prior to their senior year and have completed 90 credits of undergraduate course work. Overall GPA must be 3.0 or better as the student enters their senior year.
Upon successful completion of the program requirements, graduates will be competent in areas of responsibility that define the role of an entry-level nutrition specialist. Learning outcomes for nutrition concentration include[MZ1] :
1. Promote and support awareness of the benefits of optimal nutrition for overall well-being for themselves and in patient education.
2. Understand nutrition guidelines, label reading highlights and tools to locate and summarize peer-reviewed journals for nutritional advice.
3. Educate on the fundamental information of biochemical and physiological science knowledge to enhance comprehension of nutritional interventions and applications
4. Demonstrate professional behavior that is ethical, science-based, collaborative, and culturally sensitive when providing nutritional education, highlighting the boundaries of nutritional coaching when not licensed.
5. Provide a diverse pool of nutritionl focused courses that can support a majority of health professions pathways. These courses align with the pre-requisites needed to apply to the accelerated master’s in human nutrition program.
6. Extend a health coaching certification (American Council on Exercise, ACE) along with their bachelor’s degree that can enhance job opportunities whilst pursuing a higher degree in any health profession.
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