The Applied Health Science program is part of the Department of Public and Allied Health in the BGSU College of Health and Human Services

Watch Video Applied health science students learn to take a temperature in a modern healthcare simulation lab.
  • B
  • Bachelor's

Applied Health Science

Graduates of the Bowling Green State University applied health science major with the health sciences specialization are qualified to enter master’s programs in almost any allied health profession, such as physical or occupational therapy or physician assistant -- the fastest growing profession in healthcare. You can also meet the admissions requirements for medical, dental and veterinary schools.

Experience the health professions with shadowing or internships during the major and take your foundational health science skills into a wide variety of fulfilling health careers.


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A world of healthcare careers

The Bowling Green applied health science major with health sciences specialization provides a strong foundation in the natural sciences and sets students up for a wide range of exciting healthcare career options. 

Additional coursework in public health, aging, wellness and healthcare administration provides students with the understanding they need to succeed within today’s complex health care system.

The flexible course provides a high level of reasoning and critical thinking, making careers in research fields an option. Many students choose to go on to graduate entrance exams and further study, leading to careers in medical fields such as pharmacy, health administration or nursing.

Stand Out in courses like

  • Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • Emerging Infectious Diseases
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Health Communication
  • Human Nutrition
  • Community Health
  • Epidemiology

Students in the applied health science major with the health sciences specialization are eligible to apply for entry into physical therapy, occupational therapy and physician assistant programs at the University of Toledo Health Science Campus, which offers a select number of admissions places to BGSU graduates each year.

Careers and Internships

Putting people first is at the core of modern medicine and is ingrained in the Bowling Green State University applied health science major. Studying both natural science and behavioural science, this specialization prepares students for a wide range of possible healthcare careers. We also actively help you plan your future career path, by exposing you early and often to what those careers might look like.

Students are encouraged to pursue experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, community service, shadowing and career-related student organizations. Many graduate programs require shadowing or volunteer experiences in order to be considered for admission.

Students looking to go into graduate medical programs are supported by the Office of Pre-Professional Programs to help understand expectations and gain connections to experiential learning opportunities.

Students in the applied health sciences major with the health science specialization are eligible to enter the Natural and Health Science Residential Community (NHSRC), an on-campus learning community. Students who live in the NHSRC say the academic support they receive within the community is a significant advantage when it comes to gaining admission to science-related and health-related programs with highly competitive entrance requirements.

GO FAR in your career

  • Nurse practitioner
  • Cardiovascular invasive specialist
  • Ultrasound technician
  • Occupational therapist
  • Physician assistant
  • Dietitian

Curriculum

The diversified curriculum of the applied health specialization includes a strong background in the basic sciences. You will build on this by understanding the process by which advances in health research make their way to improve patient care and health outcomes. The course also emphasizes the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are crucial to diagnostics and treatment assessment.

The BGSU health science curriculum is created to be flexible, so it meets the needs of each student, based on the graduate program or medical career path you wish to pursue. 

Six other specializations have common BG Perspective, core and supportive requirements but differing specialization courses. Briefly, they are; allied health, health care administration, health science, nursing, pre-pharmacy and respiratory care. Further program specialization descriptions and comparisons are available.

A student from the BGSU applied health science program assists with an exam of a young patient with a wrist injury.

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The Applied Health Science program is part of the Department of Public and Allied Health in the BGSU College of Health and Human Services



* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.