Health Science

Data from the World Health Organization show to what extent gains in global health and well-being are being made, the great distance there is yet to travel, and the inequalities that exist among and within countries with respect to life expectancy and access to services. Programs in the Health Sciences seek to address these challenges. Interdisciplinary in nature, they apply the principles and practices of mathematics and the natural sciences, engineering and technology, and the social and behavioral sciences to the improvement of human and animal health. The Health Sciences encompass a variety of fields and include programming for those engaged in the delivery of health care (e.g., nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine); those doing research on the causes and treatment of illness (e.g., physiologists, pharmacologists); and those working to prevent disease and promote societal health and well-being (e.g., public health).

UoPeople has chosen to make Health Science its first offering in the area of the Health Sciences because the world-wide need is so great. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that health-related programs will be the fastest growing employment sector in the coming decade due to an aging population and changes in the health care market. In other parts of the globe affected by war, famine and limited resources, the demand for health care prevention and education is enormous.

The Health Science degree offers a uniquely interdisciplinary approach to studying health behavior at both the global and local levels. The discipline’s foundation covers public health policy and practices impacting human health infrastructures contributing to health disparities. The degree emphasizes research, planning, development, and implementation in health education, disease prevention, and community programming.