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Bachelor of Science in Health Studies Online

Gain an in-depth understanding of health and contemporary healthcare issues with an online B.S. in Health Studies.

Next Apply Date: 2/24/25
Next Class Start Date: 3/10/25
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 2/24/25
Next Class Start Date: 3/10/25

Program Overview

Here’s what you need to know about our online health studies degree

Prepare for a wide range of careers in healthcare with an online Bachelor of Science in Health Studies from Arkansas State University. This 100% online program will provide you with in-depth knowledge of modern health and the U.S. healthcare system.

Learn current industry standards in patient care, public health, interpreting lab data, medical terminology, health profession ethics and critical issues in health. Gain practical experience in healthcare management, preventative care, chronic illness, mental health and healthcare service delivery. A clinical internship is not required to graduate.

By offering two tracks of study, you can tailor this online health studies program to meet your academic goals. Choose the Professional Track if you already have an associate of applied science degree in an allied health-related field (PTA, OTA, MLT, Paramedic); choose the Non-Professional Track if you do not. Both Tracks lead to a BS degree in Health Studies, which does not carry a professional credential or state licensure. The BSHS degree alone will allow a graduate to pursue non-clinical healthcare jobs. BSHS graduates may also consider applying to professional doctoral or graduate programs, assuming they completed pre-requisite courses required to apply, as electives in the BSHS curriculum, or as stand-alone courses.

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Career opportunities for graduates of the B.S. in Health Studies:

  • Care Coordinator
  • Disabilities Rights Advocate
  • Medical and Health Services Manager
  • Community Health Coordinator
  • Case Manager
  • Clinical Coordinator
  • Doctoral Candidate
Career opportunities for graduates of the B.S. in Health Studies:+
  • Care Coordinator
  • Disabilities Rights Advocate
  • Medical and Health Services Manager
  • Community Health Coordinator
  • Case Manager
  • Clinical Coordinator
  • Doctoral Candidate

In this 100% online B.S. in Health Studies program, you will gain industry-relevant skills that employers seek:

  • Understanding of the U.S. healthcare system, medical terminology, current social problems affecting healthcare and healthcare management
  • Competence to work in community health, support services, healthcare navigation, claims services, medical sales and patient services
  • Broad and detailed knowledge of the ethics in the health profession, patient safety, cultural competency and mental health issues affecting healthcare today
  • Effectiveness to serve communities with quality improvement in healthcare, preventative health, advocacy and patient education
  • Superior written and verbal communication proficiency
In this 100% online B.S. in Health Studies program, you will gain industry-relevant skills that employers seek:+
  • Understanding of the U.S. healthcare system, medical terminology, current social problems affecting healthcare and healthcare management
  • Competence to work in community health, support services, healthcare navigation, claims services, medical sales and patient services
  • Broad and detailed knowledge of the ethics in the health profession, patient safety, cultural competency and mental health issues affecting healthcare today
  • Effectiveness to serve communities with quality improvement in healthcare, preventative health, advocacy and patient education
  • Superior written and verbal communication proficiency

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of undergraduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online undergraduate programs.

Per Credit Tuition: $282
Transfer Credits: Up to 90 hours
Credit Hours 120
Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Tuition

A-State's pay-by-the-course tuition is designed for students like you

A-State's online programs are affordable and convenient. You may also qualify for financial aid. Learn more.

The B.S. in Health Studies online program offers the same low, pay-by-the-course tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $282
Tuition Per Course: $846

Transfer your credits for lower tuition

Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.

0
90
Transfer Credits: 0
Your Estimated Tuition: $Your Estimated Tuition:
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Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student's A-State record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted.

You may be closer to Graduation than you think!

A-State-approved credit for prior learning recognizes your previous accomplishments, reducing your tuition costs and time to graduation.

Calendar

Keep these important dates in mind

Our B.S. in Health Studies is a flexible online program featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates per year.

Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.

View full calendar  + 

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 11/13/2512/16/2412/18/241/9/251/10/252/28/25
Spring 23/10/252/24/252/28/253/6/253/7/255/2/25

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 2/24/25
Start Class 3/10/25

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Apply Now

Admissions

Here's the checklist before you apply to our online B.S. in Health Studies

Arkansas State University has a streamlined admission process that makes it easy for you to enroll in the B.S. in Health Studies online program. Enrollment specialists are available to walk you through the admission process, so you will be able to complete your application quickly.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • 2.5 GPA for transferring credits
View all admission requirements +

There are several paths to be admitted to the B.S. in Health Sciences degree:

  • If you have successfully completed an associate of applied science degree in an allied health-related field (PTA, OTA, MLT, Paramedic), you would be admitted to the Professional track if you have a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.5 on previous college coursework.

    Note: If enrolled in your graduating semester of an associate degree program, you may be conditionally accepted to the Professional track and would be able to take courses for one semester while completing your associate degree. Proof of pending graduation required.
  • If you have 13 or more transferrable college credit hours but do not have an associate degree, you would be admitted if you have a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.5 on previous college coursework
  • If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been out of high school for five years or more, you would be admitted if you:
    • Have a high school diploma or state-approved equivalent
    • Have completed 12 or fewer earned college hours
    • Have never enrolled as a student at A-State
  • If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been in high school within the last 5 years, you would be admitted if you have one of the following:
    • 3.0 cumulative high school grad point average (or GED test score equivalent), OR
    • 19 minimum ACT super score or minimum 990 combined SAT super score, OR
    • Class rank in the top 20% of your graduating class

​Application Submission Requirements

Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.

  1. When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
  2. Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
  3. Submit all official college transcripts.
  4. Submit official high school transcripts (if applicable).
  5. Submit official ACT/ SAT test scores (if applicable).

Note: If you have 0-12 transferrable college hours, test scores will still need to be submitted for reporting purposes to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE); however, they are not needed for an admission decision. Accuplacer test scores are an acceptable alternative to ACT/SAT scores.

If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096 and we’ll be happy to help answer questions.

Document Submission Address

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467

Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:

A-State Online
c/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401

Courses

Topics you'll study in your online B.S. in Health Studies program

To earn your Bachelor of Science in Health Studies, you need to complete 120 credit hours of coursework whether you take the Professional Track or Non-Professional Track. The program includes 38 credit hours of general education courses, 47 credit hours of major courses, 3-17 credit hours of support courses and 6-18 credit hours of electives dependent upon Track pursued. You can finish faster by transferring previously earned credit hours. Transfer credit hours will be evaluated during the admission process.

Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.

Expand All

These major courses must be completed to earn a degree in both program tracks. Students must take one of the two: PHIL 3713 or DPEM 3503. Non-professional students must complete an additional 17 credit hours of support courses to complete their degree.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
This course is an overview that explains why laboratory tests are ordered and how interpretation of laboratory data is used in the care and welfare of patients.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Basic principles of disease processes, covering essential structural and functional characteristics of common diseases. Attention will be given to individual body systems and the diseases, disturbances, and abnormalities affecting them.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Teaching and “coaching” patients toward managing, mitigating, and/or preventing health dysfunctions encountered by citizens of the Delta region. Examines the impact health promotion and preventive practices have on the quality of life across the life span.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Operations management, organizational behavior, and healthcare service delivery with a broad focus on the philosophy and processes of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and the challenges of implementation, using examples from a variety of health care organizations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Overview of the unique features of public health in the rapidly changing US and global health care delivery system from a population, global health perspective.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Self-assessment of awareness, knowledge, sensitivity and acceptance of the importance of cultural issues in a culturally diverse health care environment, definition and components of culture, cultural values, cultural competence, health and healing traditions, transcultural communication, fostering cultural competence in colleagues.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Overview of the roles of patient navigators and advocates in the rapidly-changing and complex US healthcare system.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to pharmaceuticals in modern heath care. Issues related to regulation, drug development, drug safety (including age related issues, polypharmacy, and abuse) and quality control are included.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examination of critical health and health care issues from clinical, legislative, and community perspectives.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examination of a variety of mental health conditions and behaviors, including many of the help-seeking behaviors seen currently in health care settings, including major public health threats to our society will be discussed.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Teaching strategies and methodologies that compare and contrast teacher-centered versus patient-centered approaches within the context of healthcare.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to the scope and nature of living with chronic disease or illness with a focus on identifying chronic illnesses that affect not only the individual, but families and communities.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to the scope and nature of most adverse events related to patient safety, with a focus on identification and prevention of patient safety issues.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Investigation of management theories, organizational design and behavior, managerial skills and leadership, human resource management, and strategic planning involving various healthcare settings; development of interpersonal skills necessary to manage teams and lead organizational change.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A global focus on value-based healthcare delivery and the World Health Organization. Approaches to principles related to healthcare delivery in practice that are effective, safe and quality based.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examination of some of the moral issues involved in the practice of medicine and attendant medical technology. Sample topics include the right to privacy, the moral permissibility of euthanasia, and appropriate distribution of scarce and expensive medical resources.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An all hazards approach is utilized to identify legal and ethical issues, cultural, political and religious issues, collective behaviors and group panic, role of the media, effective communication, and identification of resources for persons engaged in disaster and emergency preparedness.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Foundation knowledge in healthcare emergency management to include standards, regulations, organizations, government agencies and stakeholders; disaster planning; staffing and personnel; Personal Protection Equipment and decontamination; evacuation, isolation, and quarantine; ethical issues; financial issues; and public affairs.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Principles, problems, and practices in the development of positive health behavior.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Basic language related to medical science and the health professions, word analysis, construction, spelling, definitions. Special course fees may apply.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Fundamental structures and operations of the United States health care system and its differences from other established health care models across the world. Provides an overview of health care services, delivery, financing, trends and consequences.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Basic concepts of nutrition including factors that have an impact upon nutritional practices. Special attention to age related nutritional needs. May be used for General Education requirements. Fall, Spring, Summer.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Application of sociological concepts and methods in the analysis of current social problems in the United States, including family and community disorganization, delinquency and crime, mental illness, and intergroup relations.

You must complete 6-18 credit hours of electives to satisfy the 120 credit hours required for this program. Courses must be chosen with the assistance of an advisor and per your degree plan. Electives can come from any courses offered as long as prerequisites are met.

You must take the following courses.

First-year course: Non-Professional Track students must take a Making Connections online course. Any A-State Making Connections online course is applicable.

Departmental Option (3 hours)
COMS 1203

Communication Requirement (6 hours)
ENG 1003
ENG 1013

Mathematics Requirement (3 hours)
Students must take MATH 1023 or any MATH course that requires MATH 1023 as prerequisite.

Arts and Humanities Requirement (6 hours)
Students must complete 3 hours of Arts courses (MUS 2503, ART 2503 or THEA 2503) and 3 hours of Humanities courses (ENG 2003, ENG 2013 or PHIL 1103).

Social Sciences Requirement (9 hours)
Students must complete 9 credit hours of Social Sciences courses. At least one course must be selected from POSC 2103, PSY 2013, HIST 2763 or HIST 2773.

Life Science Requirement (4 hours)
Students must complete BIO 2203 with BIO 2201 lab.

Physical Sciences Requirement (4 hours)
Students must complete CHEM 1043 with CHEM 1041 lab.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to visual art for all students regardless of background or experience. Students learn how to develop cognitive and experiential responses to works of art. This course is for non-art majors and does not meet general education requirements for any degree in Art. Fall, Spring, Summer.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
The behavior of matter with respect to life processes, cells, tissues, functional anatomy of integumentary, skeletal, muscular and nervous systems, cat anatomy, nerve and muscle preparations and recordings. It is recommended this course be taken concurrently with BIO 2203.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the biology of atoms, molecules, organelles and cellular functions, tissues, functional anatomy of integumentary, skeletal, muscular and central nervous systems, interaction with external environment.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Special course fees apply. Prerequisite or co-requisite of CHEM 1043. Fall only.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to selected fundamental concepts including dimensional analysis, mole concept, atomic and molecular structure, nomenclature, chemical reactions, thermochemistry, intermolecular interactions, gases, mixtures, kinetics, equilibrium and acid base chemistry. Fall only.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The theory and practice of communication in interpersonal, small groups, and public speaking contexts, emphasizing proficiency in message organization, delivery, and critical thinking.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study and practice of fundamentals of written communication, including principles of grammar, punctuation, spelling, organization, and careful analytical reading. Prerequisite, with grade of C or better, for ENG 1013.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Continues the practice of ENG 1003 to develop further the skills learned in that course. Based on reading and discussion of various types of writing, the students’ essays will provide practice in different kinds of rhetorical development, including research and documentation.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from early civilizations through the Renaissance.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from the Renaissance to the present.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
United States history. Social, economic, and political developments from Columbus to the end of Reconstruction.
Duration: Varies Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The social, economic and political developments Social, economic, and political developments from Reconstruction to the present. Fall, Spring, Summer.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations and inequalities, matrices, and miscellaneous topics. No credit given if taken following MATH 1054.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an introduction to music for the listener who has had no formal training or experience. By exploring the history of Western Art music, learners will begin to connect the development of music with the changing of society and culture.
Duration: Varies Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Basic problems of philosophy based upon readings in the works of selected leading philosophers. A prerequisite for upper level philosophy. Fall, Spring.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
American politics. The constitution, government, and politics of the United States.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study of the important scientific, principles of individual human behavior from biological, cognitive, social, and behavioral perspectives.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Provides students with an appreciation of how various artistic elements combine to produce theatrical productions. Fall, Spring, Summer.

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