skip navigation 1-800-4-ALFRED (425-3733)

Health Sciences

Print PDF

BS Degree - Code #2564

Holly Young, Program Coordinator
Email address:  younghm@alfredstate.edu

The Bachelor of Science in health sciences program is a rigorous four-year baccalaureate degree in biological sciences designed to satisfy requirements for students entering health care professions or graduate-level biomedical research. Students in the program will be exposed to a rich offering of liberal arts courses and will advance from basic biology, chemistry, and physics courses to upper-level courses in biology, chemistry, health care, and research. The program further provides opportunities to select from a wide range of health-related technical electives to enhance and broaden the student’s expertise. These will prepare the graduate for working with future colleagues from the health care professions and the diverse population that will require their services. In addition, this program will prepare the graduate to seek transfer options to graduate-level or initial professional degree programs.

Advantages

  • Students will build a solid foundation in biology and chemistry courses.
  • Students will be able to internally and seamlessly transfer from Alfred State’s biological science (AAS) degree.
  • Students will further advance knowledge and skills in biology, chemistry, health care, and research through courses, including microbiology, genetics, bio-techniques, molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, culture of health care, ethical issues in health care, and research methods.
  • Students will have the opportunity to enhance and broaden their training by selecting from a list of approved health-related technical electives such as advanced pharmacology, complementary and alternative medicine, genomics, instrumental analysis, medical anthropology, and more.
  • Students will conceptualize and implement their knowledge and skills through a directed research experience or professional internship.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs)

  • Apply the scientific principles of biology and chemistry to specific applications in health sciences.
  • Explain and show competency in basic biological and chemical laboratory procedures.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the capabilities, use, potential, and limitations of various laboratory instrumental techniques widely utilized in health sciences.
  • Recognize and use appropriate professional and ethical behavior as defined by the health sciences community.
  • Evaluate scientific literature to distinguish fact from opinion, develop informed and reasonable conclusions, apply knowledge and understanding to problems, develop rational and reasonable interpretations, suspend beliefs and remain open to new information and methods, and assimilate information learned into knowledge base.
  • Use technological resources effectively and appropriately to communicate, collaborate, and retrieve information; determine when technology is useful; and select the appropriate tool(s) and technology resources to address a variety of tasks and problems.
  • Apply written communication skills to construct documents of record that are well organized and contain appropriate format, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and spelling in accordance with established professional guidelines.
  • Apply oral communication skills to the explanation of ideas, scientific terminology, and results of scientific examinations in a competent and confident manner.
  • Synthesize theory and concepts from the liberal arts education domain and other professions into health sciences.

Occupational Opportunities

  • Laboratory assistant
  • Pharmaceutical sales representative
  • Environmental health safety officer
  • Food scientist
  • Biomedical researcher
  • Public health worker

Future Educational Opportunities

  • Medicine
  • Physician assistant
  • Dentistry
  • Optometry
  • Osteopathy
  • Pharmacy
  • Audiology
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Clinical psychology
  • Graduate level biology, chemistry, or biomedical science

LECOM Early Acceptance Program

Alfred State's health sciences program has an affiliation agreement with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).

As a high school senior you can apply to both Alfred State College and LECOM's Early acceptance Program (EAP) for the College of Osteopathic Medicine or the College of Pharmacy.

Current Alfred State health science students with at least two years remaining can also apply to LECOM's EAP.

Through this 4+4 program, students who earn a BS in health sciences at Alfred State College will continue their education at LECOM.  For more information visit https://lecom.edu/academics/early-acceptance-program/.

Employment Statistics

Employment and continuing education rate of 100 percent – 60 percent are employed; 40 percent continued their education.

Related Programs

Biological Science
Forensic Science Technology

Internship Opportunities

  • Academic or industrial research laboratory
  • Health care or clinical laboratory
  • Pharmacy
  • Health care practitioner’s office

Entrance Requirements/recommendations 

Specific high school course requirements and recommendations are:

Required: Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Biology, Chemistry

Recommended: Physics

Required Course Prerequisites

If students do not place into MATH 1033 College Algebra, MATH 1084 Calculus I, MATH 1323 Quantitative Reasoning, MATH 1034 College Algebra of Functions, MATH 1054 Precalculus, or MATH 2124 Statistical Methods & Analysis, then MATH 1014 Algebra Concepts is a required prerequisite for completion of the major.

If students do not place into PHYS 1024 General Physics I or PHYS 1044 College Physics I, then PHYS 1014 Introductory Physics is a required prerequisite for completion of this major.

Technical Standards

It is essential that students in this degree program are able to fully and safely participate, with or without reasonable accommodation, in all classroom, laboratory, field, internship, and research experiences required for completion of the program. Students in this degree program should be able to:

  • Function in a safe manner, not placing themselves, faculty, staff, or other students in jeopardy.
  • Appropriately and safely use standard laboratory equipment, materials, and instrumentation to include possession of fine motor skills and mobility.
  • Make sensory visual and auditory observations during, and interpret data from, all required laboratory assignments.
  • Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

In addition, this degree program requires students to complete either an off-campus internship experience or a research project. Students in this degree program are expected to meet the following professional standards:

  • Maintain confidentiality in professional workplace settings.
  • Maintain professional composure at all times.

Be advised that a prior felony conviction may impede a student’s ability to participate in an internship experience. 

Required Equipment

A tier 1 laptop computer is required for students entering this degree program. Laptop specifications are available at www.alfredstate.edu/required-laptops

Office of Accessibility Services

Students who believe they need a reasonable accommodation to properly participate in this program may contact Melanie Ryan in the Office of Accessibility Services. This office may be contacted by email at oas@alfredstate.edu  or by phone at 607-587-4506. Please keep in mind that some accommodations may take time to implement, so students seeking accommodations are encouraged to contact OAS as early as possible.

Health Sciences – BS Degree

TYPICAL EIGHT-SEMESTER PROGRAM

First

BIOL 1104 General Biology I 4
CHEM 1984 Chemical Principles I 4
MATH xxx3 Math Elective (MATH 1033 or higher) 3
COMP 1503 Writing Studies 3
HLSC 1101 Introduction to Health Science 1
    OR   
BIOL 1101 Topics in General Biology 1
      15

Second

BIOL 2204 General Biology II 4
CHEM 2984 Chemical Principles II 4
GLST 2113 Global & Diverse Perspectives 3
SPCH 1083 Public Speaking 3
      14

Third

BIOL 5254 Principles of Microbiology 4
CHEM 3514 Organic Chemistry I 4
PSYC 1013 General Psychology 3
XXXX xxx3 Open Elective 3
LITR xxx3 Literature Elective 3
      17

Fourth

BIOL 6534 Genetics 4
CHEM 4524 Organic Chemistry II 4
MATH 2124 Statistical Methods & Analysis 4
XXXX xxx3 General Education Elective 3
HLSC 2111 Health Sciences Seminar 
    OR   
BIOL 2111 Biological Sciences Seminar 1
      16

Fifth

CHEM 7784 Biochemistry 4
HLTH 5233 The Culture of Healthcare 3
PHYS 1044 College Physics I 4
BIOL 7723 Research Methods in Health Sci 3
COMP 5703 Technical Writing II 3
      17

Sixth

NURS 5003 Ethical Issues in Health Care 3
PHYS 2044 College Physics II 4
XXXX xxx3 Open Elective 3
XXXX xxx3 Open Elective 3
XXXX xxx3 Technical Elective Upper 3
      16

Seventh

       
BIOL 6003 Molecular and Cell Biology 3
XXXX xxx3 Open Elective 3
XXXX xxx3 Technical Elective 3
XXXX xxx3 Technical Elective Upper 3
XXXX xxx3 Technical Elective 3
      15

Eighth

XXXX xxx3 Open Elective Upper 3
XXXX xxx3 Technical Elective Upper  3
XXXX xxx3 Technical Elective Upper  3
BIOL 5013 Biotechniques 3
HLSC 8703 Senior Research Project 3
    OR   
HLSC 8713 Prof Internship in Health Sci 3
      15

Lower Level Technical Electives:

BIOL 1013 Essentials of Exercise Physiol 3
BIOL 1113 Biology of Human Sexuality 3
BIOL 1313 Nutrition 3
BIOL 1404 Anatomy & Physiology I 4
BIOL 2504 Anatomy & Physiology II 4
BIOL 2633 Histotechniques 3
BIOL 2803 Environmental Science 3
BIOL 4403 Pathophysiology 3
ENVR 4413 Environmental Law 3
ENVR 4424 Envirnmntl Chem & Microbiology 4
HLSC 4900 Directed Study 1
MATH 1084 Calculus I 4
MATH 2094 Calculus II 4
MEDR 1132 Essentials of Pharmacology 2
MEDR 1133 Medical Terminology 3
PSYC 1023 Human Development 3
PSYC 2093 Abnormal Psychology 3
SOCI 1233 Gerontology 3

Upper Level Technical Electives:

ANTH 5333 Medical Anthropology 3
BIOL 5003 Genomics 3
BIOL 5104 Kinesiology 4
BIOL 5503 Virology 3
BIOL 6113 Diet and Disease 3
BIOL 6403 Advanced Pathophysiology 3
CHEM 5414 Analytical Principles 4
CHEM 6614 Instrumental Analysis 4
CHEM 6854 Physical Chemistry 4
FRSC 7214 Forensic Chemistry 4
FRSC 8214 Forensic Biology 4
HLTH 5113 Complementary & Altv Medicine 3
HLTH 5203 End of Life Dilemmas 3
HLSC 5900 Directed Study 1
MATH 6104 Multivariate & Vector Calculus 4
MATH 6114 Differential Equations 4
NURS 6403 Adv Phrmclgy, Herbal Ther, Nut 3
NURS 7033 Healthy Aging in Rural Areas 3
NURS 8003 Informtcs&Tech App in Hlthcare 3
PSYC 5093 Health Psychology 3
PSYC 7003 Working w/Diverse Populations 3

Graduation Requirements

  • 124 total semester credit hours
  • Completion of at least one course from seven of the 10 SUNY Gen Ed categories.
  • Minimum of 60 semester credit hours of Liberal Arts & Science credit hours.
  • 48 upper-division credit hours
  • 42 upper-division credit hours in the major
  • Minimum of 30 upper-division credit hours in residence
  • 3 credit hours of research or internship
  • 2.0 cumulative grade point average
  • Grade of “C” or higher in courses with BIOL, CHEM, HLSC, and HLTH prefixes
  • Approval of department faculty 

All laboratory-based courses for this academic program must be completed in an in-person format.  Laboratory-based courses in the online format will not fulfill degree requirements.