School of Health Sciences Adds Emphases in Public Health, Health and Wellness to Roster of Health Care Degrees

Albany, N.Y. (January 26, 2012) – With job growth in the health care sector one of the few bright spots in the U.S. employment landscape, Excelsior College's School of Health Sciences (SHS) has expanded its bachelor's-level health science degree program to include two new emphases: one in public health and another in health and wellness.

Excelsior's Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree – among the fastest-growing programs at Excelsior College - already includes emphasis options in health care Management, gerontology, health education, and end-of-life care. The new focus areas further expand students' choices as they explore the array of career paths available in hospitals, medical offices, laboratories, community clinics and other settings. In addition, the public health emphasis will help to prepare students who are interested in later pursuing graduate-level studies in public health.

"Excelsior is constantly adapting its degree programs to workforce trends and we see growing job opportunities in health care that require a bachelor's degree," said Dr. Deborah Sopczyk, dean of the School of Health Sciences at Excelsior. "In addition to their growing interest in our existing programs, we find more students expressing interest in public health issues and in the field of health and wellness."

Excelsior's School of Health Sciences has seen steady enrollment growth; for instance, during the 2010-2011 academic year the number of students in SHS programs rose by 50 percent.

The two new degree program emphases open on February 1.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care is projected to generate 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs between 2008 and 2018. Although a range of educational backgrounds is evident across the health care professions, many industry jobs require a four-year college degree or master's degree These jobs are found in hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, nutrition centers, medical and outpatient offices, surgical centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation programs, and a range of other settings where health care is delivered and administered.

Students pursuing the BS in Health Science with an emphasis in health and wellness must complete the Health and Wellness course, plus six additional elective credits in the focus area.

For those interested in the BS in Health Science with a Public Health emphasis, Introduction to Epidemiology and Principles of Public Health are required courses, and an additional three credits in the focus area are required.

For higher-level jobs in health care management, a 16 percent growth rate is projected between 2008 and 2018. Much of this job growth is due to a rapidly aging population. Excelsior students interested in higher-level management careers in health care can choose the dual-degree track leading to a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and an MBA.

Information about the Excelsior School of Health Sciences can be found on the School of Health Sciences page on the College Web site.