Health Sciences Major
In addition to the common courses, the HS major curriculum includes upper-level science and patient care-focused courses that are not required in the HCB major. The HS major is excellent preparation for those pursuing clinically focused healthcare careers, including those that require an undergraduate degree prior to graduate school admission. Its curriculum was purposefully designed to create competent, empathetic, patient-focused healthcare professionals and satisfy prerequisite requirements for graduate schools for many different health career paths. Example: HS major undergraduate curricular tracks are available for but are not limited to the following professions: Anesthesiologist Assistant, Cardiovascular Perfusionist, Dentist, Genetic Counselor, Occupational Therapist, Optometrist, Orthotist/Prosthetist, Pathologist Assistant, Physical Therapist, Physician, and Physician Assistant/Associate. Butler undergraduate students are eligible for the Selective Internal Admission Pathway into the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. Students who do not wish to go on to graduate programs may pursue careers such as those in community health, health education, health research, and a variety of other careers in the health or life sciences sector. An optional medical Spanish concentration is also available within the health sciences major.
The Health Sciences major curriculum is challenging and flexible in order to prepare students for a wide variety of graduate programs. In addition to the Butler Core Curriculum, all students in the health sciences program take several fundamental and advanced natural science courses, social science courses, and our “core” healthcare courses. Students individualize their curriculum by choosing from over 68 healthcare-related elective courses that optimally prepare them for their chosen career path.
Students successfully completing this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate ethical, professional, collaborative, and culturally-sensitive behaviors within the healthcare setting.
- Integrate knowledge and skills from natural, formal, and social sciences with healthcare fundamentals to solve complex problems and optimize health outcomes.
- Locate, critically analyze, and apply data in a manner that supports evidence-based healthcare.
- Communicate effectively with laypersons and healthcare professionals on a variety of health-related topics.
Why pursue a BSHS at Butler?
The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) program offers two distinct majors: Health Sciences (HS) and Healthcare and Business (HCB). Both majors lead to the same BSHS degree and cater to students with diverse healthcare career aspirations. The program is unique in its approach to educating future healthcare professionals, policymakers, and business/insurance leaders in a collaborative environment, promoting problem-solving across disciplines. Flexibility is a key feature, allowing students to switch tracks or majors within the first two years without affecting their graduation timeline. The HS and HCB curriculums have approximately 75 credit hours of course work in common.