Students who select the Pre-Occupational Therapy Track must successfully complete:

• HLSC 102 - Introduction to Health Professions
• HLSC 201 - Medical Terminology
• HLSC 205 - Standard Safety Precautions for the Health Care Professional
• HLSC 210 - Overview of Occupational Therapy Practice
• HLSC 215 - Cultural Competence in Health Care (cc)
• HLSC 225 - Introduction to Accessing and Reading Scholarly Literature
• HLSC 250 - Global Health
• HLSC 302 - Pathology for Rehabilitation
• HLSC 303 - Human Anatomy with Cadaver Lecture
• HLSC 303A - Human Anatomy with Cadaver Laboratory
• HLSC 314 - Clinical Kinesiology and Applied Physics
• HLSC 344 - Group Process for Health Professionals
• HLSC 402 - Scientific Writing
• HLSC 410 - Applied Neuroscience for the Rehabilitation Professional
• HLSC 420 - Foundations of Occupational Therapy

The following related courses in Natural Science and Social and Behavioral Science:

*Students must complete these courses as part of their General Education Requirements

• BIOL 130 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lecture *
• BIOL 130A - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
• BIOL 131 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lecture
• BIOL 131A - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
• PHYS 120 - Physics of the Human Body
• PSYN 101 - Introduction to Psychology , respectively * OR
• PSYN 195 - Honors Introduction to Psychology , respectively *
• PSYN 233 - Developmental Psychology Across the Lifespan:
• PSYN 312 - Abnormal Psychology
• PSYN 370 - Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
• SOCL 101 - Introduction to Sociology *

Recommended Open Electives:

6 Credits

• BHSC 308 - Health Care Management
• BHSC 366 - Medical Ethics
• BIOL 117 - Science of Nutrition
• HLSC 200 - Issues in Personal Health
• HLSC 209 - Emergency Care and Personal Safety
• HLSC 295 - Topics in Health Sciences
• HLSC 350 - Health Communication
• HLSC 380 - Workplace Experience in Health Science I
• HLSC 381 - Workplace Experience in Health Science II
• HLSC 390 - Epidemiology
• HLSC 400 - Health Sciences Capstone

•  

  There is an 18-credit residency requirement in the major concentration of health sciences.

Additional Program Information

The baccalaureate degree in health science provides a comprehensive and innovative curriculum in the evidence-based factors that affect human health including human biology, personal behavior, social and environmental determinants of health as well as the structure of and access to health care. Students are broadly trained in the application of basic science to health, coupled with the development of the values, inter-personal and inter-professional skills required for success in professional practice and graduate study. The major builds on the 60-credit general education requirement and includes additional credits in the Basic Sciences, the Social Sciences and the Health Sciences. Students select a focused concentration of study that will prepare them for careers in health care and targeted graduate study. Students preparing to enter graduate programs in the Health Professions at Mercy College or elsewhere should coordinate their plan of study with their PACT advisor. 

Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration: The pre-occupational therapy concentration prepares students for graduate study in occupational therapy and includes all prerequisites for application to the Mercy College Master’s Degree Program in Occupational Therapy.

The BS in Health Sciences does not provide eligibility for licensure to practice as an occupational therapist. The health science degree is awarded after completion of the 120-credits of coursework detailed in each concentration. 

Completing the health science program does not guarantee admission to a Mercy College graduate program in occupational therapy. Graduates of the BS in Health Science must apply to those programs, meet specific requirements, and compete with all other applicants. Mercy College BS in Health Science graduates are offered an admission interview for the respective graduate program provided they meet the minimum criteria as outlined by the program. 

The BS in Health Sciences pre-professional concentrations satisfy the course requirements for admission to the respective Mercy College Graduate Program. 

The BS in Health Sciences pre-professional concentrations may or may not satisfy the course requirements for admission to other graduate programs within the specific professional. Courses can vary based on the college/university. 

Students have the responsibility to check entrance requirements for college/university to which they intend to apply. 

Students must earn a C or better in all Health Science courses as well as the required courses in the Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences and Mathematics.

Major Requirements

1. Students who have selected a pre-occupational therapy professional concentration must maintain a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 3.0 to maintain matriculation within the pre-professional concentrations. If a student’s cumulative and/or major GPA falls below a 3.0, they will be placed on pre-professional concentration probation and will have one semester to restore their matriculating concentration status by raising their cumulative and/or major GPA to a 3.0.
2. Pre-professional concentration students must achieve a grade of B or better in ENGL 112  or equivalent and MATH 116 , MATH 201  or equivalent.
3. Any student who receives a grade below a C in a major course, which includes all Health Science courses as well as the required courses in the Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences and Mathematics, will be required to retake the course. Major courses may be retaken once.
4. Any exceptions to program guidelines require approval by the Program Director.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of the Health Science Major, students are expected to:

1. Master the foundational core concepts and competencies necessary for preparation for the role of a health care professional.
2. Demonstrate professional behaviors that encompass strong interpersonal/interprofessional skills, cultural competence, ethical practice and a commitment to diversity.
3. Apply professional/scientific literature and materials to support professional decision making related to clinical practice and health care issues.
4. Acquire knowledge of the current health care system as well as challenges and changes in the delivery and funding of health care regionally and globally.