Health Sciences

Shaping and Contributing to the Health & Welfare of Others.

According to the US Department of Labor, overall employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033.1 This growth has been attributed to an increase in the aging population and greater demand for healthcare services from Baby Boomers and newly-insured patients since the inception of the Affordable Care Act. They also note that this growth will be the result of increased awareness regarding the benefits of exercise, wellness, nutrition, and preventive measures designed to prevent chronic disease and the need to employ individuals with these areas of expertise.1

Our Health Sciences major will provide students with the skills needed to both conduct comprehensive health, wellness and fitness assessments, and develop programming to address the needs of clients, patients and populations. Furthermore, our students will be equipped to assess the outcomes associated with these intervention strategies and prepared to implement changes accordingly.

For those students who may be considering pursuit of a professional healthcare degree, our Health Sciences major will serve as a gateway designed to prepare students for graduate degree programs in Medicine, Athletic Training, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physician Assistant Studies.

Students from our Health Sciences Program will have opportunities to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to factor prominently into a variety of healthcare arenas, including human performance, strength & conditioning, corporate wellness, exercise physiology, health education, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and community health & wellness.

Possible Career Settings & Paths

  • Hospital/Medical Setting - Cardiac rehabilitation,health care facility management, mental health & wellness
  • Industrial/Corporate Setting - Ergonomics, worksite safety, counseling & education, wellness, medical sales
  • Athletic/Fitness Setting - Performance enhancement, strength and conditioning, exercise/fitness/wellness, exercise physiology, nutrition
  • Public Sector - Public health, health education, community health
  • Administrative Setting - Health informatics, marketing and public relations

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Sciences, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm (Accessed May 25, 2025).

Program Information

Duquesne University Bachelor of Health Sciences is a comprehensive program for aspiring health professionals, providing a strong foundation through diverse coursework and hands-on experiences.

Program Type

Major

Degree

Bachelor's

Duration

4-year

Required Credit Hours

120

Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, you'll have acquired the ability to:
  • Use current information technologies to locate and critically evaluate health & exercise science research and information in order to design and execute evidence driven health-related initiatives
  • Appreciate the value and implication of lifelong physical activity and exercise in culture and society
  • Demonstrate a specialized understanding of nutritional concepts and their implications with respect to wellness, injury prevention, and performance
  • Demonstrate a specialized understanding of exercise and conditioning in the context of performance, injury prevention, injury rehabilitation, and working with apparently healthy and those with chronic illness/controlled disease
  • Demonstrate an applied understanding of human anatomy and physiology and their applications to comprehensive health, wellness and fitness assessments, and exercise/wellness programming across the lifespan
Duquesne University Bachelor of Health Sciences is a comprehensive program for aspiring health professionals, providing a strong foundation through diverse coursework and hands-on experiences.
  • BIOL 111/L Biology I/Lab (4/0 credits)
  • BIOL 112/L Biology II/Lab (4/0 credits)
  • HLTS 115 Intro to Health & Exercise Science (1 credits)
  • HLTS 120 Elements of HS, Info Lit & Term (3 credits)
  • BRDG 101 Writing & Analysis (3 credits)
  • BRDG 102 Writing & Literature (3 credits)
  • BRDG 105 Intro to Ethical Reasoning (3 credits)
  • Communication & Creative Expression (3 credits)
  • PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
  • MATH 225 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 credits)
  • BIOL 207/8 Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab (3/1 credits)
  • BIOL 209/10 Anatomy & Physiology II/Lab (3/1 credits)
  • HLTS 225/L Current Concepts in Sports Medicine/Lab (3/0 credits)
  • HLTS 311/L Tests & Measures/Lab (3 credits)
  • CHEM 131/L Fundamentals of Chemistry I/Lab (4/1 credits)
  • EQ XXX Essential Questions Seminar (3 credits)
  • CHEM 132/L Fundamentals of Chemistry II/Lab (4/1 credits)
  • PHYS 201/L Physics for Life Sciences I/Lab (3/1 credits)
  • HLTS 430W/L Principles of Research/Lab (3/0 credits)
  • HLTS 406W/L Nutrition & Weight Management (3/0 credits)
  • HLTS 461 Health Sciences Capstone I (0 credits)
  • HLTS 462 Health Sciences Capstone II (0 credits)
Health Concentration - 15 credits
  • HLTS 285 Foundations of Health Promotion (3 credits)
  • HLTS XXX Psychosocial Aspects of Healthcare (3 credits)
  • HLTS XXX Theory to Practice (3 credits)
  • PBHL 301 Introduction to Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PBHL 318 Healthcare Delivery & Organization (3 credits)

Health Sciences & Open Electives - 23 credits
  • HLTS 312/L Strength & Conditioning Across Populations +
  • HLTS XXX Motor Learning +
  • HLTS 437/L Kinesiology & Functional Biomechanics +
  • HLTS 408W/L Physiology of Exercise +
  • HLTS 421/L Integrated Training & Performance +
  • HLTS 410 BLS - Emergency Medical Technician
  • HADM Health Administration Courses
  • GLBH Global Health Courses
  • PBHL Public Health Courses
  • HCE Healthcare Ethics Courses
  • BIOL Biological Sciences Courses
  • CHEM Chemistry & Biochemistry Courses
  • PSYC Psychology Courses
+ Students must take 6 credits from the Exercise Science Concentration.
Health Concentration - 15 credits
  • HLTS 312/L Strength & Conditioning Across Populations (3 credits)
  • HLTS XXX Motor Learning (3 credits)
  • HLTS 437/L Kinesiology & Functional Biomechanics (3/0 credits)
  • HLTS 408W/L Physiology of Exercise (3/0 credits)
  • HLTS 421/L Integrated Training & Performance (3 credits)

Health Sciences & Open Electives - 23 credits
  • HLTS 285 Foundations of Health Promotion +
  • HLTS XXX Psychosocial Aspects of Healthcare +
  • HLTS XXX Theory to Practice +
  • PBHL 301 Introduction to Epidemiology +
  • PBHL 318 Healthcare Delivery & Organization +
  • HLTS 410 BLS - Emergency Medical Technician
  • HADM Health Administration Courses
  • GLBH Global Health Courses
  • PBHL Public Health Courses
  • HCE Healthcare Ethics Courses
  • BIOL Biological Sciences Courses
  • CHEM Chemistry & Biochemistry Courses
  • PSYC Psychology Courses
+ Students must take 6 credits from the Health Concentration.
Health Concentration - 21 credits
  • HLTS 312/L Strength & Conditioning Across Populations (3 credits)
  • HLTS XXX Motor Learning (3 credits)
  • HLTS 437/L Kinesiology & Functional Biomechanics (3/0 credits)
  • HLTS XXX Strength & Conditioning Site Experience I
  • HLTS XXX Strength & Conditioning Site Experience II
  • HLTS 408W/L Physiology of Exercise (3/0 credits)
  • HLTS 421/L Integrated Training & Performance (3 credits)

Health Sciences & Open Electives - 17 credits
  • HLTS 285 Foundations of Health Promotion +
  • HLTS XXX Psychosocial Aspects of Healthcare +
  • HLTS XXX Theory to Practice +
  • PBHL 301 Introduction to Epidemiology +
  • PBHL 318 Healthcare Delivery & Organization +
  • HLTS 410 BLS - Emergency Medical Technician
  • HADM Health Administration Courses
  • GLBH Global Health Courses
  • PBHL Public Health Courses
  • HCE Healthcare Ethics Courses
  • BIOL Biological Sciences Courses
  • CHEM Chemistry & Biochemistry Courses
  • PSYC Psychology Courses
+ Students must take 6 credits from the Health Concentration.

New for Fall 2024!

Students can now reach their bigger goals completing the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree in our NEW pathways & concentrations! Pathways: Pre-PA, Pre-PT, Pre-OT, Pre-Med. Concentrations: Exercise Science, Health, Strength & Conditioning.

Reaching Bigger Goals

Peri Dimitriou

I feel very prepared to enter medical school knowing that I’m part of an educational and social network at Duquesne that will continue to support me throughout my life. I’ve met so many great professors and peers and I know those relationships will continue to help me.

Peri Dimitriou B.S., health sciences, '24
Peri's Journey
Zach Marini at ROTC commissioning ceremony

The faculty made me feel so welcomed. They were all very passionate about health care and their classes and talked about networking and extracurricular activities, too.

Zach Marini S'24, Health Sciences, biochemistry and public health minors, Army Second Lieutenant
Read Zach's Inspirational Story