About the Online Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies Program at MUSC

AI Integration Across Health Care: From Fundamentals to Future Solutions

The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies (HCS) at the Medical University of South Carolina now integrates artificial intelligence (AI) throughout its curriculum. This major initiative ensures that every student develops both a strong foundation in healthcare knowledge and the digital literacy increasingly required in today’s technology-driven clinical environments.

Students will engage with core concepts in evidence-based practice, health research, health care systems, and population health - while also learning how AI is reshaping the future of patient care and health services delivery.

Whether you're already working in healthcare or entering the field for the first time, the HCS program is designed to prepare you for leadership in a rapidly evolving, innovation-focused health care landscape.

What Makes This Bachelor's Degree Program Unique

• 16-month, fully online degree-completion program designed for working professionals and transfer students.
• AI-enhanced content integrated into more than 16 courses.
• Clinical AI Seminar Series featuring discussions on the application of AI in real-world health care settings to support evidence-based clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.
• A culminating practicum where students design AI-informed solutions to complex health care problems.
• A flexible, student-centered format that supports academic success and career advancement.

An Online Degree Aligned with the Future of Health Care

The HCS program offers a broad, interdisciplinary education focused on current and emerging issues in health and health care delivery. Through a curriculum that now includes AI in every course, students will:

• Think critically about the ethical and practical use of health data and technology
• Understand how to evaluate and apply health research and evidence-based practices
• Learn to lead health care teams using digital tools and informatics
• Design creative, technology-supported solutions to address real-world health challenges

This program is well-suited for students who want to:

• Complete their bachelor’s degree while balancing work or personal commitments
• Position themselves for greater career mobility in a digital health care environment
• Prepare for graduate-level education in health professions or public health

Students typically come from a variety of allied health backgrounds, including occupational therapy assistants, physical therapy assistants, radiologic technologists, cardiovascular technologists, and medical assistants. Learn more about our students.

Program Highlights

• Save time and reduce tuition costs by transferring general education credits from a community or technical college
• Interprofessional learning with peers from diverse health care disciplines
• Fully online format with the flexibility to remain in your community
• Earn your degree from a regionally accredited and highly respected academic health sciences center
• Gain practical experience with AI tools increasingly used in clinical practice and population health

Online Delivery with Personalized Support

The HCS program follows a hybrid online format and is structured for students who have completed at least 72 undergraduate credit hours and all general education requirements. Learn more about admissions requirements. Students progress through the curriculum in a cohort model over four semesters, fostering collaboration and peer support.

Each semester includes a required orientation session (2–3 days), delivered virtually, offering valuable engagement with faculty and fellow students. Learn more about the schedule and curriculum.

Benefits of Course Orientation

• Career development and mentoring sessions
• Personalized academic advising from faculty mentors
• One-on-one meetings with instructors
• Networking with MUSC faculty and health care professionals

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the HCS program will be able to:

• Analyze the social, environmental, and systemic factors that influence health outcomes
• Design AI-informed, population-specific interventions to improve health
• Interpret and apply health research using ethical and evidence-based reasoning
• Uphold professional values and ethical standards in health care practice

Distance Education Information

MUSC is authorized to deliver online education in all 50 states through participation in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). Learn more on the Office of Institutional Effectiveness' State Authorization page.

Accreditation

The Medical University of South Carolina is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). For more information, visit the MUSC Accreditation page.