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Applied Health Sciences

Discover your potential and make a difference in the world of healthcare.

The Department of Applied Health Sciences believes in emboldening and equipping faith-based, future applied scientists to expand the limits of known knowledge for the inspiration of innovations, service, and leadership within dynamic healthcare settings. Our faculty fosters interdisciplinary and collaborative relationships, inspires application through real-world experiences, and mentors systematic investigation. Your God-given talents will be guided and strengthened through our values of intentionality, authenticity, innovative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary approaches for a successful career in an applied science or healthcare field.

Majors, Minors, and Programs

Exercise Science Major
Human Bioenergetics Major
Rehabilitation and Movement Science Major

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Upcoming Events

APR 6 2024

Understanding Creation: A Christian Reflection on Artificial Intelligence

8:30 a.m. Anderson Center Community Room

The annual faith/science mini-conference, co-hosted by Bethel University and Crown College, will explore a Christian perspective on artificial intelligence and machine learning.

MAY 11 2024

Science Research Symposium

1:30 p.m. Brushaber Commons Atrium

Come support and celebrate our Bethel Science students! Find out about their research and internships during their presentations at our Science Research symposium.

Preparing you to lead in the world of healthcare

Bethel’s applied health sciences department will prepare you to serve and lead as you promote health and wellness in all aspects of life. You'll participate in hands-on learning in professional settings, collaborate with experienced professors, and prepare for a wide range of careers through a holistic education—all within a faith-based community. You'll learn how to take your faith in Christ and integrate it into everything you learn so you can accomplish incredible things—in your career, in your community, and in your world.

Biokinetics students in the lab.

70%

of department graduates go on to pursue medical school, physical therapy, physician assistant, or other advanced degree programs

Bethel is one of the first universities that hires practicing clinicians to show students how to apply textbook concepts in a professional setting.

Program Highlights

Empowering Christ-guided healthcare professionals

While growing in leadership and service, you’ll learn what it means to push the boundaries of knowledge within the healthcare field. Students leave Bethel with what they need to succeed, including hands-on client care experience, observations, and networking opportunities through our club and peer-to-peer mentoring.

Developing comprehensive skills for success

We believe that your success in applied health sciences goes beyond academics. To ensure you excel in your chosen field, we place great emphasis on developing both hard and soft skills. By nurturing and integrating interdisciplinary and collaborative relationships, cross departmental and external networking opportunities, internships, and multi-semester human subject research, we encourage the application of knowledge through real-world scenarios and strategic investigations. Students delve deep into their portfolios, preparing them for the journey after Bethel.

Preparation for life beyond Bethel

We’re focused on equipping you for your future career—whether that is graduate school or direct employment. About 80% of our students go on to pursue further education in healthcare-related fields. Our top graduate paths include physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, and optometry. However, our department also provides options for non-traditional routes, such as health coaching, fitness-oriented strength and conditioning, overall fitness/wellness, medical device sales, nutrition coaching, and pharmaceutical research.

Holistic health and wellness

The applied health sciences department offers cross-disciplinary degrees that combine study in biology, chemistry, physics, and social sciences with practical, research-based applications to human health. Our degrees cover a range of interest areas in health-related professions, including nutrition, fitness assessment and performance, and disease prevention control. We foster a client-centered care approach and encourage lifelong learning skills.

What can I do with a degree in Applied Health Sciences?

Applied health sciences students prepare for professional careers in a variety of industries and graduate programs.

Careers

Our graduates work as:

  • Physician assistants/associates
  • Physical therapists
  • Physical therapist assistants
  • Occupational therapists
  • Athletic trainers
  • Medical doctors
  • Doctors of osteopathic medicine
  • Optometrists
  • Clinical psychologists
  • Chiropractors

Graduate Schools

Our alumni attend:

  • University of Minnesota
  • St. Catherine University
  • Minnesota State University Mankato
  • Mayo Clinic College of Health Sciences
  • University of Ohio
  • University of North Dakota
  • Palmer College of Chiropractics
  • Northwestern Health Sciences University
  • Des Moines University
  • University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • University of Dubuque
  • Arcadia University
  • Midwestern
  • Concordia University St Paul
  • MGH Institute of Health Professions
  • College of St. Scholastica
  • Belmont University
  • University of Arlington Texas
  • Bethel University

Graduate Fields

Graduate fields our alumni go into:

  • Physical Therapy
  • Physician Assistant
  • Chiropractic
  • Medical
  • Exercise physiology
  • Occupational therapy
  • Biomedical