Students learn to think critically about various individual and public health issues and gain knowledge in the health care system, human disease, and disability, leadership, and patient communication. Graduates go on to earn professional or graduate degrees in professions such as medicine, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, dentistry, nursing, and health administration.
Educating the next generation of health care professionals
The health science major is the first step toward a career in the rewarding field of health care.
Program overview
We firmly believe that the most effective health care professionals not only treat a patient’s ailment or condition, but also develop a sincere concern for the patient as a person. Thus, our program’s mission is to emphasize patient-centered care with the aim of helping you better understand health care from both the patient and professional points of view. Students who graduate our program complete coursework to help them:
- Learn the basic tenets of the US health care system
- Better understand the lived experience of someone diagnosed with a disease and/or living with a disability
- Understanding the societal and environmental factors that impact health
- Communicate with patients to develop rapport and trust
- Understand the biological underpinnings of various diseases and conditions,
- Mature as a health care leader
- Be able to critically evaluate and analyze information to make informed, ethical health care decisions
In addition, we recognize that students entering the health professions are incredibly busy outside the classroom. Whether working, volunteering, shadowing, or conducting research, the demands placed upon students are significant. As such, each core class has multiple sections to choose from so that students can design a class schedule that works within their extracurricular demands. Moreover, the multiple sections allow the program to keep a low faculty-to-student ratio.
BHS specializations
Choose the pathway that’s right for you
Preprofessional
Integrates required pre-health courses for students pursuing degrees in fields such as medicine or physician assistant, with requirements for the health science major.
Pre-rehabilitation
Offers a suggested prerequisite course sequence for students interested in pursuing occupational therapy or physical therapy education at the graduate/professional level.
Applied brain science
Provides students foundational courses appropriate for the fields of clinical psychology, neurology, and psychiatry.
Combined degree options
COMBINATION DEGREE
Bachelor’s/Master of Public Health
Combination degree program that accepts UF undergraduate students into the Master of Public Health program where they earn 15 credits toward their M.P.H. degree.
COMBINATION DEGREE
BHS/Occupational Therapy Doctorate
Combination degree program that allows incoming Bachelor of Health Science juniors to take first-year Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program courses during their junior and senior years.
Combination Degree
Bachelor’s/Master of Biostatistics
The bachelor’s/M.S. Biostatistics program allows qualified students to earn a bachelor’s degree from any degree program at UF and a Master of Science degree in biostatistics with 12 credit hours of graduate coursework counting toward both degrees.
How to join the BHS program
Current UF students
Program information for current UF students interested in the Health Science program.
Transfer students
Information for students transferring into UF who are also interested in applying to the Health Science program.
Student news
Acra and her team studied the effects of “forever chemicals” on zebrafish, which share 70% of their genome with humans.
PHHP honored more than 650 undergraduate, master’s, Ph.D. and professional graduates in spring ceremonies.
Health science student Raegan Weems discusses getting help when “normal” anxiety becomes unmanageable.
A message from the program director
Thank you for considering the Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) program. Our exceptional undergraduate program prepares students to improve lives and communities through careers in health care. BHS students learn the importance of providing effective patient-centered care, how to collaborate across interdisciplinary teams and the need for evidence-based practice. Our faculty and staff provide a supportive, inclusive learning environment focused on building core competencies in science, critical thinking, teamwork, therapeutic communication and ethical reasoning. The BHS program incorporates innovative curricula that promote student engagement and active learning. Finally, graduates become competitive applicants to professional programs such as medicine (physicians and physician assistants), dentistry, and rehabilitation programs, including physical and occupational therapy.
— Jamie Pomeranz, Ph.D.
