Health Sciences at NIU
Bachelor of Science

Your career as a physical therapist or health care professional starts here.

Choose health sciences to build a strong foundation for your health care career. In addition to patient care and outcomes, you'll learn about health care management and finance with a global perspective. Whether you pursue graduate study or enter the workforce, you'll have the knowledge, skills and cultural competence to succeed.

Already licensed/credentialed in a related field? Learn about our online health sciences degree completion program.

My major is health sciences with an emphasis in pre-physical therapy and my minor is Spanish. Physical therapy is an excellent way for me to network and meet new people while helping them to feel better.
Onique Bryson of Aurora, Illinois
Health sciences major, emphasis in pre-physical therapy

ApplyFind Health Sciences Scholarships

What Can I Do With a Health Sciences Degree From NIU?

Our program will prepare you enter the workforce in a variety of health care roles, or to pursue further study in physical therapy or another area.

Top skills reported by alumni:

  • Customer service
  • Leadership
  • Management
  • Sales
  • Strategic planning

Top fields alumni work in:

  • Health care
  • Education
  • Life sciences
  • Insurance
  • Services

Career Potential for NIU Health Sciences Majors

Average mid-career salary:

$77,379

Top employers include:

  • Athletico
  • ATI Physical Therapy
  • DuPage Medical Group
  • Northwestern Medicine
  • Rush University Medical Center

Job titles include:

  • Clinic director
  • Registered nurse
  • Occupational therapist
  • Physical therapist
  • Physical therapy director

Source: Steppingblocks, 2023

What to Expect as a Health Sciences Major at NIU

In addition to your health care knowledge, our science-based curriculum will build your communication and critical-thinking skills. Depending on your goals after graduation, you can choose one of two emphases:

  • General health sciences: to start/advance your career or begin a medical laboratory science or nursing degree program
  • Pre-physical therapy: to prepare for graduate study and become a physical therapist

Explore health sciences courses.

How We’ll Help You Succeed

Apply for free and we’ll automatically consider you for a renewable merit scholarship.

Earn your bachelor’s degree fast with our affordable tuition and fees. Any credit hours you take over 12 are free (per semester).

Prepare to thrive after graduation with personalized support from Career Services.

With our truth-in-tuition policy, you’ll get the same fixed tuition rate for four continuous years, whether you live in Illinois or another state.

Apply to NIU

First-year Students
(Freshman)

High School GPA

3.0 or higher?

You're guaranteed general NIU admission.

ACT/SAT SCORES

Not considered.

We think your high school GPA is a better predictor of your success.

First-Year Application

Add us to your common app list

First-Year Application

Add us to your common app list

Transfer Students

ALL COLLEGES GPA

2.0 or higher?

You're guaranteed general NIU admission.

ALL COLLEGES GPA

3.0 or higher?

You're guaranteed a
renewable merit scholarship
.

See how your credits transfer

Apply to NIU as a Transfer Student

See how your credits transfer

Apply to NIU as a Transfer Student

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