The university awards the Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Sciences upon successful completion of a concentration curriculum listed below. The Health Sciences curriculum is designed for both the entry-level student and the credentialed health care professional. Health care professionals who have completed an Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degree in a health related discipline and/or have professional credentials to practice in their respective fields and validated work experience as a health care provider may petition the department for Advanced Standing.
Advanced Standing
Advanced Standing may be granted to credentialed and/or licensed health care professionals enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Sciences. The Advanced Standing pathway is designed to validate and award credit for existing knowledge while remaining consistent with the individuals current scope-of-practice. Upon completion of AHSC 440, 442, and AHSC 450 or NURS 499, credentialed and/or licensed health care professionals, who have completed an accredited program recognized by a national or state health professions regulatory body, may be granted up to 30 hours of credit towards a Health Science Concentration.
Concentrations
Students must select a concentration area in Pre-Professional or Supervision and Management.
Pre-Professional Concentration (AHPR) is designed to prepare students seeking admission to a post-baccalaureate professional allied health program of study. Students can visit the American Medical Association’s website, www.ama-assn.org to obtain information on the vast array of allied health professions in the health care industry. Some examples include:
| Anesthesiologist assistant | Exercise science |
| Anesthesia technologist/technician | Medical illustrator |
| Art therapist | Occupational therapist |
| Chiropractor | Orthoptist |
| Cytogenetic technologist | Orthotist and prosthetist |
| Dance/movement therapist | Pathologists’assistant |
| Dental Hygienist | Perfusionist |
| Dentist | Physical therapist |
| Diagnostic molecular scientist | Physician assistant |
| (Be advised that Nicholls does not offer any of the above professional programs.) |
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The curriculum includes natural sciences, such as biology, chemistry and physics as well as advanced courses in health sciences. Students will also gain valuable hands-on knowledge through clinical experiences directly related to their intended health care profession.
Students must declare an intended professional program of study upon entry into the College. Students must complete all courses listed in the curriculum with a grade of “C” or higher and maintain an overall GPA of 3.00 to graduate the degree with this concentration. Students are encouraged to maintain a 3.50 GPA in required professional school’s pre-requisite courses.
Supervision and Management (AHSM) – prepares students to assume middle management, supervisory, or coordinator positions in a health care agency or formal graduate study in health care management, public health, or health care administration and services. Students enrolled in the AHSM concentration must be a credentialed health care professional and eligible for Advanced Standing.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Sciences
- (CLR) Computer Literacy Requirement;
- (GER) General Education Requirement;
- (OCR) Oral Communication Requirement;
- (UR) University Requirement
Suggested Course Sequence:
| YEAR* | COURSE NAME | COURSE NUMBER | REQUIREMENT | CREDIT HRS |
| 1 | BIOL | 114 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | BIOL | 115 | 1 | |
| 1 | BIOL | 116 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | BIOL | 117 | 1 | |
| 1 | ENGL | 101 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | ENGL | 102 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | Freshman Seminar Course | UR | 1 | |
| 1 | HIST Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | MATH | 101 or 117 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | MATH | 214 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | PSYC | 101 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | SPCH | 101 | OCR | 3 |
| 2 | CHEM | 105 | GER | 3 |
| 2 | Computer Literacy Elective(s) | CLR | 2 | |
| 2 | ENGL Literature Elective | 200-level or above | GER | 3 |
| 2 | Fine Arts Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | Humanities Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | Social Sciences Elective | 200-level or above | GER | 3 |
| 2 | Concentration Course | See below | 4 | |
| 2 | Concentration Course | See below | 3 | |
| 2 | Concentration Course | See below | 3 | |
| 2 | Concentration Course(s) | See below | 3 | |
| 3 | AHSC | 408 | 3 | |
| 3 | ENGL or ENGL or BSAD |
468 310 |
GER | 3 |
| 3 | NURS | 311 | 1 | |
| 3 | Concentration Course | See below | 3 | |
| 3 | Concentration Course | See below | 3 | |
| 3 | Concentration Course | See below | 3 | |
| 3 | Concentration Course | See below | 3 | |
| 3 | Concentration Course(s) | See below | 2 | |
| 3 | Approved Elective | ** | 3 | |
| 3 | Approved Elective | ** | 3 | |
| 3 | Approved Elective | ** | 3 | |
| 4 | AHSC | 425 | 3 | |
| 4 | AHSC | 440 | 3 | |
| 4 | AHSC | 442 | 3 | |
| 4 | AHSC or NURS |
450 499 |
3 | |
| 4 | HPED | 360 | 3 | |
| 4 | Approved Elective | ** | 3 | |
| 4 | Approved Elective | ** | 3 | |
| 4 | Approved Elective | ** | 3 | |
| 4 | Elective | 300-level or above | 3 | |
| 4 | Elective | 300-level or above | 3 | |
| TOTAL HOURS | 120 |
*Recommend complete as Freshman (1), Sophomore (2), Junior (3), Senior (4)
Courses in major should be taken in a sequential order. Students should obtain a curriculum plan from the department.
**Approved Electives (300+) must be from the following:
AHSC 412 (2), 425 (3), 436 (2);
ATTR 380 (3), 422 (3), 423 (3);
BIOL 304 (5), 315 (4), 320 (4), 326 (4), 327 (4), 328 (3), 329 (2), 370 (3), 371 (4), 401 (1), 460 (3);
COMD 350 (3);
DIET 305 (3), 330 (3);
HPED 340 (3), 375 (3), 412 (3), 460 (3);
MNGT 301 (3), 305 (3), 326 (3), 367 (3), 370 (3), 440 (3), 445 (3), 450 (3), 470 (3), 486 (3);
NURS 307 (3), 352 (3), 360 (3), 460 (3).
Pre-Professional Concentration (AHPR) (27 hours required)
| AHSC 220 or ATTR 220 (3) | PHYS 101 or 151 (3) |
| AHSC 221 or ATTR 280 (3) | Concentration Electives (14 sem. hrs.) from the following areas: AHSC, BIOL, CHEM, CMPS, DIET, HPED, PHYS, PSYC, orSOCI. |
| BIOL 155 (4) | |
Supervision and Management Concentration (AHSM) (27 hours required)
Students must be a credentialed and/or licenced health care professional and qualify for Advanced Standing credit to complete this concentration. Each student must petition for Advanced Standing credit with the Head of the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
