Quinnipiac University has launched a new online bachelor’s program for individuals with associate degrees who would like to pursue either new positions in the health care industry, promotions in their current jobs or graduate degrees in related health care professions.
The university’s new bachelor of science in health science studies enables associate of science degree holders to apply earned credits toward a bachelor’s degree.
“Over the years, I have advised many health care employees who are working full-time who come to Quinnipiac University part-time to finish their BS degrees,” said Christine Fitzgerald, professor and director of the program. “I am very glad we will now have more convenient and accelerated online courses to help them complete the program.”
The program is both a career enhancer and career changer, said Edward O’Connor, dean of the School of Health Sciences.
“The new, totally online option to earn a bachelor of health science studies at Quinnipiac will have a broad appeal to those with college experience and/or health professions backgrounds, as well as those wishing to break into the health professions field,” O’Connor said. “This program will prepare students for potential promotion opportunities at their current places of employment as well as prepare them for further education in any health care professions field at the graduate level.”
The degree will give students a foundation for entry-level positions or for graduate studies in a health science field, such as nutrition, optometry, cardiovascular perfusion, chiropractic medicine, medical laboratory sciences, radiology or dentistry, Fitzgerald said.
“The university is also committed, through Quinnipiac University Online, to providing access to a quality online learning experience for a non-traditional working population,” said Cynthia Gallatin, associate vice president for online programs. “The launch of our bachelor degree completion programs, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) and the Bachelor of Science in Health Science Studies do that respectively. Both programs were designed for associate degree holders in various health professions fields.”