Bachelor’s in
Health Science

Please select one of the following hyperlinks to view general BHS admission requirements or Pre-OTD track-specific admissions requirements. They are subject to change at any time as per the University.

General BHS Admission Requirements

The BHSc program will admit entry-level, mid-level clinicians, allied health professionals. health care administrators and applicants with diverse education, work, and life experiences who demonstrate the desire and capacity to pursue the course of study in health and increasingly responsible positions in health care. Areas of consideration include application content, academic record, prior health care experience, health care related volunteerism, letters of evaluation and personal motivation. In special circumstances, a personal interview with members of the committee may be required (phone interview may be substituted). All interview expenses are the responsibility of the applicant. 

1. Prior to matriculation, all applicants must have completed 3 semester hours (or the equivalent) of college level written composition course from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum grade of a C (GPA of 2.0 on a four-point grading scale).
2. A minimum of 30 credits at the college or equivalent level from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.6 on a 4.0 grading scale OR a post-high school level diploma or certificate of completion in a field of health care with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.6 on a 4.0 grading scale and the equivalent of 30 regionally accredited credits, including 3 semester hours of college level written composition. An applicant may be required to submit a student-prepared learning portfolio requesting assessment of prior experiences for academic credit.
3. Documented evidence demonstrating dedication to health care within the past five years. This evidence can be presented through, but not limited to, education, experience, volunteerism, certification, or licensure. 

The 30 credit minimum may be achieved through traditional undergraduate education credits or credits awarded for professional certification or a combination thereof.

All applicants must show evidence of computer skills through course work or self-study prior to the end of the first term. Students may obtain instruction through the NSU Student Microcomputer Laboratory or other training facilities.

It should be noted that many criteria, in addition to academic credentials, play a role in the admission process for the B.H.Sc. program. While the program allows the student to demonstrate academic capability, it does not assure admission to any professional school. Admission to the B.H.Sc. will not guarantee admission to any other program of Nova Southeastern University.

Upon receipt of the completed application, fees, credentials and transcripts, the Admissions Officers and the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences will review all material for evidence of the proper education, training and background to enter the B.H.Sc.

The university reserves the right to modify any requirements on an individual basis as deemed necessary by the dean of the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences.

Assessment of Prior Experiences for Academic Credit

NSU has established different mechanism for students to convert their prior learning experiences into academic credit. For further information, visit the Office of Transfer Evaluation Services Web site.

B.H.SC. ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR PRE-OTD TRACK

• Prior to matriculation, all applicants must have 3 credits (or the equivalent) of college-level written composition from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum grade of C (GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale)
• an associate's degree in occupational therapy from an Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®)-accredited program at a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.6 on a 4.0 grading scale and initial certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT®) as a Certified OT Assistant (COTA)
• documented evidence demonstrating education or experience in the health care field within the past five years

O.T.D. ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR B.H.SC.- OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT APPLICANTS

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) Program selects students based on grade point average (GPA), Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, a written essay, letters of recommendation, and an interview. These scores will be factored into the rubric that the department uses in evaluating applicant qualifications. Strong candidates will also demonstrate concern for people of diverse backgrounds, as well as the ability to use judgment, insight, and reasoning.

• Prior to matriculation, all applicants must have earned a cumulative average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale in B.H.Sc. courses
• Earned a grade of 2.0 or better in all prerequisite courses
• Submit minimum GRE scores that are less than five years old for all three areas of the general test (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing)
• Submit a written essay
• Submit three letters of recommendation
• Demonstrate computer and word processing competency to include, but not limited to, World Wide Web navigation, software and learning management system (e.g., BlackBoard) utilization, e-correspondence, database explorations, etc. 
• If applicable, have a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 or higher for the written test or 213 or higher for the computer-based test OR have a Pearson Test of English-Academic (PTE-Academic) score of 54 or higher

Upon successful completion of the B.H.Sc. degree, the above requirements, and an interview with the admissions team of the NSU Occupational Therapy Program, students will be offered a seat in the NSU Doctor of Occupational Therapy Hybrid Program at NSU's regional campus in Tampa, FL. (OTD). This interview will be scheduled after the completed application has been submitted.

For more information about admissions requirements for the entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, visit healthsciences.nova.edu/ot or email hpdinfo@nova.edu, or call 800-356-0026, ext. 21101 or Tampa: (813) 574-5278.

The B.H.Sc. program offers three start dates per year.

• Winter Term:
  Typical start: early January
• Summer Term:
  Typical start: early May
• Fall Term:
  Typical start: mid to late August

Applications are accepted year round. In order to be considered for any start date an application must be submitted at least oe month prior to start date. To ensure that your application receives prompt consideration, you should apply early. 

The B.H.Sc. Committee on Admissions will not consider an application until all required fees, credentials, transcripts, and supporting documentation have been received by NSU's office of Enrollment Processing Services.

Candidates for admission are responsible for the submission of:

1. A completed application form along with a $50 non-refundable application fee.
2. Applicable only to Applicants with a NON-clinical background and without certifications or professional license: You are required to submit two letters of evaluation from individuals other than relatives such as academic advisors, professors, or clinical or non-clinical supervisors, or community associates who can attest to the applicant's commitment to health care.
3. Official college, certificate and/or diploma-based transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, sent directly from the institution.
4. Graduates from programs other than those from regionally accredited colleges or universities must submit a student prepared learning portfolio requesting Assessment of Prior Experiences for Academic Credit. Please click here for directions and a sample portfolio.
5. Copies of national and or state professional certification, licensure or registration, if applicable.
6. Coursework taken at a foreign institution must be evaluated for U.S. institutional equivalence. Foreign coursework must be evaluated by one of the following services:

Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box 415070
Milwaukee, WI 53203
(414) 289-3400
www.ece.org

World Education Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 745
Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0745
(212) 966-6311
www.wes.org

Send your transcripts and evaluations to NSU's Enrollment Processing Services at:

Nova Southeastern University
Enrollment Processing Services
3301 College Avenue
P.O. Box 299000
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33329-9905

All tuition and fees can be found by visiting the following link:

https://healthsciences.nova.edu/admissions/tuition-fees.html#collapse-a07-coa-bach-accordion-a1

BHS Course Curriculum

The program requires that a minimum of 33 semester hours of course work (including 24 semester hours of required core course work) be completed through the NSU B.H.Sc. program. A minimum total of 120 semester hours, of which 30 semester hours must fulfill general education requirements, are required in order to graduate with the B.H.Sc. degree

The B.H.Sc. program is designed for completion in a distance-learning format and requires no on-campus time. The course work is professor-paced using web-based delivery.

The curriculum is designed to build upon the existing knowledge base of the health care professional while focusing on the overall health care picture. Leadership, diversity, and conflict resolution are but a few of the areas covered in the curriculum. Course descriptions can be found using the NSU Undergraduate Catalog.

Student may also view track specific curriculum such as Generalist Health, Health Care Administration, Pre-OTD for OTAs.

Requirements needed for Graduation

1. Completion of at least 120 credits, including major, minor, general education, specialization, concentration, exams, and electives coursework, as specified by program requirements; 
2. Attainment of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average*; 
3. Attainment of a 2.25 grade point average in the major area*; 
4. Completion, at NSU, of at least 30 credits (not including CLEP, proficiency examinations, nor prior experiential learning credits); 
5. Completion of at least 50 percent of the credits in the major area at NSU (not including CLEP, proficiency examinations, nor prior experiential learning credits). In the nursing programs, students are allowed to apply only six credits from another comparable nursing program. (A course must have been taken at an accredited college/school of nursing and be the equivalent of the course offered in the NSU program.)
6. For students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy Program, Bachelor of Science in Medical Sonography, Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Sonography, all courses in the program of study required for the degree must be completed with a grade of C or better; 
7. Submission of the online degree application form and payment of the $100 fee, preferably no later than the last semester. A degree cannot be evaluated for completion until the degree application has been submitted. Late applications may cause a delay in conferral date.