Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Sciences

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Sciences is a degree program designed for students who hold an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in a health-related field. This program provides an affordable and convenient path to a bachelor's degree, with the opportunity to transfer up to 65 credits from an accredited community college.

Program Overview

The applied health sciences major is designed for students with AAS degrees in fields such as Dental Assisting, Health Information Technology, Medical Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapy Assistant, Respiratory Therapy, or Surgical Technology. If an AAS major is not listed, students can seek permission to enroll from the chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Health.

Career Opportunities

The applied health sciences degree prepares students for a wide variety of professional niches in the health care industry, including health care management and administration, front-line care providers, technologists, community health specialists, and other types of health care professionals.

Academic Flexibility

The applied health sciences major includes many options and electives, allowing students to personalize their degree to suit their strengths and career objectives. Students choose one of two academic tracks (health care leadership or health promotion) and work closely with their academic adviser to plan a course sequence that aligns with their educational and career goals.

Attentive Faculty

At Oakland University, students learn from experienced instructors who are focused on student success. Nearly all applied health sciences courses are taught by seasoned faculty, and small class sizes allow for direct interaction with professors for academic support and professional guidance.

Well-Rounded Skill Set

The applied health sciences degree equips students with versatile skills such as excellent writing, strong communication, data fluency, and cultural adaptability, helping them stand out in the job market and graduate school applicant pool.

Applied Health Sciences Careers

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth in the health care industry to exceed 2 million new jobs over the next decade. Oakland University graduates work in all segments of the health care industry, with common objectives including:

• Health care project management
• Health services case management
• Health information
• Respiratory therapy
• Surgical technology
• Health care data analysis
• Public health
• Medicine
• Nursing
• Hospital management
• Insurance administration
• Radiologic technology

Applied Health Sciences Degree: What You'll Study

Academic requirements for the applied health sciences degree vary widely from student to student. The program includes broad flexibility, enabling students to align their course selections with their professional objectives. Students work closely with an academic adviser to develop a plan that fits their needs.

To transfer in as an applied health sciences major, students need to hold an AAS degree in one of the specified disciplines. Upon admission to the applied health sciences program, students take required courses in:

• Patient care
• Hospital safety
• Personal and occupational health
• Community and public health
• Health care law and values
• Statistical concepts

Additional coursework is highly flexible and depends upon the student's academic and professional goals.

Current Applied Health Sciences Internships

A variety of internships are available to applied health sciences students, including:

• Marketing & Public Relations (PR) Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.
• Sustainability Consulting Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.
• Website & Technology Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.
• Climate Action & Advocacy Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.
• Marine Science & Education Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.
• SPARCS Summer Program at Wake Forest School of Medicine
• Grant Writing, Research, and Administration Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.
• Forestry Intern - Moshannon Forest District at Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Cardiovascular Sciences Internship at Wake Forest School of Medicine
• Paid Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunity at UB - University at Buffalo - The State University of New York
• Cave Guide Resource Assistant - AmeriCorps at Stewards Individual Placement Program
• 2026 Pharm Fellow Internship General Application at Calcium
• Psychology Internship (Great Pay!) at CareYaya Health Technologies Inc.
• Artificial Intelligence Internship (Great Pay!) at CareYaya Health Technologies Inc.
• Software Development Internship (Great Pay!) at CareYaya Health Technologies Inc.
• Data Science Internship (Great Pay!) at CareYaya Health Technologies Inc.
• INSPIRE-US: Intensive Summer Education Program in Translational Research for Undergraduate Students at Case Western Reserve University
• Summer Research Student Intern at Wake Forest School of Medicine
• Sports and Physical Activity Research Intern at Academic Programs International
• Animal Care/ Wildlife Biology Instructor and Cabin Counselor at Cub Creek Science Camp
• PROMISE Summer Internship in Cancer Biology at Penn State College of Medicine
• Data Science Internship (Great Pay) at CareYaya Health Technologies Inc.
• Software Development Internship (Great Pay) at CareYaya Health Technologies Inc.
• Neuroscience Internship (Great Pay) at CareYaya Health Technologies Inc.
• Product Management Intern (Great Pay) at CareYaya Health Technologies Inc.
• Artificial Intelligence Internship (Great Pay) at CareYaya Health Technologies Inc.
• Submissions Fellowship 2026 at HAVAS
• Application of AI/ML to Advance Catalyst Development Efforts for Waste Methane Valorization at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
• Dielectric Property Database for Microwave Materials at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
• Internship in Cancer Rehabilitation at UNC Cancer Rehabilitation Institute
• Marine Science & Education Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.
• Climate Action & Advocacy Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.
• Website & Technology Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.
• Sustainability Consulting Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.
• Marketing & Public Relations (PR) Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.
• Marine Science & Education Virtual/Remote Internship at Seaside Sustainability, Inc.