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Health Studies, BS
Health Studies Bachelor of Science
Why Choose UCM for Your Health Studies BS Degree?
Help shape the future of healthcare with a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies from the 欧美视频. UCM鈥檚 interdisciplinary Health Studies major provides a broad base of healthcare knowledge, preparing you for high-demand careers in clinical, corporate or community health settings. Designed for maximum flexibility, our program offers a balanced combination of online and in-person classes, interactive technology and hands-on learning tailored to your busy schedule. Whether you plan to enter the workforce directly or pursue graduate studies, UCM equips you with the real-world experience and professional skills required to make a lasting impact on public health.
UCM's BS in Health Studies at a Glance
Degree Type: Bachelor of Science | Credit Hours: 120 Hours
Degree Can be Taken: Warrensburg
- Choose from three tracks tailored to your career goals: clinical, corporate or community health.
- Gain real-world experience with our 300-contact hour internship requirement.
- Be prepared for certifications through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.
ContactKaren Doyle, PhD, ACSM, CEP |
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What Will You Learn in UCM鈥檚 BS in Health Studies?
UCM鈥檚 Health Studies curriculum is interdisciplinary, allowing you to align your coursework with your specific career goals in clinical, corporate or community healthcare. Throughout the program, you will focus on academics, practical experience and professional skill development.
Key learning outcomes and skill areas include:
- Cross-Cultural Health: Negotiate cross-cultural concepts of health and wellness to serve diverse populations effectively.
- Lifestyle & Behavior Change: Learn strategies to influence lifestyle habits and encourage health promotion in clinical, corporate and community environments.
- Health Policy & Media Advocacy: Analyze and discuss current U.S. health policies, public health news coverage and health system structures.
- Certification Preparation: Gain the knowledge needed to pursue credentials from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.
- Targeted Focus Areas: Tailor your degree using approved electives and four-year degree plans structured for clinical, corporate or community health pathways.
Unique Learning Opportunities in UCM鈥檚 Health Studies BS
Your education at UCM extends well beyond traditional lectures. Graduates accumulate hundreds of hours of practical experience through structured field placement and global learning opportunities.
- 300-Hour Field Experience: Complete a 300-contact hour internship applying healthcare principles in approved clinical, corporate or community settings. Past internship sites include Dairy Farmers of America, Humana, Missouri Department of Health and Human Services, Wellsource and Kansas City Probation & Parole Division #5.
- Study Abroad Programs: Gain international healthcare perspectives through faculty-led study trips to countries such as France and Costa Rica, or travel through partner programs to locations like Australia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and Germany.
- Interprofessional Education II (Health Implementation): Apply your cumulative skill sets directly to real-world health and wellness projects. Student teams collaborate with campus offices and community partners, including the City of Warrensburg, the Department of Probation and Parole and the HCC Network.
- Brightspace Community Group: Access central internship listings, health studies club information, career opportunities and program scholarships through the dedicated Brightspace community portal.
Fast Facts 欧美视频 UCM鈥檚 BS in Health Studies
- Three Dedicated Tracks: Program pathways are customized for careers in clinical, corporate or community health environments.
- Flexible Learning Options: Courses are offered in both online and in-person formats to support working students.
- 300-Contact Hour Internship: Our internship requirement guarantees extensive real-world experience prior to graduation.
- Professional Credentialing: Students will be prepared for certifications through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.
- Graduate School Pathways: Graduates successfully transition into graduate programs in epidemiology, health administration, public health and occupational therapy.
Talk to an Admissions Counselor
Financial Aid and Scholarships for UCM鈥檚 BS in Health Studies Students
As a UCM student, you鈥檒l have a financial aid advisor as part of your six-person student support team to help you find the best way to finance your college education.
UCM is committed to low tuition rates and low student debt, offering financial assistance options such as grants, assistantships, awards, work-study and an optional payment plan. In addition to general institutional financial aid and scholarships offered by the 欧美视频, Health Studies majors can access degree-specific awards, including:
- Mike and SueAnn Carter Scholarship
You can explore eligibility criteria and apply for program-specific awards using the UCM Scholarship Finder, or schedule an appointment with your financial aid advisor to build a customized plan.
Your next steps:
鈶� Request information about Health Studies at UCM.
鈶� Schedule a visit or Connect virtually with a UCM admissions rep.
鈶�&苍产蝉辫;Apply to UCM.
Career Opportunities and Outcomes for UCM鈥檚 Health Studies BS Graduates
Healthcare is projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to become the nation鈥檚 largest employment sector. A Bachelor of Science in Health Studies from UCM positions you to enter this growing job market or transition seamlessly into advanced degree programs.
Our graduates work across a variety of professional environments, including hospitals, clinics, school districts, corporate wellness programs and government agencies.
Common career and advanced study pathways include:
- Clinical Health Services: Patient navigation, healthcare administration and preparation for graduate programs in occupational therapy or clinical practice
- Corporate Health Promotion: Employee wellness coordination, health education and corporate health strategy
- Community & Public Health: Community health outreach, public health policy, epidemiology and health education
- Graduate Education: Advanced master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in epidemiology, health administration, public health and occupational therapy
Apply to UCM's Health Studies program
The UCM Career and Life Design Center
The UCM Career and Life Design Center is here for undergraduate students, graduate students and alumni from all majors, identities and interests. We are a hub for career exploration and career readiness. We offer resources and support for:
- exploring career options
- life design (explore and build career and life journeys, designing next steps)
- job and internship searching
- document reviews (resumes, cover letters, personal statements, etc.)
- interviews (coaching and mock interviewing)
- Professional Clothing Studio
- preparation for graduate school (application materials, exploring programs)
- and more!
Take your degree further.
UCM鈥檚 Health Studies degree is interdisciplinary, meaning the undergraduate program offers many pathways after graduation if you want to enter into an advanced degree program. Possible pathways include:
Make yourself more marketable.
As you think about what to do with a Health Studies degree, consider adding a Spanish For Healthcare Professionals Certificate or one of many minors offered by UCM:
Explore programs related to health studies.
The health sciences field offers many ways to reach your desired career. Explore different options at UCM, and choose the path that鈥檚 right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will study cross-cultural health concepts, health policy, lifestyle intervention strategies and public health communications. The interdisciplinary curriculum lets you customize your studies around clinical, corporate or community healthcare pathways.
The program prepares you for roles in hospitals, corporate wellness programs, school districts, clinics and government agencies. It also serves as a direct foundation for graduate study in public health, health administration, occupational therapy and epidemiology.
Certifications
鈥淭丑别 Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES庐) examination is a competency-based tool used to measure possession, application and interpretation of knowledge in the Seven Areas of Responsibility for Health Education Specialists delineated by A Competency-Based Framework for Health Education Specialists 2015. The exam reflects the entry-level Sub-competencies of these Areas of Responsibility.鈥� https://www.nchec.org/ches
鈥淧romote physical activity from the playground to policy-makers by becoming an ACSM/NPAS Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist (PAPHS). In collaboration with ACSM and the National Physical Activity Society (NPAS) 鈥� learn how to make your voice heard for the advancement of your community on the way to building partnerships, developing initiatives, and advocating for programming that centers on physical activity as a path to stronger public health.鈥� https://www.acsm.org/get-stay-certified/get-certified/specialization/paphs
&苍产蝉辫;鈥�Wellcoaches founded the first coaching school for health and wellness professionals in 2002, in collaboration with the American College of Sports Medicine, and published the first coaching textbook in health and wellness. Since then, Wellcoaches has defined the cutting edge and the gold standard for high impact, evidence-based, and innovative education, training, and certification. We provide the tools and skills to become game-changing professionals in corporate, healthcare, military and consumer well-being. We have trained more than 10,000 coaches in nearly 50 countries and now train 1,200 coaches per year.鈥� http://www.learn.wellcoach.com/
The Wellness Alliance offers the Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP) certification to elevate professionals' reputations, recognize their competence in the five domains of the Wellness Promotion Competency Model and demonstrate their commitment to ongoing professional development and professional standards. https://www.wellnessalliance.org/cwp-certification/the-gold-standard-wellness-certification
Professional Organizations
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