Healthcare Science (Online)

For admission into Alvernia’s online healthcare science degree, you must have a 2.0 GPA or higher. To apply:

• Speak to an enrollment counselor
• Complete an application
• Provide evidence of high school completion/graduation. Documentation may include high school transcript, diploma, GED scores, or equivalent.*
• Submit official transcripts of all previous college work (if applicable)
• Submit a copy of DD214 from military (if applicable)

*This requirement may be waived if an official college transcript is provided to validate completion of 15 credits or more from an accredited school.

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

Topics include:

• Current topics in healthcare science and how they relate to professions in the field
• Evidence-based principles in healthcare, how to critically analyze them and how to produce various forms of writing for the field, including research reports and grant writing
• The issues concerning one’s health and wellness throughout their life, including the sociological, psychological and economic factors that can impact them
• The healthcare beliefs in different cultures that interact with the American healthcare system, including the geographical, societal, economic, political and spiritual factors
• The strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. healthcare system and healthcare institutions, specifically healthcare delivery systems and the impacts of differences in various factors such as age and family structure

The online healthcare science degree is made up of a total of 123 credits. The Liberal Arts Core makes up 31 to 55 of the program’s credits, and the major requires 48 credits, including an elective course in criminal justice.

Liberal Arts Core (31-55 credits)

• All Alvernia University students are required to complete between 31-55 credits toward the Liberal Arts Core. Transfer work may be applicable for this area. As part of the application process, students receive specific information regarding remaining credits. Students entering the program with 70 or more transfer credits or an associate degree must complete 31-55 Liberal Arts Core credit hours.

General Elective Requirements (as needed)

• A total of 123 credits, including three credits in a human diversity course, are required to earn a bachelor’s degree. To adhere to Franciscan values, community service hours are also required.

Core Requirements (30 credits)

• HCS 300: Writing for Healthcare Science (3 credits)
• HCS 310: Health & Wellness Over the Lifespan (3 credits)
• HCS 320: Healthcare Science & Cultural Competence (3 credits)
• HCS 330: Healthcare Literacy and Advocacy (3 credits)
• HCS 340: Healthcare Science Management (3 credits)
• HCS 400: Healthcare Systems and Policy (3 credits)
• HCS 410: Community Health Organization and Administration (3 credits)
• HCS 420: Current Issues in Healthcare Science (3 credits)
• HCS 430: Healthcare Science Capstone (3 credits)

(15-16 credits)

• BIO 100: Recommended — BIO 107/117, BIO 115/116, BIO 109 or BIO 102 (3 credits)
• PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
• BIO 216: Nutrition: (3 credits)
• PSY 208: Human Development across the Life Span (3 credits)
• SOC 111: Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)

• Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

After earning your Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Science online, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

• Case Manager
• Care Manager
• Surgical Coordinator
• Supervisor for PAHM
• Hospice Care
• Patent Service Associate
• Community Engagement Coordinator
• Navigator (Patient Advocate)

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in medical and health services managers is projected to grow 28 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than average for all occupations.