Bachelor of Arts in Health Science
Program Overview & Goals
Begin your journey to a fulfilling career in healthcare at Hendrix College.
By its nature, healthcare is an interdisciplinary field that fuses theory and practice, requiring strong technical, critical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities. Scientific principles guide your work, and your judgment and experience inform every decision you make.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Health Science degree program at Hendrix provides the necessary training across science, human behavior, and ethics that professional and graduate programs expect. It also delivers the liberal arts foundation that makes you a better communicator and thinker. Those are skills employers demand. Not coincidentally, they are also at the heart of a Hendrix education.
Via Hendrix
Classes in biology, chemistry, and psychology build your knowledge of the human body. You get to bring that learning to life Via Hendrix. That is our comprehensive plan that blends coursework, a full-time co-op experience, and personal guidance from advisors and mentors, giving you the confidence and skills to thrive.
Careers & Outcomes
The Health Science major is an interdisciplinary program with a significant focus on biology and psychology through coursework, research, and professional work experience. This builds a foundation for a wide range of healthcare careers and graduate programs, which Hendrix students launch into immediately with 46% employed and 51% in graduate school six months after graduation.
Hendrix has established formal partnerships with institutions including the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and other leading programs. Through these partnerships, Hendrix students have an advantage for admission into highly competitive graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and athletic training. These partnerships exist because our partner institutions know what a Hendrix graduate brings to the table, and they want more of them.
Finally, involvement as a course assistant, tutor, research mentor, or member of a student group provides you with leadership opportunities that accelerate your personal growth. Together, the coursework and hands-on learning ensure you stand out to employers and in graduate and professional applications.
Salary Projections
The median annual pay for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations is $83,090, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Top Career Fields
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Assistant
- Dentistry
- Public Health
Career Options
A Health Science degree prepares you to go in numerous directions. You can find Hendrix graduates in hospitals, clinics, schools, and other destinations, holding positions such as:
- Resident, Washington University Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Research Coordinator, Arkansas Children’s Hospital
- Occupational Therapist, University of Maryland
Co-op Opportunities
Our full-time, immersive co-op program is a cornerstone of Via Hendrix. You spend a full semester working on-site at one of dozens of different partners, gaining professional work experience that graduate programs seek. Hendrix Health Science students can complete their co-op at locations such as:
- Advanced Allergy and Asthma Clinic
- Conway Regional Therapy Center
- UAMS Medical Center
- Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Roadmap to the B.A. in Health Science Program
The Health Science bachelor’s degree program balances rigorous course requirements with the freedom to explore and grow. In addition to the foundational coursework, the health science major emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience in healthcare settings to ensure you are skilled, prepared, and confident in the next step of your journey after Hendrix.
Year One
Your first year at Hendrix is highlighted by the First-Year Experience, a program that encourages you to discover your passions and chart your direction. You will also begin to take classes in your major, such as Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Health Science Professions.
Year Two
Getting to your goals takes hard work and support from the people around you. Your integrated advising system helps you choose the right courses based on your individual career trajectory, such as Anatomy and Physiology, Nutrition, or Brain and Behavior. They also help you identify hands-on learning opportunities and encourage your all-around development.
Year Three
In your third year, merge theory with practice through the co-op program. Every student, regardless of major, participates in these semester-long experiences. We arrange a placement for you aligned with your professional goals and academic interests. In the classroom, you dive deeper into specialized coursework, like health psychology and athletic injuries.
Year Four
Your Senior Experience is more than a wrap-up of your four years at Hendrix. It shines light on your personal growth and capacity to lead. You’ll study advanced coursework like Biology of Movement, Microbiology, and Abnormal Psychology. The year culminates in a Senior Seminar capstone course that combines thoughtful reflection and an enthusiastic look forward to a rewarding career in health science.
Featured Classes
Go beyond the basics and make the Health Science major your own through classes tailored to your interests. Independent research, an in-depth Senior Seminar, and specialized courses for your chosen field.
HESC 265
Nutrition
Examines basic principles of nutrition with emphasis on the role of nutrition in health and disease.
Unlock the fascinating science behind what you eat, and discover how nutrition shapes your wellbeing. Explore the powerful connection between nutrition and health, including its role in preventing chronic disease. Learn evidence-based tools that cut through nutrition myths to help others make informed choices for their health.
PSYC 351
Health Psychology
Explore how your thoughts, emotions, and social environment directly shape your physical health. Using the biopsychosocial approach, examine topics such as changing health habits, managing stress, coping with pain, and using psychological tools to treat illness. Dive into the mind-body connection and meet new perspectives on what it means to be healthy.
HESC 325
Introduction to Athletic Injuries
Learn to prevent, care for, and rehabilitate common movement injuries in this class, geared toward students interested in becoming athletic trainers.
HESC 354
Biology of Movement
Study vertebrate musculoskeletal systems and their movements in this class, which will also introduce you to human exercise prescription and injury.
Meet the Faculty
This interdisciplinary major is led by members of our Biology and Psychology departments, though you also have the chance to study with faculty in several disciplines. What they each have in common: a commitment to their fields and a commitment to your personal and academic growth. The relationships built here do not just make for a better undergraduate experience; they produce stronger applications, sharper interviews, and better-prepared professionals.
Andrew M. Schurko
Professor of Biology
Candice Thomas
Assistant Professor of Biology
J.D. Gantz
Associate Professor of Biology
Chair, Health Sciences Program
Jennifer Dearolf
Professor of Biology
Laura MacDonald
Associate Professor of Biology
Director of Faculty Development
Sarah Root
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Related Programs
At Hendrix, we offer a range of STEM bachelor’s degree programs that tap into your pre-med goals, love of research, and plans for graduate study.
Your Next Steps Via Hendrix
You are driven to care for others. Find the role that is right for you in the Bachelor of Arts in Health Science degree program, as you prepare for graduate study and careers in a range of health-related fields like occupational therapy and physical therapy.