How Long Does It Take to Major in Health Science?
How long does it take to major in health science? The short answer is a full-time student will finish a Bachelor of Arts in Health Science in four years.
But a better first question might be: What do you like to do? Because if starting a career in healthcare sounds right to you, a major in health science may be the perfect way to spend the next four years.
About Health Science at Stonehill
Established in 2016 and steeped in rigorous courses that provide a foundation in the natural and social sciences, the Health Science program at Stonehill is designed to prepare students for success in a wide range of allied health careers.
With guidance from faculty, courses chosen with graduate school in mind, and internships that provide the exposure necessary to help students discover their own path, the program is an example of what makes learning in a liberal arts environment so important.
This variety of experience through a cross-disciplinary approach is what makes Stonehill’s health science major a great way for students to get a real feel for what goes into the preparation for any of these careers in health:
- Registered Nurse
- Physical Therapy
- Physician Assistant
- Nurse Practitioner
- Chiropractor
- Dentist
- Optometrist
- Genetic Counselor
- Speech Pathologist
- Veterinarian
- Physician
Stonehill’s health science major offers flexibility that others do not. I was able to get out of the strict ‘track’ mindset and realize that I could follow my own path.
What You’ll Learn as a Health Science Major
There’s a lot to learn in just four years to help you develop the skills needed for a successful career.
Over the course of their 4fouryears, health science majors are provided the opportunity to work with people in a clinical role, while faculty impress upon them the importance of equal access and humanity.
When designing the program, Stonehill purposely examined prerequisite courses across graduate training programs — including nursing, physician assistant and physical therapy — and incorporated the ones with the greatest commonality. Those prerequisites serve as the foundation of the program.
Electives are focused on a greater understanding of human health, such as endocrinology, neuroscience or health psychology, so students are able to tailor their learning to their desired career pathway.
Finally, experiential learning through clinical internships rounds out the curriculum. Internships are integral for preparing students for postgraduate opportunities. They provide an opportunity to gain valuable experience, build a professional network, and learn more about yourself and potential careers.
In addition, those internships can help students accumulate training hours toward various health certifications — a mark of professionalism that will differentiate them as they apply to graduate programs.
Stonehill’s emphasis on experiential learning allows students to experience a variety of real-world settings, so you can determine what you truly enjoy — and for me, that was life-changing.
Developing Leadership Skills for Health Science Majors
Majors in Stonehill’s Health Science program are also provided with opportunities to develop leadership skills that often serve them throughout their careers. You might find yourself mentoring younger students or networking with alumni in new situations.
Such experiences equip graduates to be leaders in advancing science but also in another area central to Stonehill’s values: social justice. The recognition and grappling with the consequences of documented disparities in the healthcare system is addressed in the health science curriculum. Students develop a solid foundation in the sciences, but they also understand and accept all others’ humanity, which is highly relevant to success in healthcare careers.
Research for Health Science Majors
If research is one of your interests, health science majors who have completed their first year at Stonehill have the opportunity to perform full-time, high-quality research over the summer months under the guidance of an expert faculty researcher. A student in the Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program spends 8-10 weeks of the summer collaborating with a professor — and sometimes other students — on an original research project that fits into the faculty member’s overall research program.
The experience includes postgraduate career seminars, program-wide outings, weekly lunches and a student poster session in the fall. SURE students generally live on campus and receive a stipend for their summer work.
Educating the Whole Person
At the end of the four years it takes to major in health science at Stonehill, students will have not only completed courses that will prepare them for graduate school in allied health, but through experiential learning, they will have explored their interests and hone in on the field where they truly want to make a contribution.
And because Stonehill College educates the whole person, each graduate will be prepared to think, act and lead with courage to create a more just and compassionate world.
In building the program, we looked at prerequisite courses across graduate training programs — including nursing, physician assistant and physical therapy — and incorporated the ones with the greatest commonality, alongside experiential learning through clinical internships. We then rounded out those courses with electives focused on a greater understanding of human health, such as endocrinology, neuroscience or health psychology, so students can tailor their learning to their desired career pathway.