College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions
BS in Health Sciences, Pre-Professional
The pre-professional track of the health sciences program prepares you for professional or graduate study in health-related fields such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, chiropractic, or podiatry. You can pursue the degree on a full- or part-time basis, and you can enter the program as a freshman or a transfer student.
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- Questions? Contact the Program Director
About the Major
Our health sciences program grounds you in the liberal arts with a firm foundation in the sciences, while also exposing you to the realities of the health care system. By majoring in health sciences, you can prepare for future study in a wide range of health care careers.
Although this is a non-clinical program, our students often pursue graduate programs in fields such as medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, optometry, chiropractic, public health, pharmacy, podiatry, nursing, occupational therapy, and health-care administration.
The program includes three pre-professional advising seminars that review the requirements and timetables for professional school entrance, and prepares students to take admission tests and prepare for preadmission interviews.
Degree Requirements
The pre-professional curriculum includes courses that many professional graduate programs require (a year of general biology and general chemistry, a year of organic chemistry, a year of physics, and one semester of cell biology, microbiology, and biochemistry).
Additionally, you will take courses that introduce you to a wide range of health-related topics. Examples include Educational Strategies for Healthcare Professionals, Introduction to Immunology, Introduction to Public Health, and Cardiovascular Disease.
The Health Sciences Pre-Professional program is a minimum of 122 credits. A sample of courses is listed below; view the full curriculum using the link to the course catalog:
Core Courses
Students will take 61-62 credits of science courses, which include:
Introductory BiologyHuman Anatomy and Physiology
Genetics
Biochemistry
College Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Algebra-based Physics
Additional Requirements
Students also complete at least 12 credits of Health Science coursework and 3 credits of Pre-Professional Seminars. Health Science courses include:
Epidemics and AIDSMedical Terminology
Human Nutrition
Organ Tissue and Donation
Introduction to Gerontology
Electives: All students will complete an additional 9 credits of coursework. This allows students to take prerequisite courses for graduate programs to which they are applying. Examples of classes students take include:
Calculus 1Human Development
Abnormal Psychology
Ethical Problems
General Education Requirements
Students must complete 38 credits of general education requirements. These may include:
Academic WritingEveryday Statistics
Business and Professional Communication
Career Outlook
The health-care industry is projected to add more jobs— more than 2.4 million— than any other industry from 2016 to 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is projected to be among the fastest-growing industries in the economy.
The UHart Difference
- Flexible course of study helps you tailor the program to meet your long-term career goals.
- Advising is frequent, focused, and individualized.
- The breadth of health science courses exposes you to contemporary health care issues.
- Small class sizes allow our faculty to get to know you and your career interests.
- You can minor in an area such as business or psychology to increase your career versatility.
- Opportunities to pursue research with faculty mentors, including participation in our research-focused annual ENHP Day.
- Our honors program provides unique academic and co-curricular experiences.
- Career preparation includes mock job interviews, résumé writing instruction, and practice graduate school interviews.
Ben Roberts '14, who went on to graduate from the University of New England College of Dental Medicine and is now a practicing dentistI knew I wanted to be a dentist, and I learned how to make myself a good candidate for dental school. The faculty was energized and office doors were always open. They laid out a path for me and were always there to help me. My preparation was perfect.”
Kieu-My Nguyen
BS in Health Sciences Pre-Professional, '20
After earning her bachelor's degree at UHart, Kieu-My Nguyen will attend medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. UHart's pre-professional advising classes helped her manage the application process for medical school and prepare for the MCAT admission test.
My professors have gone above and beyond to help me get to this point. And the clubs I've joined have given me the opportunity to develop my leadership skills. Being busy with classes and clubs taught me essential time management skills."
Admission Requirements
For admission into the Department of Health Sciences, 16 units of secondary subjects are expected, among which the following are strongly recommended:
English - 4 unitsSocial studies - 2 units
Foreign language - 2 units
Mathematics - 3 units (including one unit of algebra and trigonometry)
Science - 2 units
Other academic subjects - 3 units
Upper-level program applicants should hold the appropriate professional certification or license, and their academic records should include formal clinical study from an accredited program.
If you have completed formal programs of study in allied health or nursing, and hold the appropriate professional certification or license, you may be granted up to 60 credits toward the lower-division degree requirements.
Transfer Students
If you are applying as a transfer student, you will submit your application and documentation to our Office of Admission. The staff are knowledgeable about credit articulation agreements that we have with other institutions and work closely with the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions to provide transfer students with the information they need to make a smooth transition.
Upper-level program applicants should hold the appropriate professional certification or license, and their academic records should include formal clinical study from an accredited program. If you are considering one of our pre-professional programs (pre-chiropractic, pre-optometry, pre-osteopathy, or pre-podiatry), please see the specific program page.
Applicants who have completed formal programs of study in allied health or nursing, and hold the appropriate professional certification or license, may be granted up to 60 credits toward the lower-division degree requirements. Up to 30 credits may be awarded for a one-year, hospital-based, allied health program. Additional credit may be obtained through the University's Learning in Noncredit Settings (LINCS) program.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students will demonstrate effective communication skills.
- Students will demonstrate proficiency in basic sciences.
- Students will demonstrate a basic comprehension of the U.S. healthcare system.
- Students will demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and development.
- Students will demonstrate effective written communication skills.
- Students will demonstrate effective oral communication skills.
- Students will demonstrate proficiency in biology.
- Students will demonstrate proficiency in chemistry.
- Students will demonstrate proficiency in physics.
- Students will concisely and accurately describe the foundation of the U.S. healthcare system.
- Students will demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and development.
Program Contact
Claudia Oakes, PhD, OTR/L
Associate Professor
Coordinator, Health Sciences Program
Department of Health Sciences
860.768.5746
oakes@hartford.edu
Accreditation
The University of Hartford, inclusive of the Health Science program in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions, is accredited by the Board of Higher Education of the State of Connecticut and by the New England Commission of Higher Education.