Curriculum & Course Descriptions

Coursework for the online Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies will be completed in one and a half years over four semesters. Students will have a predetermined schedule with 12-13 credit hours each semester, for a total of 49 credit hours.

Topics covered in the curriculum include:

• Foundations of Public Health
• Social Determinants of Health
• Etiology and Pathophysiology of Chronic Diseases
• Applied Research and Statistics in the Health Sciences
• Epidemiology
• Program Planning and Implementation
• Evaluation of Health Programs
• Introduction to Health Behavior and Education
• Overview of the U.S. Health Care System
• Introduction to Health Policy
• Practicum

Course Descriptions

Full course descriptions can be found in the MUSC Bulletin. All courses for the Healthcare Studies are indicated with the prefix "HCS."

Curriculum

In addition to the coursework outlined below, students are required to attend a full-day virtual course orientation session at the beginning of each semester (August, January, May). 

 

Students who have completed 72 semester hours, including all general education requirements, are eligible to apply. Students will have a predetermined schedule with 12-13 credit hours each semester, for a total of 49-50 credit hours. An Associate of Science degree from a South Carolina technical college is highly encouraged.  Students will complete courses online and attend course orientation sessions once a semester. Courses will be completed in one and a half years over four semesters. Courses will focus on the core functions of the US healthcare system and strategies to promote population health.

Year	Semester	Course		Credit Hours
1	Fall	HCS-300	Intro to Health Behavior/Educ	3
		HCS-302	Foundations of Public Health	3
		HCS-304	Social Determinants of Health	3
		HCS-307	Academic and Scientific Writing	3
		Total Semester Hours		12
1	Spring	HCS-310	Program Planning and Implement	3
		HCS-312 /HAP-512*	Overview of the U.S. Health or  US Health Care System	3
		HCS-316	Etiology and Pathophysiology	3
		HCS-324 /HAP-524*	Principles of Epidemiology or  Epidemiology	3
		HCS-330	Practicum Development	1
			Total Semester Hours	13
1	Summer	HCS-320	Introduction to Health Policy	3
		HCS-318	Evaluation of Health Promotion	3
		HCS-314/ HAP-514*	Applied Research and Statistics	3
		HCS-412/ HAP-737*	Leadership in the Health Prof or Organization Theory	3
		HCS-331**	Practicum Development II	1
			Total Semesters Hours	12-13
2	Fall	HCS-406	Global Health	3
		HCS-410	Rural Public Health	3
		HCS-322	Health and Disease Across the	3
		HCS-480/ HAP-580*	Guided Practicum or Guided Practicum Health Admin	3
			Total Semester Hours	12
			Total Credit Hours	49-50
			Total Prerequisite Coursework Hours	72
			Total Required Hours	121-122

 

* Required Courses for Accelerated Pathway/Advanced Standing for the BSHS to Master in Health Administration program.

** If addition work required.