Health Sciences

When you pursue a degree in health sciences at NIU, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills needed for health careers, as well as the critical skills required for master's and doctoral programs. You’ll discover the connections between health occupations and outcomes, as well as gain cultural competence and critical thinking skills – all necessary to be competitive in global health science fields. 

B.S. in Health Sciences

The undergraduate health sciences major includes a pre-physical therapy emphasis preparing you for a variety of entry-level health care careers, as well as pursing your Doctor of Physical Therapy. The general emphasis offers individualized course selection to prepare you to meet the requirements for professional program applications to programs such as nursing and medical laboratory sciences. The health sciences degree program also includes the health sciences degree completion option, an online degree program ideal if you already have an applied associate degree in certain healthcare fields. This emphasis has specific admission requirements.

B.S. in Health Sciences Degree Student Outcomes

The objectives of the Health Sciences B.S. program will be to support your abilities to:

  • Integrate knowledge of interconnections between health occupations for problem-solving to improve health outcomes
  • Demonstrate professional behaviors necessary for health careers including interpersonal skills and collaboration
  • Apply critical thinking skills to contemporary health issues
  • Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills necessary for health professionals, patients and populations including use of person-first language and to promote health literacy
  • Demonstrate cultural competence by recognizing the cultural beliefs, values, attitudes, traditions, language preferences and health practices of diverse populations to improve health access and outcomes

M.S. in Health Sciences

The graduate health sciences degree program takes you to the next level and prepares you for leadership roles in health-related fields, as well as for doctoral studies. With an educational foundation in areas such as evidence-based practice, cultural diversity, leadership, policy and communication, this program prepares graduates for a wide array of roles.

M.S. in Health Sciences Degree Student Outcomes

The objectives of the Health Sciences program will be to support your abilities to:

  • Critically appraise research to evaluate the evidence supporting best practices
  • Demonstrate preparedness for continued development of research and advocacy skills
  • Demonstrate the interdisciplinary communication skills necessary to function effectively in today's professional and academic environments
  • Apply in-depth knowledge of content areas to quality measurement of health and human services
  • Become efficient in evaluating new developments and advances in health sciences
  • Evaluate legal and ethical considerations for professional practice
  • Develop strategies for a diverse, culturally-aware work or learning environment
  • Synthesize graduate coursework in aggregate to develop a professional identity
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