Can I Pursue a Master’s Degree in Health Science if My Undergraduate Degree is Another Field?

Can I Pursue a Master's Degree in Health Science if My Undergraduate Degree is Another Field?Many prospective graduate students wonder if they can pursue a Master’s degree in health science if their undergraduate degree is another field. While it is not ideal to pursue an undergraduate degree in one field when you are planning to study health sciences at an advanced level, it might be possible if you take the right combination of coursework. Knowing the educational prerequisites and other qualifications to gain entry into an advanced health sciences program is a must, especially when you are applying for admission into a very competitive program. Read on, and learn more about the prerequisites and how you can be sure that you have completed all of the courses you need to be prepared for a Master’s Degree in health science.

What Are the Educational Prerequisites to Enter a Master’s Program in Health Science?

When you want to get accepted into a graduate program where you will be learning advanced curriculum, you need to show that you have learned core skills and have a foundation of information that will prepare you for the coursework. To show this, you will need to have specific courses under your belt that prepare you for the advanced theory instruction you are required to absorb as you earn a Master’s degree in health sciences.

Any time you are applying to an accredited health science program, you must show that the coursework you took as an undergraduate student was also at an accredited institution. You must also have a minimum of a 3.0 undergraduate Grade Point Average when you apply to most programs. This is why researching colleges is so important before you ever enroll in your first course.

What Classes Must You Take Before Taking Advanced Curriculum?

When you pursue a Bachelor of Science in health sciences, you do not have to worry about selecting courses that will satisfy admissions councils. This is because the program has been designed to satisfy the strict requirements of entering into a relevant health sciences graduate program. If you go another route and then later discover that you would prefer to major in health science, you will have to select the right combination of courses to make up for deficiencies in health sciences coursework. You must take relevant upper division courses that carry graduate credit and the courses must have been completed within 7 years of applying for the graduate program.

What Other Requirements Should You Consider?

In addition to meeting the prior educational prerequisites, you must be able to show that you have the verbal, analytical and quantitative skill you need to make it through school. To do this, most schools require that you take a Graduate Record Exam standardized test. Preparation for this test is a must if you want to show admissions councils that you are the right candidate. Be sure to review the application deadline so that your scores are submitted on time.

The key to choosing the right educational path when you are pursuing higher education is to do a lot of research. If you are not quite sure what you want to do as you complete your general education classes, don’t be like the many students who make a change halfway through their program. Wait until you know what you want to pursue and then you will not have to take extra courses to pursue a master’s degree in health science.

For more information on health science degrees, please see: Top 20 Most Affordable Health Science Degree Programs.