Professional Health Sciences Advising Guide
Department of Emergency Medical Services
What is Professional Health Sciences?
Professional Health Sciences is the administrative, behind-the-scenes aspect of healthcare. The curriculum includes broad courses in health-related fields which primarily prepares the student for administrative roles in healthcare. Many students who are pre-health may choose this major while aspiring to a graduate clinical degree such as Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Occupational therapy, etc. Those interested in administration may plan to apply to the Master in Public Administration (MPA) or the Master in Business Administration (MBA) upon completing the Bachelor of Science in Professional Health Sciences.
Career Opportunities in Professional Health Sciences
Those with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Health Sciences may work in hospitals, clinics, dental practices, nursing homes, schools, government agencies, in private or public health or administration, or for non-profit organizations. Career opportunities will vary based on level of education, experience, expertise and other similar stipulations.
Salary Trends in Professional Health Sciences
Salary for Professional Health Sciences graduates will vary from individual to individual depending upon their desired profession and specialty. Advanced degrees, certifications, and training will yield higher median salary ranges. Please refer to the Occupational Outlook Handbook through the Bureau for Labor Statistics for salary trends in specific areas of interest.
High School Preparation
High school students can prepare for a Bachelor of Science in Professional Health Sciences by taking advantage of opportunities to shadow and observe professionals in various healthcare fields. It is also encouraged for students to keep a log of their experiences including the name of the person they are shadowing, the date and time of the observation, and what the student was able to learn from the experience. Shadowing and observing have the potential to lead to future networking and internship opportunities for the student.
Helpful Organizations
Those students who are interested in healthcare administration would benefit from joining the Society of Healthcare Management Students Club here on campus (SHMClub@southalabama.edu and Instagram: usa_shms) and/or the Medical Group Management Association (https://www.mgma.com/)
Academic Plan
Following an academic plan will help you stay on track to graduate in four years.
To see the Professional Health Sciences Degree Requirements and Graduation Plan, please click here. Graduation plans provide only a suggested schedule; make sure to meet with your academic advisor to find the actual schedule that is right for you.
For additional degree information, visit the undergraduate bulletin.
For More Information
For more information on majoring in Professional Health Sciences, feel free to make an appointment with the Academic Advising and Transfer Services office (students with less than 30 credit hours). Students with 30 credit hours or more should contact Advising Office at the College of Allied Health Professions (Health Sciences Building).
You can find us on campus at:
Department of Emergency Medical Services
EOB Suite 400
600 Clinic Drive
Mobile, AL 36688-0002
Phone: (251) 461-1832
Fax: (251) 461-1823
Website: https://southalabama.edu/colleges/alliedhealth/ems/bachelorphs.html
*The information on this page should be considered general information only. For more specific information on this and other majors, please refer to the USA bulletin or contact the department/College directly.