Bachelor of Science in Health Services
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.
Online vs Face to Face
Starting in the Fall of 2024, students can complete either their major or minor in Health Services completely online (z-coded). We offer a flexible scheduling of classes so students can complete their degree on their own time, and have a mix of either in-person, asynchronous, or hybrid classes.
For Fall 2024 most online sections of ALHP courses will be restricted to declared Health Services majors and minors due to capacity limitations. ALHP 310 is open to all VCU students. Students in other fields can complete the ALHP Course Override Request to request permission to register for an online section of an ALHP course. Approvals will be granted on a space-available basis starting May 20, 2024.
Student learning 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.
- Identify and analyze cultural and economic factors impacting health disparities in the U.S. health care system.
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of professional and ethical behaviors within the health care context.
- 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.
Minor in Health Services
This opportunity provides students with health services courses designed to enhance their understanding of the healthcare system and discuss critical issues such as health disparities, health equity and diversity within the healthcare field.
This is an 18 credit minor that includes three required courses (three credits each) and three additional courses (three credits each). Please visit the VCU Bulletin for required courses.
Accelerated B.S. and M.S. (Gerontology)
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program 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. Students in the program may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 138 credits rather than the 150 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.
Students holding these degrees will have completed advanced course work focused on preparing future health care leaders with the knowledge, skills and competencies to meet the challenges of managing organizations that are involved with health care and health-related services. These career opportunities exist in a variety of health care settings for older adults where graduates can pursue employment in the community, corporate and university health care systems or advanced study and research in the field of health sciences.