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By Kymberly Oliver (BA 27)

If you’re planning to major in a health science degree in college, it’s a good idea to look at what is expected as a health science major to ensure you’re as prepared as possible for this field of study. There’s a lot to know about what classes you need to take as a health science major and what pathways are available to you. With a wide variety of jobs and career paths in health science, we’ve created this guide to help you discern what God might have in store for you!��

Is Health Science a Hard Major?

Is health science a hard major? It’s likely this might be one of the first questions that comes to mind when considering a health science degree. The answer is yes, but its purpose is not to weed out “bad” students. Health science is a hard major because it prepares you for graduate school, and many of the intended career paths for the major will require additional education at a graduate school.��

A standard health science degree prepares you for your time at graduate school by developing good studying skills and a strong approach in the classroom to help you succeed in any graduate program.��

Another thing to consider when choosing a major in college is whether there are any specific requirements needed. Most schools will only require first-year students to have a high school diploma, acceptable grades in math and science courses, and an adequate score on the SAT or ACT. At Grace, besides the standard requirements to be admitted as a student, there are no extra qualifications necessary. Our faculty within the School of Science and Engineering are equipped with the best resources and guidance to help you along the way in your degree and to help you figure out what is right for you and your future.��

What Do Health Science Majors Study?

Your next step is to review the classes you will be taking as a health science major. At Grace, all health science students take foundational first-year health science classes together as a cohort over the course of the program. This allows them to learn and grow together and form lasting friendships through study groups. This also helps first-year students explore their opportunities and choose a concentration that suits them later on in their education. After the first year, students will remain connected through shared science courses, but they can have different schedules depending on career interests and other factors, such as transferable credits, a chosen minor, and athletic participation.��

When starting a health science degree, every college is different, as each requires certain courses for a general education, like Effective Writing and Public Speaking. Most of the required health science courses lean on subjects like Biology, Ecology, and Physics. Nearly all of these classes require time spent in laboratories, especially in more specialized courses such as Microbiology and Organic Chemistry. Specific classes that meet the expectations of a B.A. or B.S. degree in health science are also required for graduation.��

A solid health science program requires students to complete an additional hands-on learning experience to better understand what is expected of various health science careers. This gives students the opportunity to shadow medical professionals, providing a first-hand look at what their job entails and the intensive reality of the healthcare field.��

Students can typically take specific classes within a semester or a shorter period at any college. ������offers classes in condensed seven-and-a-half-week slots to allow for early graduation and preparation for fast-paced graduate-level courses.

As you progress into your health science degree, a concentration will determine what specific classes you’ll take along your three or four-year journey. There are several concentrations ranging from pre-dental to pre-occupational therapy to pre-medicine to pre-optometry, and so on. Whatever you’re interested in, there is a wide variety of options!��

At Grace, we hold our curriculum and students to a high standard. That includes putting Christ first in everyday life and in the classroom. In addition to meeting the high academic standards for graduate school, you will be in a faith-integrated classroom that recognizes God as the creator of all things — the same God who has a plan for you!

“Everything we study points to God as the Creator,” said Dr. Rick Roberts, the pre-health professions coordinator at ������. “The big picture approach is letting students see that what they’re learning reflects the complexity that God’s designed into our world. God gave mankind the ability to understand some of these details so we can learn how to apply them in modern healthcare settings with discernment for ethical practices.”

Health Science Careers

The concentrations you choose along with your health science degree can open you to an extensive range of health science careers that will use your specific skills. While deciding on what concentration to focus on, know that there are many job opportunities in various environments.��

Hospitals are the most common setting for health science graduates, but you can also find jobs in schools, labs, clinics, offices, state and federal government facilities, and more. These health science careers can span into different categories like patient and clinical care, population and public health, treatment and rehabilitation, and even research. Within these spaces, you can gain transferable skills that can take you anywhere.����

Whether you know what you’ll be studying in health science or not, or if you are worried about what you’ll do with that health science degree after graduation, Dr. Roberts encourages his students to take heart!

“This is where you trust that God’s calling you into this area and you’re going to pursue it,” said Roberts. “Once you do, you’ll watch as He leads you one step at a time.”

To learn more about jobs for a health science major, read our blog, What Jobs Can You Get with a Health Science Degree?��

Read Dr. Robert’s blog to learn more about what you can do with a health science degree!��