The program has two major goals: to teach foundational skills to students whose career goal is to work in health care, particularly for those who want to become health care providers, and to teach foundational skills to students who want to work with individuals, groups or communities who face social, economic or health challenges. In addition, interested students have the opportunity to explore a combination-degree program in public health.

The college offers five specializations in the freshman and sophomore years:

General Health Science

For students who want to work in a health care field not mentioned in the other specializations below. The number of electives allowed in this specialization affords the student the opportunity to incorporate a range of prerequisites for different career paths.

Occupational Therapy Accelerated

A combination-degree program that allows students to take first-year Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program courses during their junior and senior years in the health science program.

Pre-Physical Therapy

Offers a suggested prerequisite course sequence for students interested in pursuing entry-level physical therapy education at the graduate/professional level.

Pre-Occupational Therapy

Offers the core health science curriculum plus OT prerequisites necessary for the Master of Occupational Therapy program at UF.

Pre-Professional

For students pursuing careers in fields such as medicine, physician assistant and dentistry, all of which require significant basic science prerequisites. This specialization is set up to integrate commonly required pre-professional courses with requirements for the health science major.

The general health science, pre-professional and pre-physical therapy specializations collapse into one track beginning in the junior year and follow the same core curriculum, focusing on the health care system, different diseases and disabilities, the role of the health care provider in prevention and treatment, research methods and understanding core public health concepts. The senior year focuses on patient provider communication, effective leadership and critical-thinking skills important to clinical problem solving and the bioethical and legal issues impacting health care.

Regardless of specialization selected, students complement core courses with electives to round out their academic skills and interests.

Upon successful completion of the health science program, students receive the Bachelor of Health Science degree. While the majority of students pursue graduate or professional training in a health field (e.g. occupational therapy, physical therapy, medicine, physician assistant, health administration, dentistry, public health), some students seek employment in hospital or related community organizations after completing the B.H.S.

Course Sequence

While all specializations are designed for students interested in health care, students should select the specialization that most closely approximates their career plans and overall academic performance. Included in specific tracks are typical prerequisites for UF graduate and professional programs.

All course specializations in the health science program require a minimum 3.0 overall and prerequisite GPA for admission at the junior level.

Each specialization incorporates general education math and writing requirements and health science prerequisites. All specializations accept AP, IB, or AICE credit for any prerequisite course. Students must earn a minimum of C in any BHS prerequisite course that is not satisfied by AP/IB/AICE credit. NOTE: While students can use AP/IB/AICE credit to satisfy BHS prerequisites, students should be aware that graduate/professional programs may not accept AP/IB/AICE credits in lieu of letter grades for their respective prerequisites. Students should consult a college advisor if they need assistance or have questions about a specific course schedule.

Occupational Therapy Accelerated

Occupational therapy is a professional program. The Occupational Therapy Accelerated Program gives students the opportunity to learn core health science content while simultaneously completing the first-year professional-level coursework required for the doctor of occupational therapy program at UF.

Competitive applicants to the Occupational Therapy Accelerated Program will have met the following requirements:

• Applicants must be accepted into the Bachelor of Health Science Program.
• Applicants must have completed all 2000-level prerequisites required for the professional program in occupational therapy.
• A minimum cumulative 3.8 GPA for lower division (freshman and sophomore level) undergraduate college coursework.
• A minimum 3.7 GPA for all prerequisite courses with no grade lower than a C.
• All applicants are required to complete a total of 30 hours of observational hours in at least two diverse OT settings. Diverse settings are settings that service clientele are significantly different; inpatient, outpatient, long term care, school-based, elders, pediatrics, orthopedics, rehabilitation, etc.
• Applicants must submit three recommendations. One of the recommendations must be from a professional level OT. The other two should be from professionals, such as a present or former faculty member, academic advisor, or employer.
• Applicants must submit a personal statement that addresses why they selected OT as a career and how an Occupational Therapy degree relates to their immediate and long-term professional goals. They must describe how their personal, educational, and professional background will help achieve their goals.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

• Complete BSC 2005 and BSC 2005L with minimum grades of C
• Complete ENC 1101 or ENC 1102 with a minimum grade of C
• Complete sociology or anthropology with a minimum grade of C
• Complete 9 credits of general education courses, including ENC 1101 or higher, with minimum grades of C
• 3.2 cumulative GPA on work from all institutions

Semester 2

• Complete ENC 1102 with a minimum grade of C
• Complete HSC 2000 with a minimum grade of C (recommended)
• Complete PSY 2012 and HSC 3537 with minimum grades of C
• Complete 9 additional credits of general education courses for a total of 18
• Complete 28 cumulative credits
• 3.4 cumulative GPA on work from all institutions

Semester 3

• Complete 3 additional critical-tracking courses: APK 2100C or APK 2105C, CLP 3144 and STA 2023 with minimum grades of C
• Complete 9 additional credits of general education courses for a total of 27
• Complete ENC 3453 or a substitution approved by a PHHP advisor
• Complete 42 cumulative credits
• 3.6 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses, based on all attempts
• 3.6 cumulative GPA on work from all institutions

Semester 4

• Complete all laboratories
• Complete all general education courses, including IDS 1161 and all state core courses
• Complete the university writing requirement
• Complete 60 cumulative credits
• Complete all critical-tracking courses with no grade below C and with a 3.7 critical-tracking GPA
• 3.8 cumulative GPA on work from all institutions

Semester 5

• Complete HSC 3502
• Complete HSA 3111
• Complete OTH 6002
• Complete OTH 6209

Semester 6

• Complete PHC 4101
• Complete HSC 4558
• Complete HSC 3057
• Complete HSC 4652L
• Complete OTH 6539

Semester 7

• Complete HSC 4184
• Complete HSC 3661
• Complete RCS 4415L
• Complete OTH 6008C
• Complete OTH 6419

Semester 8

• Complete HSC 4608L
• Complete OTH 6242
• Complete OTH 6423
• Complete OTH 6722

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Students can complete missing coursework in the summer, but all first-year tracking criteria must be completed by the end of the summer term.

For semesters 5-8, students must enroll in all semesters and take all core courses in the term/order indicated, with the exception of Introduction to Statistics, which must be completed by the end of spring term of the junior year.

The Bachelor of Health Science prepares students for a career in health care systems or organizations that provide health or general human services to individuals/communities with health concerns. Students will learn the foundational interprofessional skills necessary to succeed in the dynamic healthcare environment and/or enter postbaccalaureate academic programs such as medicine, physical therapy and public health.

Before Graduating Students Must

• Receive a satisfactory grade (S) in the BHS capstone portfolio.
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Content

1. Describe key elements of the U.S. healthcare system.
2. Comprehensively describe major chronic illnesses and disabilities.
3. Describe the core functions of public health.
4. Apply knowledge and application of core bioethical principles to contemporary health issues.
5. Develop appropriate professional behaviors for health careers.

Critical Thinking

6. Develop and apply critical analysis skills to contemporary health issues.

Communication

7. Apply effective basic communication skills for health professionals.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Assessment Types

• Assignment
• The Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) capstone exam in the final semester
• The degree candidate's exit survey