The Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences is designed for students with an interest in human health who plan to pursue health-focused careers. The Health Promotion track provides students with a solid educational background in basic and health-related sciences, while providing the foundation courses required for admission to graduate level clinical and non-clinical health programs including but not limited to physical therapy, occupational therapy, public health, clinical/behavioral health and other health-related professions.
Admission Requirements
Degree Requirements
- Students who change programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog.
- Courses designated in GEP and CPP categories below usually are completed during the first 60 credit hours and may be taken at an institution within the Florida College System.
- A minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in each program prerequisite, required and restricted elective course is required. Students should note that graduate programs may require a higher level of performance for admission.
- No transfer course will be accepted with a grade lower than a “C” (2.0) will be accepted.
- Students must achieve a minimum 2.5 overall GPA for graduation.
General Education Program (GEP) (38 Credit Hours)
Communication Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Cultural & Historical Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
General Education Program elective from Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1 to meet Gordon Rule Requirement Credit Hours: 3
General Education Program elective: Prefer a second course from Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1 Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- MUL 2010 - Enjoyment of Music Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- PHI 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- THE 2000 - Theatre Survey Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Mathematical Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
- STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- MAC 1114C - College Trigonometry Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- MAC 2233 - Concepts of Calculus Credit Hours: 3 (Suggested)
- MAC 2253 - Applied Calculus Credit Hours: 3 (Suggested)
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 (Suggested)
Social Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
- POS 2041 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- PSY 2012 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
Science Foundations (8 Credit Hours)
- BSC 2010C - Biology I Credit Hours: 4 (Required)
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4 (Required)
Common Program Prerequisites (CPP) (24 Credit Hours)
- BSC 2010C - Biology I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
- BSC 2011C - Biology II Credit Hours: 4
- PSY 2012 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
- STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
- CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- PCB 3703C - Human Physiology Credit Hours: 4
- ZOO 3733C - Human Anatomy Credit Hours: 4
Select One:
- MAC 1114C - College Trigonometry Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
- MAC 2233 - Concepts of Calculus Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
- MAC 2253 - Applied Calculus Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
Complete One Physics Sequence
- PHY 2053C - College Physics I Credit Hours: 4
- PHY 2054C - College Physics II Credit Hours: 4
- OR
- PHY 2048C - General Physics Using Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
- PHY 2049C - General Physics Using Calculus II Credit Hours: 4
Core Requirements: Basic Level (6 Credit Hours)
- HUN 2201 - Fundamentals of Human Nutrition Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- HSC 2524 - Introduction to Human Disease Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 2000 - Introduction to Careers in Health Professions Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 3110 - Medical Self Assessment Credit Hours: 3
Core Requirements: Advanced Level (24 Credit Hours)
- HSC 3147 - Introduction to Pharmacology Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 3211 - Preventive Health Care Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4555 - Pathophysiology I Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4558 - Pathophysiology II Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4501 - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4730 - Applied Health Research Methodology Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4572 - Clinical Nutrition Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4930 - Health Sciences Seminar Credit Hours: 3
Restricted Electives (28 Credit Hours)
- The Health Promotion track provides the foundation courses required for admission to graduate level clinical and non-clinical health programs including but not limited to physical therapy, occupational therapy, public health, clinical/behavioral health and other health-related professions.
- Students are advised to check the program website for updated information and suggested electives for specific health professions graduate programs.
- It is the student’s responsibility to check the prerequisites for graduate programs to which they plan to apply.
- Some courses listed below may have additional prerequisite course requirements. Course selection should be made in consultation with an advisor and may vary by student depending on career goals and objectives.
- Students must meet restricted elective credit hour requirements and UCF’s 48 upper division credit hour requirements.
- Courses completed and already used to satisfy General Education Program, Basic Level and Advanced Level requirements may not be used to meet the Restricted Elective requirement.
- HSC 4943 - Health Sciences Internship Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4553 - Concepts in Pathophysiological Diagnosis Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 3432 - Occupational Safety for the Health Care Professional Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4008 - Professional Development in Health Professions Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 3110 - Medical Self Assessment Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 3102 - Foundations of Health Behavior Credit Hours: 3
- COM 4022 - Principles of Health Communication Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4201 - Community Health Credit Hours: 3
- HSA 3012 - Issues & Trends in Public Health Credit Hours: 3
- PET 4312C - Applied Biomechanics Credit Hours: 3
- ATR 4132 - Human Injuries: Mechanisms & Prevention Credit Hours: 3
- PET 3351 - Applied Exercise Physiology Credit Hours: 3
- PET 4050C - Motor Development and Learning Credit Hours: 3
- PET 4088 - Physical Activity & Preventive Medicine Credit Hours: 3
- PET 4552 - Exercise Prescription for Special Populations Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4564 - Health Care Needs of the Elderly Credit Hours: 3
- ENC 3453 - Writing About Health and Medicine Credit Hours: 3
- SYO 4400 - Medical Sociology Credit Hours: 3
- CLP 3143 - Abnormal Psychology Credit Hours: 3
- CLP 4314 - Health Psychology Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 3559 - Disabilities in American Society Credit Hours: 3
- HSA 3111 - U.S. Health Care Systems Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 3537 - Medical Terminology Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2210 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2211L - Organic Laboratory Techniques I Credit Hours: 2
- MCB 3020C - General Microbiology Credit Hours: 5
- MCB 4276 - Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3063 - Genetics Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3063L - Genetics Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- PCB 3233 - Immunology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3233L - Immunology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
Capstone Requirements
Electives
- Students who transfer to UCF with a Florida College System institution AA degree may need to take upper-level electives to reach the University requirement of 48 semester hours of upper division credits. Students are encouraged to choose from courses from the list of restricted electives (see list) that pertain to the graduate program they intend to pursue.
Foreign Language Requirements
Admissions
- Two years of one foreign language in high school, or one year of one foreign language in college (or equivalent proficiency exam) prior to graduation.
Graduation
Additional Requirements
Required Minors
Departmental Exit Requirements
- A minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in each program prerequisite,in each core requirement course and in each restricted elective is required (see GEP and CPP above). Students should note that graduate programs may require a higher level of performance for admission.
- Students must take a minimum of 27 hours of upper-division Health Sciences courses from the UCF Department of Health Sciences program to obtain the UCF degree in Health Sciences.
- Students must achieve a minimum 2.5 overall GPA for graduation.
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- A 2.0 UCF GPA
- 48 semester hours of upper division credit completed
- 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.
Total Semester Hours Required: 120
Additional Information
Honors In Major
- Interested students should consult with a faculty advisor
Related Programs
- Biology (B.S.)
- Biomedical Sciences (B.S.)
Certificates
- Health Communication
- Spanish for Health Professionals
Related Minors
- Biomedical Sciences Minor
- Biology Minor
- Science Education Minor
- Business Minor
- Education Minor
- Health Informatics and Information Management Minor
- Health Services Administration Minor
- Psychology Minor
- Chemistry Minor
Advising Notes
- Students should consult with a college advisor each semester.
- Students should consult with the Office of Pre-Health and Pre-Law Advising before submitting application to a graduate program.
Transfer Notes
- Completion of an Associate of Arts degree from a Florida College System institution is strongly recommended.
- Students who begin a two-semester sequence course (e.g., General Chemistry, College Physics) at a Florida College System institution are strongly encouraged to complete the sequence before transferring. If it will not be possible to complete the sequence before transferring, the student should postpone beginning the course until enrolling at UCF.
- Students who take Anatomy and Physiology at a Florida College System institution may be required to complete additional upper division credits in order to meet the University graduation requirement of 48 credit hours of upper division (3000-4000) level credits.
Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses
- BSC 2010C - Biology I can be substituted by Biology I with Lab (BSC 1010 and BSC 1010L).
- BSC 2011C - Biology II can be substituted by Biology II with Lab (BSC 1011 and BSC 1011L).
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I can be substituted by CHM 1045 and Lab.
- CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II and CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory can be substituted by CHM 1046 and Lab.
- PHY 2053C - College Physics I can be substituted by PHY 1053 and Lab.
- PHY 2054C - College Physics II can be substituted by PHY 1054 and Lab.
- ZOO 3733C - Human Anatomy and PCB 3703C - Human Physiology can be substituted by Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II (BSC X093 and X094 or BSC X085 and X086). Please note that these acceptable transfer courses do not fulfill the 48 hours of upper division (3000-4000) credit required by UCF for graduation.
- Students that transfer with an AA degree and will be pursuing a BS degree must meet the University foreign language admission requirements for graduation.
Program Academic Learning Compacts
- Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: https://oeas.ucf.edu/doc/chps/alc_chps_health_sciences_bs.pdf
Plan of Study
Freshman Year - Fall (13 Credit Hours)
- BSC 2010C - Biology I Credit Hours: 4
- MAC 1114C - College Trigonometry Credit Hours: 3
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
- PSY 2012 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Spring (13 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3
- STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3
- BSC 2011C - Biology II Credit Hours: 4
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- MUL 2010 - Enjoyment of Music Credit Hours: 3
- THE 2000 - Theatre Survey Credit Hours: 3
- PHI 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Summer (6 Credit Hours)
- POS 2041 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3
- SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Fall (14 Credit Hours)
- Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1 Elective Credit Hours: 3
- ZOO 3733C - Human Anatomy Credit Hours: 4
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- HSC 2000 - Introduction to Careers in Health Professions Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 2524 - Introduction to Human Disease Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 3110 - Medical Self Assessment Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Spring (14 Credit Hours)
- PCB 3703C - Human Physiology Credit Hours: 4
- HUN 2201 - Fundamentals of Human Nutrition Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 3147 - Introduction to Pharmacology Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
Sophomore Year - Summer (6 Credit Hours)
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 3 (Prefer course from Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1) Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Fall (16 Credit Hours)
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 2053C - College Physics I Credit Hours: 4
- HSC 4555 - Pathophysiology I Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 3211 - Preventive Health Care Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4572 - Clinical Nutrition Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Spring (13 Credit Hours)
- PHY 2054C - College Physics II Credit Hours: 4
- HSC 4558 - Pathophysiology II Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4501 - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4730 - Applied Health Research Methodology Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Fall (12 Credit Hours)
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- HSC 4930 - Health Sciences Seminar Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Spring (13 Credit Hours)
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 4
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3