To help prepare graduates for careers in some of the nation’s most in-demand fields, Cal Poly Humboldt is launching its Bachelor of Science in Health & Medical Sciences this fall.
The program will equip students for careers as physicians or physician assistants, pharmacists, and other rapidly growing healthcare professions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in these fields is expanding faster than the average for all occupations, with nearly 2 million projected job openings each year.
Depending on their career path, students can tailor their studies for careers in patient care or research, with concentrations in:
- Pre-Medical Doctor/Doctor of Osteopathy (Pre-MD/DO)
- Pre-Physical Therapy (Pre-PT)
- Pre-Physician Assistant (Pre-PA)
- Pre-Clinical Lab Scientist (Pre-CLS)
Pre-Pharmacy (Pre-Pharm)
Students will also gain hands-on experience and learn basic skills using simulation and virtual reality tools in the University’s Health Education Hub. The hub, scheduled to launch next year, brings together community partners and students in health-related programs to learn how integrated, real-world healthcare works.
The interdisciplinary degree integrates the biological, social, and behavioral sciences that underpin modern healthcare, giving students a deep understanding of the factors that shape patient outcomes and medical research. Coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and human anatomy is paired with studies in psychology, sociology, ethics, and child development (depending on the concentration)—as well as internships and shadowing at local healthcare facilities.
"Great healthcare professionals need a strong foundation in science, but they also need to understand the people and communities they serve," said Justus Ortega, interim dean of the College of Professional Studies. "This program helps students develop both, preparing them for a wide range of careers in today’s healthcare field."
The degree is part of Cal Poly Humboldt’s ongoing polytechnic expansion, which has included the launch of 12 new programs since 2023. Additional academic programs will roll out this fall, and more are expected in 2029.
More information about the new programs is available at humboldt.edu/academics/new-polytechnic-programs.