Science: Health Sciences Major

With the Associate of Science in Health Sciences at Virginia Western, you’ll be prepared to transfer to a four-year institution and gain a bachelor’s degree in an allied health program. This degree will prepare you for a wide range of fields including sports medicine, kinesiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, respiratory therapy and more. With so many healthcare career paths available, it can be difficult to choose a field of study. With this program, you will build a solid foundation of health science knowledge to prepare you to pursue a four-year education in healthcare without the pressure of choosing a career path right away.   

Who is a good fit for this program?  

You will need strong critical thinking skills, a professional demeanor and good verbal communication skills to succeed in healthcare. This program is a great fit if you are naturally curious and want to give yourself time to choose a career path while gaining the skills and education you need.  

What can you do with a Health Sciences Associate of Science degree?    

While students who have completed the AS in Health Sciences have successfully transferred to Radford University, James Madison University, Virginia Tech, Liberty University and other four-year institutions in Virginia, this program will prepare you to continue your education at any college nationwide. If you have a specific healthcare field of study in mind, use Transfer Virginia at transfervirginia.org to ensure a seamless transfer to one of the Commonwealth’s four-year institutions. 

According to the Roanoke Regional Partnership, healthcare-related fields are expected to grow in the Blue Ridge region through 2028:  

• 19.8% growth Ambulatory Healthcare Services  
• 7.5% growth Health and Education Services 
• 41.9% growth Medical and Diagnostic Labs 
• 12.9% growth Nursing and Residential Services   

Transferring

If you graduate from Virginia Western with an AA or AS degree and a minimum grade point average, you may obtain guaranteed admission to more than 30 of the commonwealth’s colleges and universities. Click here for a list of Virginia Transfer Partners.