Health Science is a multidisciplinary field. As such, this program is housed in the Department of Dental Hygiene and provides an interprofessional focused curriculum that combines bio-medical, psycho-social, organizational and societal aspects of health, disease and health care. This program is a pathway for those with an approved Associate Degree in an Allied Health Program or a Direct Transfer Degree and a certificate in an approved allied health profession and are currently working as an Allied Health Professional, or current EWU students with Pre-Nursing or Pre-Dental Hygiene coursework to earn a Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree. This degree is NOT a pathway for entry to medical school.

Mission of the Health Science Program

The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Health Science program is to provide pathways for allied health care providers who seek to become culturally sensitive future leaders who provide competent, compassionate care, and assume positions of responsibility and leadership within their chosen allied health care profession. The program promotes a positive and rewarding academic environment that fosters innovation and collaboration for students, faculty, and staff. 

BSHS Degree Completion program goals

1. Compel individuals who possess moral and ethical values/behaviors to be effective participants in an increasingly complex and interdisciplinary health care system.
2. Foster health science professionals who are culturally sensitive and possess a strong theoretical base in the humanities, psychosocial sciences, and natural sciences.
3. Encourage health science professionals to be life-long learners who critically think, analyze, and solve problems, make sound judgments, and lead others to do the same.
4. Cultivate the communication and leadership skills of health science professionals. 
5. Instill a commitment to contribute actively to the betterment of the allied health care profession through professional involvement, continued education, and advanced professional or graduate education.

Admission Requirements per BSHS Degree Pathway

Admission requirements over and above admission to EWU are required for all students. These include: successful completion of ENGL 201, or its equivalent, and successful completion of MATH 107 or MATH 121, or its equivalent.

Based upon the student’s chosen pathway the following are required:

Allied Professionals with AAS

• Associate of Applied Science degree accredited by an allied health professional’s specialty accrediting body and regional higher education accrediting bodies in the U.S. or Canada as noted below:
• Current certificate or license in the U.S. or Canada in one of the following approved allied health professions;
  • Respiratory Care
  • Radiologic Technology
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • Vascular Technology
  • Invasive Cardiovascular Technology
  • Medical Laboratory Technology
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant
  • Physical Therapy Assistant
• Documented work experience as an Allied Health Professional in one of the above allied health professions  

Allied Professionals with DTA and Certificate

• Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) Degree from a regional higher education accrediting bodies in the U.S. or Canada
• Current certificate or license in the U.S. or Canada
• Ability to develop a portfolio demonstrating at least 15 semester/ 20 quarter credits of work in the following professions; Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technician, or Emergency Medical Technician.
  or
• Complete a minor at EWU consisting of at least 10 semester/15 quarter credits
  • Communication 19 quarter credits
  • Psychology 20 quarter credits
  • Sociology 15 quarter credits
  • Women’s Studies 22–23 quarter credits
  • Race and  Culture 18–30 quarter credits 
• Preferred 3-year documented work experience as an Allied Health Professional in the above professions is considered during the application process.

Pre-Nursing or Pre-Dental Hygiene students

To fulfill the EWU requirements for the baccalaureate degree, Pre-Dental Hygiene and Pre-Nursing students who wish to earn the EWU BS in Health Science must complete:

• All prerequisite courses for the Dental Hygiene and Nursing majors at EWU
• Required Health Science courses including Capstone (40 semester credits)
• Other degree requirements, if needed after transcript evaluation.

Admission requirements include:

• Completion of the Pre-Dental Hygiene and Pre-Nursing prerequisite courses with a C (2.0) average  
• Successful completion of ENGL 201 or its equivalent
• Successful completion of College Algebra or its equivalent

In optimal circumstances, students complete a minimum of 90 quarter credits in the two year full time Pre-Dental Hygiene or Pre-Nursing/ university requirements coursework. To achieve required 120 quarter credits for entry to the BSHS program, students are encouraged to seek minors as needed. The following minors may be appropriate for the pre-dental hygiene or pre-nursing student.

• Communication 19 quarter credits
• Psychology 20 quarter credits
• Sociology 15 quarter credits
• Women’s Studies 22–23  quarter credits
• Race and  Culture 18–30 quarter credits

Please visit the Health Science web page for further information.

The Bachelor of Science in Health Science program is designed for students to meet EWU's Breadth Area Core Requirements. All students accepted to the Bachelor of Science in Health Science program must meet university competencies and proficiencies in Math and English. ENGL 201 or its equivalent (English proficiency) is required, along with a college algebra proficiency. Students who do not have completed coursework are not permitted to start the program. Please plan accordingly when creating your education plan with the BSHS Program Director. 

Application for Graduation must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Check your progress with SOAR Student Online Academic Review—you must be signed in to use this tool.

Students who successfully earn a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from EWU should be able to do the following:​