Program Details
Health Services, Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of ScienceVirginia Commonwealth University
Transfer Guides are designed to maximize transfer credit as students complete their associate degree at the community college before transferring to the bachelor's degree program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college. The following Transfer Guide(s), applicable to this program, are available in the Resource Center. If there is a program-specific Transfer Guide and a general or general studies Transfer Guide, you are advised to follow the program-specific Transfer Guide. Please see your community college advisor for assistance in selecting the best pathway.
The Bachelor of Science in Health Services will prepare future health care leaders with the knowledge, skills and competencies to meet the challenges of managing responsibilities across the range of health care organizations. With an emphasis on evidence-based practice, the program will prepare students to work as medical and health services providers charged with planning, directing and coordinating medical and health services. Graduates will be able to work in diverse health care settings, such as hospitals, specific clinical areas or departments within those facilities, health management organizations or in medical practice groups. The program is designed for students who wish to create a pathway into a health care field. It provides a core set of courses to build a foundation of health care knowledge. It also provides the flexibility for students to focus their studies on a particular area of interest through the selection of open and restricted elective courses. The flexibility gives students an opportunity to identify how their strengths, values and skills can best serve the health of their communities. Students in the health services program have the option to complete the entire program face-to-face or complete their last two years asynchronously online.
Outcomes
Upon completion of the B.S. in Health Services degree program, graduates will be able to: Describe health, illness and human development in the context of the U.S. health care system Analyze contemporary issues and trends in health promotion and delivery in the context of the U.S. health care system Demonstrate a basic understanding of professional and ethical behaviors within the health care context Identify and analyze cultural and economic factors impacting health disparities in the U.S. health care system Apply effective written and oral communications skills within the health care services context Analyze and apply basic theories of leadership and change management to the health care services workplace Evaluate and interpret evidence-based practices in the health care services context
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | The program is designed to prepare students to work as non-clinical health services providers, charged with planning, directing, and coordinating medical and health services. Students can select to complete the major in an on-campus or online format. |
| Program Requirement Notes | Program Requirement Notes All students in the degree program will have a culminating experiential learning opportunity in the final semester of the senior year when they take ALHP 435. All students will receive constructive feedback from their faculty adviser and also the site supervisor for the relevant experiential and applied learning experience. The course is designed to prepare students for career search, future professional and educational opportunities, and reflective oral and written presentations on professional and ethical practice in the service-learning environment. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Students are encouraged to follow the transfer maps where possible. However, the Health Services major provides a great deal of flexibility in course sequencing.
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | Health Services majors will complete a hands-on project with a partner organization through ALHP 435: Health Care Career Development and Planning in Allied Health Professions. Students have an opportunity to serve on the Student Advisory Board that advises programmatic initiatives, as well as engage in a variety of leadership projects designed to foster a diverse learning community. Students often combine a Health Services major with minors such as General Business, Psychology, and Social Welfare. There is also an accelerated B.S. and M.S. program that allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. in Health Services and M.S. in Gerontology in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | Face-to-face courses in Health Services are designed for around 30 students per course in most core/required classes. Both face to face and online courses seek to engage learners in a dynamic and interactive learning environment. In addition, the service learning course brings both hands-on experience and career readiness activities to support students’ transition into their new careers. |
Program Credit Requirements
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
There are no Applicable Admission Agreements for the Program.
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Students who earn an Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts & Sciences, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science, General Education Certificate, or Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System, Richard Bland College, or the College of Southern Maryland may be eligible to participate in the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. Students with one of these degrees may also be eligible to have the majority of their general education requirements waived. Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. The Associate of Science in General Studies or Social Sciences is recommended for this major. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. The Associate of Science in General Studies or Social Sciences is recommended for this major. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | VCU accepts a variety of types of credit for prior learning, including but not limited to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), military experience, Cambridge, and industry certifications that are recommended for credit by the American Council on Education or the National College Credit Recommendation Service. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | VCU is a large, research-driven institution nestled on two campuses in downtown Richmond, Virginia, offering a vast array of degree programs from arts to dental hygiene to engineering to education. VCU students have access to hundreds of student organizations, which is a great way to connect with others whether or not you choose to live in one of our many on-campus residence halls. Take advantage of VCU's location with access to the James River and its park system, internship and job opportunities, community engagement, and interstates to travel to the beach, the mountains, and Washington, D.C.. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | https://admissions.vcu.edu/apply-to-vcu/undergraduate/transfer/ |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Information Management | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | Online |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Science - Health Information Management | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | Online |
| James Madison University | Bachelor of Science, Major in Health Services Administration | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Radford University | BS in Healthcare Administration | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Mary Baldwin University | Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | Online, Hybrid |
| Norfolk State University | Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Norfolk State University | Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management - Food Science & Nutrition Concentration | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Norfolk State University | Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management - Online Track | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | Online |
| Regent University | B.S. in Healthcare Management | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | Online |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-9111.00 | Medical and Health Services Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations. | Management Occupations |
Cost To Complete