Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

Catalog Year 2024-2026

Based on VCCS Curriculum for PUBLIC HEALTH

Transfer Guidance

Admission into the Health Sciences major at JMU

• Students who meet the requirements for guaranteed admission to JMU are guaranteed admission to the Health Sciences major.

• Students must complete an approved transferable associate degree from their Virginia community college with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for guaranteed admission to JMU. Students who do not qualify for guaranteed admission are encouraged to apply to JMU through the regular admission process. For additional details about requirements for guaranteed admission, please see the JMU letter of intent for your community college: www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer-gaa.shtml.

• Many students use the health sciences major to prepare for graduate programs in the professional health fields by also minoring in a pre-professional health area at JMU. The courses required vary considerably based on whether a student is pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-veterinary medicine, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physician assistant, or pre-athletic training.

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: https://www.jmu.edu/transfer/

• Register Intent to Transfer: Students can notify JMU of their interest in transferring through College Connect at www.TransferVirginia.org. Transfer applicants from a VCCS institution intending to apply through the Guaranteed Admission Agreement (GAA) must submit a Letter of Intent prior to applying. Requirements and forms are available at: https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer-GAA.shtml.

• Admission Application: By March 1 for Fall or October 15 for Spring at https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/apply-online.shtml

• Financial Aid: https://www.jmu.edu/financialaid

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: Deadline is March 1. Learn more at studentaid.gov.

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Many students pursuing a B.S. in Health Sciences also complete one of the pre-professional health minors at JMU. Coursework suggested in this guide includes recommendations for pre-professional health students, but you are encouraged to also review information from the Office of Pre-Professional Health Advising at: https://www.jmu.edu/pph/index.shtml and https://www.jmu.edu/pph/2023-2024minors.pdf.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year. For help, see Transfer Steps and Resource Center at www.TransferVirginia.org.

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and James Madison University within your first year. College Connect available in your account at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• The B.S. in Health Sciences degree is designed for students interested in understanding the causes of disease, strategies for promoting wellness, and the scientific basis and methodologies for analysis of health concerns. The major combines a broad foundation of health-related coursework with a choice of preparatory courses suitable for entry into graduate programs in medicine, dentistry, optometry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, pharmacy, public health, physician assistant and veterinary medicine.

• This degree pairs well with a Pre-Professional Health minor, which may support application into graduate programs in athletic training, dentistry, medicine, optometry, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, or veterinary medicine.

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: An approved transferable associate degree from a Virginia Community College will waive general education requirements at JMU. The list of approved transferable associate degrees can be found at www.jmu.edu/transfer/vccs-transfer/asdegrees.shtml.

• Dual Enrollment – Completion of Associate Degree in HS: Students who complete a transferable associate degree from a Virginia Community College through Dual Enrollment (DE) will not be eligible for guaranteed admission but will receive the general education waiver at JMU. DE associate degree earners who want to make progress toward their intended major should follow the curriculum in this guide.

• Credit for Prior Learning: Credit for prior learning may be awarded differently at JMU than at your previous institution. JMU accepts and reviews AP, IB CIE, and CLEP examinations for all students with eligible scores. JMU will complete an independent review of the test score to apply credit to your JMU student record. Other credit for prior learning is awarded on a per case basis for the ADP and RN-BSN programs in consultation with the department of expertise. Credit for learning acquired in military service is awarded by the registrar's office using the ACE guide credit recommendation for study/experience listed on the military transcript and in consultation with the department of expertise.

• Catalog Year: Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance at JMU.

Is This College Right For Me?

• JMU is a mid to large size institution that behaves more like a smaller institution. Faculty and staff hold students as the top priority. JMU has a 96% satisfaction rate. 88% of classes have fewer than 50 students. JMU is the #1 most recommended public university in the US by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education; JMU is the #1 Best College for Employment in Virginia according to U.S. Department of Education statistics compiled by Zippia. JMU has the highest post-graduation job levels of all Virginia colleges. Learn more about our college at www.jmu.edu and www.TransferVirginia.org.

Did You Know That…

• There is no limit to the number of credits you can transfer to JMU, but 50% of the credits required for graduation in your major must be taken at a 4-year college or university, and 25% must be taken at JMU. (Most JMU majors require 120 credits, so 60 must come from a 4-year and 30 must be taken at JMU.)

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree.

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at JMU.

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• Explore possible careers, salaries, and job outlook at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Program Successes & Highlights

• Recent graduates have gone on to pursue graduate studies in occupational therapy, public health, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, and medicine.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• Generally, two-thirds of transfer applicants are admitted to JMU. Competitive applicants will have mostly As & Bs and have completed at least one class in each of our four core areas (English, mathematics, lab science, and social science).

• JMU defines a transfer student as a student that has graduated from high school (or holds a GED equivalency) AND has taken courses in college after high school graduation. The competitive GPA for transfer applicants is a 3.0.

• Learn more about applying at https://www.jmu.edu/transfer/ or www.TransferVirginia.org.

Do More With Your Degree!

• JMU offers a variety of pre-professional health (PPH) minors (pre-athletic training, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-optometry, pre-occupational therapy, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-physician assistant, or pre-veterinary medicine) that complement the B.S. in Health Sciences for those students interested in eventually pursuing a graduate degree. Other minors that may be of interest include: special education-nonteaching, family studies, biology, substance abuse, public policy and administration, general business, and medical Spanish.