BioHealth Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)

The BioHealth Sciences major is for students interested in learning the science relevant to a career in the human health professions. To earn a bachelor's degree in BioHealth Sciences, students must complete all University Baccalaureate Core requirements and choose one of the options listed below: Pre-Clinical Laboratory Science Clinical laboratory scientists (also known as medical laboratory scientists or medical technologists) perform routine and highly specialized diagnostic procedures in clinical laboratories. They must be certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or the National Certification Agency (NCA). Certification requires 12 to 15 months of training at an accredited professional school of clinical laboratory science. Pre-Dentistry The BioHealth Sciences major offers a pre-dental curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science degree that satisfies the requirements for admission to most dental schools. Pre-Medicine The BioHealth Sciences major offers all of the entrance requirements to medical school to include a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, genetics, biochemistry, and more. The BioHealth Sciences major is also suited for post baccalaureate students who already have a bachelor's degree in another subject and need science course work to apply to medical school. Pre-Optometry To prepare for a career as an optometrist, students need three or four years of undergraduate work in science, followed by four years at an accredited college of optometry. Completion of the professional program leads to the degree of Doctor of Optometry. The curriculum described below satisfies the entrance requirements to most optometry schools in the United States. Applicants to optometry schools are accepted on a competitive basis. Pre-Pharmacy The BioHealth Sciences major offers a preparatory program designed to meet most requirements for admission to pharmacy schools across the U.S., including OSU’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) professional program. Students who complete the four-year pre-pharmacy program earn a BS degree in BioHealth Sciences with a Pre-Pharmacy option. Satisfactory completion of the pre-pharmacy course work facilitates, but does not guarantee, admission to pharmacy school; applicants are selected on a competitive basis. Pre-Physical Therapy Students who complete the four-year pre-physical therapy program earn a BS degree in BioHealth Sciences with a Pre-Physical Therapy option. This program is designed to meet most general requirements for admission to physical therapy schools. Satisfactory completion of the OSU course work facilitates, but does not guarantee, admission to a school of physical therapy; applicants are selected on a competitive basis. Pre-Physician Assistant The BioHealth Sciences major offers a preparatory program designed to meet most general requirements for admission to many physician assistant schools. Students who complete the four-year pre-physician assistant program earn a BS degree in BioHealth Sciences with a Pre-Physician Assistant option. Pre-Podiatry Podiatry is a growing and challenging health profession that focuses on the care of the human foot and leg. Podiatrists prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases and disorders of the foot through both medical and surgical methods.