St. Bonaventure University

Health Science Program


Choose one of four concentrations in preparation for a career in healthcare under the broad context of intellectual growth, academic excellence, and engaged service to others.

The Health Science program provides the opportunity to study courses in medical terminology, health research methods, nutrition and epidemiology. As seniors, you will intern under professionals in your chosen health field, and, during senior capstone, you will engage in discussions of health issues with peers and professors.

Select a concentration that interests you

Graduates will be well prepared for immediate employment in health promotion or continued graduate studies in a variety of allied health fields. Majors will select one of the following concentrations.

  • GENERAL
    This concentration provides students a path to use the degree to support health care careers immediately upon graduation. Examples include health promotion, patient and health educator. Students may also pursue professional degree programs in public health (wellness education), business (pharmaceutical sales), law (health care regulation), and public policy (health care reform).

  • OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
    This concentration prepares students who want to pursue graduate studies in Occupational Therapy (MS, MOT). Occupational Therapists help people across their lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).

  • KINESIOLOGY
    This prepares students who want to pursue graduate studies in Physical Therapy (DPT).  Physical therapists (PTs) are licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility, in many cases without expensive surgery and often reducing the need for long-term use of prescription medications and their side effects.

  • BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
    This concentration prepares students who want to pursue graduate studies in Physician Assistant Studies (MS). Physician assistants, also known as PAs, practice medicine on teams with physicians, surgeons, and other health care workers. They examine, diagnose, and treat patients.


A major rooted in our Franciscan heritage


Saint Francis was an exemplar of compassionate concern and care for others, of putting their needs before his own.

When St. Bonaventure was young, he was very ill. Legend has it that his mother prayed to St. Francis for his recovery, forever linking these extraordinary men. Bonaventure went on to join the Franciscan order and become a renowned scholar and philosopher.

Francis was a man of great compassion. He cared for lepers at a time when life-threatening diseases were not only highly contagious, but people who interacted with those afflicted were scorned. 

St. Bonaventure University was established 600 years later by Italian friars inspired by these two extraordinary men.

Still today, Franciscans are heroes in their own right, deeply valuing the individual worth and dignity of all people and the relationships humans forge with each other. When considering a future in health care, we believe it’s essential to embrace these values.


Program information


The Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, which prepares graduates for immediate employment or for graduate studies.


Degree requirements and a four-year plan of study for the Health Science major



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