Prepare for Graduate Studies in Health Care
We’ve designed the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program for students who are interested in human health and plan to enroll in graduate programs or advance their careers.
It’s also a great choice if you want to pursue a health care career but aren’t sure which one. You’ll get lots of opportunities to explore options before choosing a career track.
Several tracks are aimed at preparing students for specific graduate programs at UM-Flint. But whatever track you choose, you’ll get a great foundation for pursuing graduate studies to become a physician, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist, environmental scientist, dentist, pharmacist, optometrist, or chiropractor.
How the Program Works
All students in the BS in Health Sciences program take 20 credits of prerequisites, 16 credits in the biological/physical sciences, and 38 credits in health sciences. Then they follow one of nine tracks depending on their career interest:
- Pre-Physician Assistant
Prepares students for UM-Flint’s Master of Science Physician Assistant program and the dual Master of Science Physician Assistant/Master of Business Administration program. - Pre-Physical Therapy
Designed to be preparation for UM-Flint’s physical therapy doctoral programs: the Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program, the dual Doctor of Physical Therapy/Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy program, and the dual Doctor of Physical Therapy/Master of Business Administration program. - Pre-Occupational Therapy
Prepares students for UM-Flint’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program and the dual Doctor of Occupational Therapy/Master of Business Administration program. - Environmental Health and Safety
Graduates are ready to work as environmental scientists and specialists for public agencies like local and state health departments or in private sector settings such as chemical plants and remediation companies. - Pre-Medicine
- Pre-Dental
- Pre-Pharmacy
- Pre-Optometry
- Pre-Chiropractor
Why UM-Flint?
We provide the program in two formats: online or a face-to-face setting. This gives you maximum flexibility to fit classes into your busy life. It also lets you choose a format that best fits your learning style.
We also offer year-round enrollment opportunities, a dedicated in-house advising staff, an internship coordinator, and faculty experts in public health, health care, and administration who welcome opportunities to serve as mentors.
Health Sciences Degree Programs
Besides the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program and the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Honors program, the Department of Public Health & Health Sciences offers one other option:
- The joint Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences/Master of Public Health program is designed for undergraduate Health Sciences students who want to pursue an MPH degree. You can earn both degrees with up to 17 fewer credits than if you completed them separately.
Career Opportunities in Health Sciences
With the aging U.S. population driving growing demand for medical care, health care professionals should enjoy excellent career prospects. Consider these examples:
Physician Assistants
Job growth for physician assistants, who practice medicine as part of health care teams, should be 31 percent through 2030, the BLS says. That translates into about 12,200 job openings annually through 2030. The median pay for PAs is $115,390 annually.
Physical Therapists
Jobs for physical therapists should grow by 21 percent through 2030, the BLS projects, almost three times the rate for all jobs. Physical therapists earn a median salary of $91,010 annually, and there should be about 15,600 job openings each year through 2030.
Occupational Therapists
Demand for occupational therapists should increase 17 percent through 2030–just over twice the average for all jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS projects there will be about 10,100 job openings for occupational therapists each year through 2030. The median wage for the profession is $86,280.
More information about careers in health care is available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Academic Advising for Health Sciences Majors
UM-Flint’s academic advisors are devoted to helping you succeed. They can answer your questions about program requirements, help you choose courses, and much more. The dedicated academic advisor for the Health Sciences program is Aubree Kraut. You can contact her at arottier@umich.edu or (810) 424-5626.
Get Started on Your Health Sciences Career Today
If you want great foundational preparation for pursuing graduate studies in health care, apply to the University of Michigan-Flint’s Health Sciences program today. If you have questions, submit an online request for information or contact Aubree Kraut, the program’s academic advisor, at arottier@umich.edu or (810) 424-5626.