Are you looking to advance your career in the healthcare field? Then the new Health Sciences bachelor’s degree could be a fit for you.
Job opportunities in healthcare are growing faster than in any other industry today. Learn how the latest UW Flexible Option degree program can help you advance in your healthcare career straight from Sue Stalewski, academic program lead of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Biomedical Sciences: Health Sciences program.
Who is the UW Flexible Option Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences right for?
It’s a perfect fit for those with a two-year or technical degree in a health field. This is a bachelor’s degree completion program, so students who already hold an associate degree in a health-related profession and an active certification or license in a related health profession will benefit. Upon admission to the Health Sciences program, students will be awarded 60 credits toward the degree. Offered in the competency-based UW Flexible Option format for the first time, it’s a great way for healthcare professionals to fit a degree into their busy lives.
If you’re interested in a credential to advance your career, change jobs or industries, or apply to graduate programs in different fields of healthcare, then this degree is right for you.
Get a UW Flexible Option Degree Guide
Download an introductory guide (PDF) to the self-paced, competency-based UW Flexible Option programs, including details about costs, admission requirements, and more.
What can graduates do with a degree in Health Sciences?
The career opportunities are endless! Healthcare administration, program management, pharmaceutical sales and marketing, health education and training, clinical research . . . and more. “This degree really does open the door to so many positions!”
What does the curriculum cover?
The curriculum gives students an opportunity to build on their healthcare education by strengthening their skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and information literacy. Our students become very marketable with these competencies.
We include curriculum on informatics because it has become a very important part of almost every healthcare position. And because employers tell us they want staff with strong soft skills, the curriculum includes a leadership focus so that as students are earning their bachelor’s, they’re also learning leadership theory and demonstrating those skills in the workplace.
Many health professions focus on disability and address aging in our society, so we also give students a foundation in these timely topics.
Our students are often very people-oriented and have jobs that require them to communicate with patients and other healthcare professionals. We help them polish their interpersonal skills and professionalism. We partner with our English department to provide a writing coach to help them round-out their skills.
How does the UW Flexible Option degree differ from UW-Milwaukee’s on-campus Health Sciences degree program?
The main difference is that UW Flexible Option is 100% online and students can start any month and progress at their own pace without traditional semesters or class time.
However, the UW Flexible Option degree is just as rigorous as the on-campus degree. And graduates earn the same respected UW-Milwaukee degree as on-campus students do. At UW-Milwaukee, we have the largest College of Health Sciences in Wisconsin. We offer the most health-related degree options, and we have the most health educators, faculty, and students of any academic institution in the state. UW Flexible Option students are able to take advantage of all this expertise. These subject matter experts are leaders in health professions, and they are the same people developing the UW Flexible Option curriculum. So UW Flexible Option students receive feedback from assessors who are engaged in the healthcare field professionally as well as academically.
What advice do you have for students considering this format?
I’ve had extensive experience with UW Flexible Option, starting in the early planning stages back in 2012. What I’ve learned is that students coming into the UW Flexible Option program have already demonstrated their capabilities in a clinical setting. Now, they’re ready to take that next step. These students are making an important move, and some might be a little uncertain about their skillsets when they start. But, soon they realize that they bring so much knowledge and expertise to the program.
Their life experience is a strong foundation on which to build stronger skills and competencies. So, my advice is, “Be confident. You are more ready to do this than you think you are. Be proud of all that you have accomplished to reach this point.”
What else would you like to tell us?
I’m really excited about the new Health Sciences degree! For many health professions, career progression will require a bachelor’s degree. I’m pleased we are able to offer an innovative way for busy working adults to earn this credential.
To learn how UW Flexible Option is different from traditional degree programs, check out these helpful videos. Then call or email an enrollment adviser to discuss whether the Health Sciences degree is right for you, at 1-877-895-3276 or flex@uwex.wisconsin.edu.