The major in Health Science at Saint Vincent College provides students with options in the sciences that combine courses from multiple traditional disciplines to meet the needs of students interested in allied health careers. Students will develop basic skills by taking foundational courses in science, and mathematics. They then focus on additional science content in advanced courses in a concentration that fulfill the requirements for health programs. Two seminars in the first and fourth year will help students integrate the concepts from multiple disciplines to solve real world problems through case studies and projects.
The goal of the B.S. degree in Health Science is to educate students so that they may use scientific principles from a multitude of scientific fields in real world health applications, to train students to work in teams, and to communicate with others in their field as well as society in general.
Employment Opportunities:
Pharmaceutical sales representative
Biomedical sales representative
Laboratory technician/analyst
Health Services Manager
Medical Illustrator (Art minor)
Public Health Educator
Health Informatics (Data Science minor)
Health Professional Programs:
Physician’s Assistant
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Athletic Training
Nursing (Second degree and Master’s)
Chiropractic Medicine
Optometry
MPH Public Health
MS Health Science
MS/PhD in Nutrition science
MS in Cytotechnology
MS in Perfusion Technology
MS in Health Management and Policy
MS/PhD in Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety {Toxicology preferred}
MS/PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders {minor in psychology}
Law
Foundations I (21 credits)
CH 101/103 General Chemistry I and Lab - 4 credits
BL150/151 General Biology I and Lab - 4 credits
PH 109/113 College Physics I and Lab - 4 credits
INTS 222/224 Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab - 4 credits
MA 109 or 111 Calculus I - 4 credits
INTS 101 Introduction to Integ. and Health Science - 1 credit
Foundations II (19 credits)
CH 102/104 General Chemistry II and Lab - 4 credits
BL 152/153 General Biology II and Lab - 4 credits
INTS 223/225 Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab - 4 credits
HSCI 210 Healthcare Systems - 3 credits
INTS 201 Medical Terminology - 1 credit
BL 260 Biostatistics or PY 203 or Statistics I - 3 credits
Capstone Experience (4 credits)
INTS 300 Health Science Seminar - 3 credits
INTS 550 Internship - 1 credit
Concentration: 16 Credits
Total credits in major: 60
Electives: 15-21
Concentration
Choose 16 Credits* (must include labs when available) from the following:
CH 221/223 Organic Chemistry I and Lab - 4 credits
CH 222/224 Organic Chemistry II and Lab - 4 credits
BL 208/209 Cell Biology and Lab - 4 credits
BL 212/213 Microbiology and Lab - 4 credits
BL 214/215 Molecular Genetics and Lab - 4 credits
BL 224/225 Physiology and Lab - 4 credits
BL 220/221 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Lab - 4 credits
BL 245 Exercise Physiology - 3 credits
BL 226/227 Neuroscience and Lab - 4 credits
CH 251/253 Proteins and Metabolism and Lab - 4 credits
CH 252/254 Nucleic Acids and Membranes and Lab - 4 credits
PY 331 Biological Psychology - 3 credits
PY 322 Health Psychology - 3 credits
INTS 250 Fundamentals of Nutrition - 3 credits
PH 110/114 College Physics II and Lab - 4 credits
HSCI 230 Health Analytics - 3 credits
SO 248 Fundamentals of Epidemiology - 3 credits
*Carefully explore your post-graduation goals to choose appropriate classes
The success rate for Saint Vincent students applying to allied health programs. This is a five-year rolling average from 2017-21.
| ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM | # MATRICULANTS/# APPLICANTS | % ACCEPTED |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapy | 10/13 | 77% |
| Physician Assistant | 19/27 | 70% |
| Second Degree Nursing | 16/16 | 100% |
| Occupational Therapy | 6/9 | 67% |
| Pharmacy | 11/11 | 100% |
Engage within the sciences and the Benedictine tradition in our 113,260 square foot LEED-certified Gold Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion, home to The Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing. The James F. Will Engineering and Biomedical Sciences Hall was added to in 2017, creating an environment for study characterized by mutual respect, personal attention and open dialogue.
The Ralph and Donna Liberatore Human Anatomy Lab, is an expansive, state-of-the-art laboratory space equipped with six surgical stations for anatomical research for medical training sessions with physicians and surgeons. Our undergraduate biology students study human anatomy and physiology through cadaveric dissection demonstrated by practicing medical physicians.
The Digital Imaging Lab is utilized by faculty and students throughout the natural science curriculum for inquiry-based classroom, laboratory-based activities and for faculty and student research projects. The lab includes a nine-station advanced microscopy suite containing fluorescent compound microscopes, research-grade dissection microscopes, a fluorescent inverted microscope for mammalian cell culture, a polarizing microscope and more to facilitate complex student research projects.
The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve is a 50-acre reserve at Saint Vincent College. It is a beautiful recreational area filled with more than two miles of trails, native plantings, an Environmental Learning Barn, the Historic Lochry Blockhouse and much more designed to foster environmental stewardship through education, recreation and conservation.
The effort to remediate abandoned mine drainage discharges and restore water quality in the Loyalhanna watershed consists of the three passive treatment wetland systems on 20 acres of land owned by Saint Vincent Archabbey. The wetlands have become a uniquely accessible field demonstration site and experiential classroom for environmental science and outdoor education that attracts environmental agencies, community members and government officials alike.
Gregory Bisignani, M.D., and Carl Hasselman, M.D., clinical professors at Saint Vincent College, describe their teaching laboratory periods in the Liberatore Human Anatomy Laboratory, a gift of Ralph and Donna Liberatore. The laboratory is used by undergraduate students for the study of human anatomy and physiology, facilitated by cadaveric dissection. The lab is also used by external clients for surgical training and demonstrations. Students observe and assist with demonstration surgeries, an opportunity Hasselman has described as a “huge step forward in preparing undergraduates for medical school.”