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Health Science, B.S.

College of Arts and Sciences
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A Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Indiana Tech is a direct route for careers in nursing, occupational therapy, radiation technology, as a physician assistant or other allied health occupations that are in great demand nationwide. In addition, this degree program boasts a high placement rate after graduation.

Our health science program is unique to others in the region, because you will learn the basis of human disease and how one gets sick. The result is a graduate who is ready to make an immediate and impactful contribution to the workforce. Your education will be enriched through memorable hands-on activities in a modern, state-of-the-art laboratory that include diverse anatomical dissections; unique physiological experiments that include work with clinical “case” unknowns; wet-lab genetic, chromosomal, and DNA applications; and intensive bacterial and microbial plating and incubations. With coursework that includes anatomy, physiology, health care management, data analysis, psychology and biomedical research, you will learn medical and clinical terminology, protocols and practices. You will also be able to demonstrate critical thinking, inquiry and analysis in scientific, medical and clinical contexts.

The student composition for Indiana Tech’s health science degree is diverse and multicultural. Also, the program is guided by an advisory board, which consists of practicing and licensed health care professionals, including a medical doctor, who is director of surgery at a major medical center; a certified nurse practitioner; a program director of medical laboratory sciences at a major health care center; and a certified radiation technician. Based on their advice, this program stays competitive and will prepare you for shadowing and internship opportunities, in the health care and biomedical fields, that will get you placed.

Why choose Indiana Tech?

  • Inquiry-based training, focusing on professional development and internship experience, in partnership with major health care, clinical and hospital networks.
  • A feature that is unique to the region, our program offers three semesters of rigorous anatomy and physiology courses that will foster clinical mastery.
  • A program feature that is unique to the region, integrated, third-party authentic preparations for certifications and/or state licensure will be included in your coursework.
  • You will be immersed in modern biomedical research and techniques, including studies in Type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer.
  • Indiana Tech fosters an active learning environment, enriched by instructors who possess years of experience in their respective fields.

Health Sciences Lab

Indiana Tech’s state-of-the-art health sciences lab gives students hands-on experience with equipment that is commonly used in the field. The result is a learning environment that helps students reinforce concepts and strengthen their understanding of what is learned in the classroom.

Microscopes

Microscopy is used for observing, in detail, microscopic-sized living and fixed cells. We use the LMC-3000 Series BF-Binoc Compound Microscope Systems that allow for clear, crisp imaging under bright-field observation for clinical specimens. These clinical specimens include human tissues, such as liver and breast cancer cells.

Spectronic 200 spectrophotometer

Determining protein concentrations and enzymatic activity can be achieved by measuring the absorbance of light at a specific wavelength through spectrophotometry. We are using the Spectronic 200 spectrophotometer for the colorimetric analysis of clinical samples. These clinical samples include urine samples from healthy and unhealthy donors, and the students can apply their mastery of their understanding pathophysiologic basis for underlying illness with the spectroscopic data that they acquire.

Ultraviolet light transilluminator

Visualization of DNA bands, for example, used in DNA fingerprinting for paternity testing, is performed with the use of a specific dye binding to DNA, and then this dye fluoresces when exposed to ultraviolet light. In this lab, we have an elegant ultraviolet light transilluminator for the detection of DNA banding.

High-speed Centrifuge

Tabletop high-speed centrifuges are used to spin down, under a large centripetal force, cellular material. The upper fraction, the supernatant, can be isolated, and then intracellular DNA can be retrieved. We are using the accuSpin Micro 17 microcentrifuge for contemporary nucleic acid-based instruction and for other microliter volume separations.

Microbial Incubator

Microbiological instruction requires high-density microbe populations. Microbes can grow at logarithmic rates during a short time at temperatures around human body temperature. In order to grow these high-density populations, we have a MaxQ 6000 Incubator for clinical bacterial cultures and bacterial mutation experiments.

Cell Culture Research Facility

Isolating and culturing human and animal cells requires a separate room with a workstation that has air filtering and is contained. Under this isolation, treating these cells in various conditions can model human pathological conditions, and students can determine, at the molecular level, the cellular mechanisms behind this pathology. To do this modern instruction, we have a cell culture research facility that includes a 6-foot Labconco Logic+ Class II, Type A2 biosafety cabinet and 2 Heracell 150i, 150-liter CO2 incubators for modern cell culture experiments and research pursuits.

Water Purifier

Water, free from impurities, is needed to conduct precise experiments with minimal variability. Water is the foundation for almost all physiological experiments. The interpretation of results can safely be made, free of doubt, with water that is ultrapure and free of impurities that can distort these results. We have the Barnstead Smart2Pure Water Purification System that converts tap water to both ASTM Type 1 and Type 2 water. This has a 6-liter tank and vent filter, pretreatment cartridge, ultrapure polisher cartridge, a sterile 0.2 µm filter, pressure regulator, ultraviolet lamp, and filter.

Preparation Area

Preparing buffers and reagents for multi-phase laboratory instruction done in a well-equipped room facilitates instruction. We have a functional preparatory area that includes a 6-foot Air Master Systems fume hood for experimental work with solvents and reagents, and also a Synergy HTX multi-mode microplate reader for ultraviolet-visual absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence, and AlphaScreen/AlphaLISA workflows. It includes a dual reagent injector module. This microplate reader reads 96-well plates and ultrasensitive readings on biochemical reactions. We have enzymatic kits that can, for instance, determine hormone levels in human blood, and determine if there are endocrine disorders present in the donor.

Connectivity

We have natural gas and electrical connectivity at all laboratory workstations. Students can use modern biotechnology devices at their workstations and do not need to move to a side workspace, for instance. This maintains efficiency and allows for maximum instruction. These equipped workstations allow for less crowding and subsequent analytical errors at typical side workspaces.

pH/mV Meters

Determining the pH of solutions is critical in physiology. Cells and enzymes are sensitive to the pH of solutions. Cellular reactions are optimized under ideal pH, and having sensitive tools to adjust accurately the pH of solutions through titration is important in instructional methodologies. We have state-of-the-art MettlerToledo FiveEasy F20 pH/mV meters for critical titration procedures that can ensure accurate pH adjustment of solutions that yield precise data.

Career Outlook

A B.S. in Health Science from Indiana Tech prepares you for a wide variety of in-demand careers. Below, you can explore career fields, salary information and employer demand from our partners at Lightcast, the leading labor market and career data provider in the U.S.

Job Outlook

Below are some of the potential career opportunities available to graduates with this degree. Additionally, you will find national statistics for average annual salaries and projected job growth, as identified by BLS.gov statistics. Salaries can vary based on the market in which you live and the prior experience you bring to the position.

  • Registered nurse $73,300/year

Job outlook through 2029: 7 percent increase

  • Physician assistant $112,260/year

Job outlook through 2029: 31 percent increase

  • Occupational therapist $84,950/year

Job outlook through 2029: 16 percent increase

  • Radiation technologist $62,280/year

Job outlook through 2029: 7 percent increase

  • Pharmacist $128,090/year

Job outlook through 2029: 2 percent decrease

  • Health educators and community health workers $46,910/year

Job outlook through 2029: 13 percent increase

Internship Opportunities

To help launch this new program, we are working with the following partners, among others, to offer internship opportunities for our students:

  • Allied health care organizations, such as the Indiana State Department of Health
  • Clinical health care facilities, such as Parkview Regional Medical Center and Lutheran Hospital of Indiana
  • Medical laboratories, such as Parkview Medical Laboratories
  • Home health care or assisted living facilities such as The Towne House