Online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences
UC’s online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program provides students with an in-depth science background to prepare them for the opportunity through further studies to work in fields such as physical therapy, medicine, dentistry, exercise science, occupational therapy, public health, health administration, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, and medical dietetics.
What is Health Sciences?
At its most basic level, Health Sciences is the study of all the ways in which you can deliver and improve healthcare. However, it goes deeper than that – utilizing scientific research and practical application to improve population health through a wide array of specialties related to the delivery of health care.
This program is designed for those with an existing associate degree in an allied health field, such as nursing, physical therapy assisting, or medical assisting. By completing a bachelor’s degree, you’ll gain a broader knowledge base and potentially qualify for new job opportunities or higher positions within your current field. This can also lead to increased earning potential and career advancement.
This path allows you to contribute to the healthcare system through leadership and management roles. Your bachelor’s degree provides a solid foundation for:
- Healthcare facility manager: Overseeing the daily operations of hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities, with a median salary of $98,350.
- Health services manager: Managing specific healthcare services like surgery centers or emergency departments, earning a median of $99,730.
- Practice administrator: Responsible for administrative duties in medical practices, with a median salary of $98,010.
This program is ideal if you’re aiming to pursue a graduate degree in a specific healthcare field like physical therapy, medicine, or public health. The coursework provides a strong academic foundation in health sciences, preparing you for the rigors of graduate studies.
While this degree doesn’t qualify you for direct patient care roles like physicians or registered nurses, it can serve as a strong foundation for further specialized education. After graduation, you can pursue:
- Master’s in Nursing (MSN): Licensed registered nurses (RNs) earn a median annual wage of $77,600. An MSN can open doors to advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) roles like nurse practitioners (NPs) with a median salary of $118,040 or certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) earning a median of $181,040.
- Physician Assistant (PA) studies: PAs work under the supervision of physicians and perform various medical tasks, earning a median annual salary of $129,300.
- Occupational therapy (OT) or physical therapy (PT) programs: These programs prepare you to help individuals regain or improve physical and functional abilities, with OTs making a median of $89,440 and PTs earning a median of $91,010.
BS Health Sciences Program Highlights
High Quality Education
Rigorous coursework: Dive deep into anatomy, physiology, public health, and more, building a solid foundation for graduate studies.
Faculty expertise: Learn from passionate instructors and mentors with real-world healthcare experience.
Specialization prep: Explore your interests with electives focused on areas like public health policy, health administration, or pre-professional tracks for medicine, nursing, and beyond.
*UC’s Pre-Professional Advising team is another resource for students to prepare for a career in healthcare: Learn More
Graduate school readiness: Sharpen your research and writing skills through a capstone project, preparing you for the graduate school application process.
Flexibility
- 100% online
- Financial aid available
- Graduate in 2-4 years
- Designed for full- or part-time students
- Start dates in spring, summer, and fall
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your go-to resource during the application process
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
Prerequisites - Summer 2026
To enroll in the program, students must have:
- An associate degree from an accredited allied health program*
- A minimum GPA of 2.5
*If students have a degree from a non-accredited allied health program, then they will need to have the following prerequisite courses and will need to be reviewed for general education requirements: one course in each of the areas of Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology.
Prerequisites - Fall 2026 and Beyond
To enroll in the program, students must have:
- A minimum GPA of 2.5
- 24 completed semester credit hours at the time of application
- Course Equivalent for the following UC Courses*:
- CHEM 1030 and CHEM1030L OR CHEM 1040 and CHEM 1040L
- BIOL 1081 and BIOL 1081L
- BIOL 2001C
- Course Equivalent for the following UC Courses*:
*The transfer equivalency database tool can be used to check if requirements have been met.
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $50.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $100.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- Application fees for UC Online programs are waived through Summer 2026 for all applicants
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who:
- are currently serving in the US armed forces
- are veterans of the US armed forces
Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year. Our staff will review your application based on the following:
After submitting your application form, all applicants are required to have official transcripts sent directly to University of Cincinnati in order to be eligible for admissions review.
- First-Year and Transfer Applicants with Fewer Than 24 Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from your high school and all prior colleges (if applicable) for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- Transfer Applicants with 24+ Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from all prior colleges for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- You are exempt from the High School transcript requirement, this item will be removed from your application checklist once your college documents are received.
Please review the section below for guidance on how to submit your transcripts.
Online transcript request systems are the preferred method to deliver official transcripts electronically. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly to determine their ordering process.
If a physical copy must be sent, DO NOT request it be delivered to you. It must be sent directly from your prior school to the following address:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
In order to apply to University of Cincinnati as a transfer student, learners must submit a transfer application form and have official transcripts sent directly to UC from all prior institutions they’ve attended.
To request these transcripts, please contact your previous institution’s registrar and ask them to send the official transcript to the University of Cincinnati via an approved electronic method such as Parchment, eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, or similar services. This is the preferred method. If electronic submission isn’t available, transcripts may be mailed to the Office of Admissions at:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, OH 45221
Students living abroad are eligible to pursue this program, but will not be qualified for F1 Visa applications.
Applicants with college coursework completed outside the United States are required to provide a course-by-course foreign credential evaluation for each college or university you attended outside the United States. This evaluation must be obtained from a service listed on the NACES member website.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 |
March 15, 2026 July 15, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
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