Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences—Allied Health

This degree is offered entirely online.

Medical Assisting (MA) Emphasis

 The online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences – Allied Health program empowers students who have completed an associate’s degree and obtained their state license or certification to elevate their careers in health-related fields. This innovative curriculum is ideal for working professionals. 

In our program, students delve into foundational health promotion and disease prevention concepts, sharpening their critical thinking and problem-solving skills while enhancing their ability to communicate effectively with diverse teams. This comprehensive approach equips students to collaborate to provide exceptional, patient-centered care. 

Our curriculum emphasizes leadership and interprofessional education, essential skills for navigating the complexities of today’s healthcare landscape. We infuse diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice principles throughout the program, ensuring we equitably serve students from all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. This includes understanding and addressing health disparities and advocating for equitable healthcare.  

The Allied Health program also addresses the critical issue of career burnout. We provide a range of practical strategies and tools to help students manage stress and maintain their personal health and well-being. By fostering resilience and a balanced approach to work-life integration, this program ensures students feel prepared to thrive in their careers. 

Whether aspiring to become educators in their field or seeking to advance in their current roles, students will emerge from this program ready to lead, inspire, and make a meaningful impact.  

To join this program, you’ll need three things: an associate degree, a license or certification, and admission to NAU. Examples of allied health focus areas include paramedic care, medical assisting, surgical technology, respiratory care, occupational therapy assisting, and diagnostic imaging. 

What Can I Do with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences: Medical Assisting emphasis?

Do you have or are you pursuing an associate degree and license in Medical Assisting? Do you want to earn your bachelor’s degree while staying in your home community and continuing to work? Would you like to gain education that will qualify you for career advancement possibilities?

The Health Sciences–Allied Health: Medical Assisting (MA) emphasis at Northern Arizona University does not advance specific clinical knowledge or experience in your Medical Assisting discipline, but rather provides you with a broad overview of health and the healthcare environment and helps you to develop knowledge and skills for living a healthy personal lifestyle while working as an effective healthcare professional.  The Health Sciences: Medical Assisting emphasis at Northern Arizona University will provide you with knowledge to better understand the importance of disease prevention, interconnectedness of personal and societal health, stress management, and the ever-changing healthcare environment.  The capstone experience in the program focuses on leadership and interprofessional teamwork concepts to help prepare you for potential professional advancement.

Our program is a convenient and flexible way for you to complete your bachelor’s degree whether you are a current student or a working Allied Health professional in the Medical Assisting discipline. We offer a flexible degree plan that you can complete online, without leaving our community.

Note: In addition to applying and being admitted to NAU, students must also apply and be accepted to the Department of Health Sciences Allied Health program. To be eligible for this academic plan, students must be admitted to, enrolled in, or be graduates from an associate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the Medical Assisting discipline. In order to graduate with the bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences: Allied Health with a Medical Assisting emphasis, students must also have a current state or national license that matches their associate degree.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to this program, you must:

• have or be currently pursuing a Medical Assisting Associate’s degree through a regionally-accredited college
• secure state certification or licensure upon completion of your Associate’s degree
• GPA of 2.5 or higher

FAQs Have more questions?  Find out if they are answered in our FAQ section.