Major code BS6357 (eCampus fully online delivery)
Major code BS6340 (online and on-campus delivery)

College of Health Sciences and Professions
Interdisciplinary Health Studies, Department of
Grover Center W182
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4502
ihs@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/chsp/ihs/undergraduate/bs-ihs.cfm

Stephanie Johnson, contact person
johnsos1@ohio.edu

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Integrated Healthcare Studies (BSIHS) degree is a completion degree for individuals who have completed at least 60 semester hours in an allied health-related discipline. The BSIHS program provides students the opportunity to continue their education, enhance their current career possibilities, and provides a pathway for continued study in graduate education. The Integrated Healthcare Studies program responds to the needs of an increasingly complex state of the American healthcare system; by providing opportunities for students to acquire vital knowledge and skills that will be critical in practicing and navigating the healthcare system. The healthcare system is becoming more complex, and healthcare professionals and healthcare support are among the overall fastest growing occupations, with the expectation of achievement of higher levels of post-secondary education. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program:

• Students will be able to identify various roles of healthcare professionals in a healthcare setting.
• Students will be able to integrate and apply knowledge, from both social and cultural perspectives, to their practice and or engagement in a healthcare setting.
• Students will be able to apply critical thinking skills to their selected healthcare profession.

Admission

The admissions criteria are as follows: a) Minimum 60 semester hours of credit in a health-related field (e.g., health technology, medical assisting technology, human services and technology, health information management, respiratory care, physical therapist assistant). To further qualify the student must have completed the following: 1. One course in mathematics, logic, statistics, or quantitative reasoning 2. One course in English composition 3. One course in biological or natural sciences 4. One course in psychology, sociology, social work, or social sciences 5. At least 9 semester hours in additional courses with a health or medical focus such as: First Aid and CPR/AED, Medical Terminology, and courses with the Ohio University prefixes BIOS (Biological Sciences), HTCH (Health Technology), MAT (Medical Assisting Technology), HST (Human Services Technology) or HLTH (Health). Others will be considered. b) A minimum GPA of 2.67 (B-). Students who do not meet the specific admissions criteria (e.g. those that do not have the required GPA, have not taken a required course, or do not have the required 60 semester hours) may apply as a non-degree student and take courses toward degree status (financial aid eligibility may be impacted for a non-degree student). 

Opportunities Upon Graduation

This degree provides opportunity for more sophisticated study of allied health disciplines which may enable a student to pursue management and executive positions in the healthcare industry.  BSIHS students may go on to work in hospitals, medical laboratories, pharmacies, state or federal government agencies, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, clinical research organizations and a variety of other healthcare related agencies.

Some students who complete this B.S. degree may choose to pursue graduate/professional programs. This program provides the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree (which is normally a requirement for graduate study) and to potentially explore allied health disciplines through elective coursework which may assist/prepare a student for further education at the graduate level. Examples of some of the paths for graduate study would include speech-language pathology, audiology, public/community health, health education, health informatics, health care administration, and social work.

Requirements