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Health Systems

About the program

The health systems major provides students interested in healthcare careers a broad foundation in biology, chemistry, psychology and ethics. Upon completion of the major, students will be able to design and evaluate scientific questions through hypothesis generation, experimentation and data analysis; and communicate effectively in oral and written form. Additionally, the major provides many of the prerequisite courses needed for transition to bachelor of nursing (BSN) and occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and physician's assistant (PA) graduate programs, while also being flexible enough if students interests change once they start college.

Visit our Academic Catalog (2023-2024) for course listings.

Major Features

1. The major's core requirements map to common entrance requirements of many health-related graduate programs and BSN programs.
2. The major is overseen collaboratively between three departments—biology, neuroscience and psychology. This ensures that students receive guidance and support from a variety of perspectives and have the option to choose an advisor in the field closest to their interests.
3. High-impact advising and mentoring through major advising and the Health Professions Institute will provide students with the support they need to find their path in a health-related field.

Scholarship Opportunities

Thiel College offers scholarships to students for reasons such as academic success, community service or involvement, exemplary leadership and more! The scholarships available to health systems majors are:

• Marion G. Resch Science Scholarship at Thiel College
• Dr. Chauncey G. & Mrs. Ruth H. Bly Scholarship
• Dr. Florence West Tribute to Dr. Bly
• Ruth and Sheridan Brown Allied Health Scholarship
• The Dr. Judith A Crissman '64 Endowed Scholarship Fund
• The John T. Egbert Jr. and June Smith Egbert Scholarship
• The William B. Frank Minority Scholarship in the Physical Sciences
• The Maenpa Family Biotechnology Endowed Scholarship Fund at Thiel College
• Elizabeth McElhaney Scholarship
• J. Scott Morrison Endowment for Science and Religion
• Arthur E. Smith Scholarship Fund
• TWC Amelia Earhart Scholarship
• The Ethel Smith Vierheller Award Fund
• Irene Wintersteen Memorial Science Scholarship

Visit our Financial Aid page to learn more about the types of aid available to students.

Clubs & Organizations

It's easy to get involved on campus! Joining a student club or organization is an excellent way to meet others and gain leadership experience. A health systems major might be interested in the following clubs and orgs:

• Active Minds
• Psi Chi (National Psychology Honorary)
• American Chemistry Society
• Alpha Psi Omega (American Chemical Society)
• Sigma Xi (Scientific Research Society)
• Beta Beta Beta (National Biology Honorary)
• Nu Rho Psi (National Neuroscience Honorary)

Visit our Campus Life page to see a full list of student clubs and organizations.

Careers

Here are just a few opportunities available upon graduation for health systems majors:

• Enter graduate school to become a Health Services Manager – earn a median salary of $96,540.*
• Move to a BSN program – seamlessly move into a program that will earn you a Bachelor of Science in nursing to earn a median salary of $79,000 working as a registered nurse.*
• Apply to graduate school to become a Physician’s Assistant – earn a median salary of $101,480.*
• Enter an occupational therapy program – earn a median salary of $83,741 helping people optimize their independence after an injury.*
• Enter a physical therapy program -  earn a median salary of $84,020 helping people rehabilitate after an injury.*

*Job and salary information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics