Health Care Science, BS

The Bachelor of Science in Health Care Science prepares the graduate for professional practice in health-related settings. The program includes a foundation in general education as well as a broad understanding of health care delivery systems.

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate the knowledge necessary to function in their health sciences area.
Students will demonstrate the ability to assess, plan, and implement interventions in their chosen discipline.
Students will demonstrate the ability to incorporate research and theory in health sciences practice.
Students will recognize improvements in written and oral communication.
Students will find their degree program/course of study to be of high quality and useful.

General Information

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Care Science requires a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete the degree.
Grades of C- or better are required on all core HSCI and HPNU courses for the major.
A minimum CU cumulative GPA of 2.0 is needed to graduate.
Students are responsible for completing all course prerequisites. Prerequisites may be viewed in the course links below.

Additional course work is required to complete the Health Care Science, BS degree. Please see the advising guides on the Academic Advising website for more information.

Health Care Science Major Options

There are three options available for completing the Health Care Science, BS degree. Students must select one of the three options. The options are designed to develop advanced specialization in a specific area. See below for more information.

Health and Wellness Promotion
Allied Health Completion
Medical Laboratory Science

Health and Wellness Promotion Option

Health and Wellness Core Courses (45 credit hours)

Health and Wellness Electives (15 credit hours)

Complete 15 credit hours of electives from the following list.

Allied Health Completion Option

An upper division completion option is available for students who have completed training in allied health areas such as radiation technology, dental hygiene, paramedic, respiratory therapy, etc. To be accepted in this program students must have completed a certificate in an allied health area from an accredited program other than UCCS that included at least 40 training credit hours in order to complete the portfolio requirement of this option.

In many cases, the training credit hours maybe in conjunction with an Associates Degree. Students must submit the following allied health portfolio components to the Department of Health Sciences and have their allied health portfolio approved by the Department of Health Sciences before they can declare this option:

Transcripts from an accredited institution or program documenting at least 40 credits of training during the program
A current resume
A copy of the student’s current certificate, registration or license to practice in their allied health field

Students then complete the courses listed below to earn the BS in Health Care Science. Additional general education courses are required.

Allied Health Core Courses (20 credit hours)

Required Math and Science (18 credit hours)

CHEM 1201 - Introduction to Chemistry
CHEM 1211 - Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
MATH 1040 - College Algebra
Natural Science Electives: complete 6 hours of BIOL, CHEM or PES electives. See degree audit for acceptable courses.

Allied Health Electives (12 credit hours)

Complete 12 credit hours of upper-division (3000+ level) HPNU or HSCI electives.

Allied Health Portfolio (40 credit hours)

The Allied Health Portfolio must be approved by the Health Science department chair PRIOR to declaring the Allied Health option. Students must submit a copy of their current certification/registration in their allied health field and a copy of their transcripts from their allied health training program that clearly demonstrate at least 40 semester credits of training/coursework in the Allied Health specialty (general education courses taken as part of an Associate’s Degree do not count as part of the 40 semester credits required for the portfolio).

Medical Laboratory Science Option

Students in this option will meet the prerequisites and are well prepared to apply for a post baccalaureate Medical Laboratory Science training program, which is required in order to become a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS). The Health Science Department has an agreement with Colorado Center for Medical Laboratory Science to place up to eight UCCS students for their clinical training in Colorado Springs hospital laboratories. After successfully completing the clinical training, students are eligible to take the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCOP) Board Certification Exam as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

Medical Lab Science Core Courses (64 credit hours)

Health Science Core Courses (12 credit hours)

Medical Lab Science Electives (6 credit hours)

Complete 6 hours of upper-division (3000+ level) HSCI or HPNU courses.