Health Science and Nursing degree programs have a lot in common—they lead students into caring, impactful careers in health and wellness. This causes many prospective students to wonder, “Can you become a nurse with a Health Science degree?”

Well, yes and no. Both degrees—Health Science and Nursing—are foundational within the healthcare field. However, they are not interchangeable. Nursing and Health Science are each distinct degrees that provide opportunities for different career paths.

Nursing degrees typically lead to patient-centered roles like Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse. Health Science degrees can qualify you for a range of research or leadership-based professions in healthcare. The best choice for you depends on your interests and career goals. Do you wish to work directly with patients, or behind the scenes in research or management?

Let’s explore the differences between a Health Science vs. Nursing degree before deciding which program is right for you.

Is nursing a health science?

Yes, nursing is generally considered a health science department, but it is distinct from a Health Science degree. Both are categorized under the broader healthcare industry umbrella.

Nursing degree

Nursing requires a specialized degree that follows specific requirements and training to achieve licensing (LPN, RN, or APRN, for example). Much of the curriculum within a Nursing degree program intersects with health sciences. Both a Bachelor’s in Nursing, for example, and a Health Science degree offer a well-rounded understanding of human health, disease, and medical treatment. However, Nursing programs have more emphasis on clinical skills and direct patient care training.

Health Science degree

Health Science is a dynamic degree that can lead to a wide range of healthcare careers, including healthcare administration, medical technology, patient care advocacy, counseling, research, or even public health. A Health Science degree program tends to place greater emphasis on the operational side of healthcare than the patient or clinical side.

Health Science vs. Nursing degree: The difference

If you’re still debating Health Science vs. Nursing, it boils down to this: Nursing, while under the health science umbrella, spends many curriculum hours focused on patient care, while a Health Science degree focuses more curriculum hours on health management, technology, and research.

Each degree provides graduates with a different scope of skills and knowledge suitable for different career paths. Health Science degrees prepare graduates for the operational side of healthcare, while a Nursing degree will best prepare you for a hands-on career focused on patient care, even though you may dip in and out of administration and/or leadership roles over the years.

What can you do with a Health Science degree?

For those interested in the healthcare field from a birds-eye view, a Health Science degree is a versatile starting point that offers a broad understanding of healthcare, thereby setting you up for an array of career options. Careers in healthcare are in constant demand and steadily rising, with about 1.9 million openings projected each year over the coming decade.

A Health Science degree can set you up for research, advocacy, education, counseling, administration, or even writing roles. Truly, the options with this degree are endless. Here are some of the most popular career outcomes of a Health Science degree:

Health service management

Many Health Science degree graduates pursue a career in health service management. They are responsible for overseeing operations, which can include a range of duties from regulation compliance to quality control.

Health office administration

Health office administration is similar to a health service manager. They handle day-to-day operations in a medical office, including billing, scheduling, and patient management.

Health education

Health educators promote wellness in the community. They often create programs for public consumption to improve the community’s overall health or address an issue.

Public health

People who hold office in the public health sphere work to improve population health. In this career, you could be researching health trends, advising on public health policy, and crafting health-focused campaigns.

Learn how to start your career in healthcare through Goodwin University

Can I switch from health science to nursing (and how)?

Yes, you can absolutely switch from health science to nursing. With a great job outlook and the demand expected to rise 5% faster than the national average, now is a great time to pursue a career in nursing, and a lot of skills are transferable. Plus, due to the crossover for required courses, it may be easier than you think to transfer schools or switch programs. If you’re ready to switch from a Health Science to Nursing degree, here’s where you should focus:

• Consult a guidance counselor: Before doing anything in your student portal, it’s imperative that you speak to your guidance counselor. They have access to the degree requirements and understand them inside and out. From transferring credits to a completion timeline, they’ve got you covered. A counselor can walk you through what you need to do to get started on your new career path.
• Choose a nursing program: There are various types of nursing programs, including associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and certificate or diploma programs. The program you choose can impact the type of nurse you become (for example, LPN vs. RN), so be sure to choose a Nursing degree that supports your career goals. Additionally, some schools, like Goodwin University, offer ABSN, which allows you to fast-track your degree if you already have a bachelor’s degree under your belt.
• Complete clinical coursework: To become a licensed nurse, you’ll need additional clinical coursework that likely was not included in your Health Science program, where you can gain experience with patient care and laboratory settings.

Transitioning from health science to nursing can be easy. With the right support and proper planning, you can graduate on track or even sooner with an accelerated program!

Can you become a nurse with a Health Science degree?

While you could pursue nursing down the line with additional schooling and preparation for licensing, a Health Science degree does not qualify you to be a nurse directly. Nursing necessitates different hands-on training in clinical care.

To become a nurse, you need a Nursing degree from an accredited nursing school. The options for Nursing degrees include an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. If you’ve already completed a Health Science degree and want to go into nursing, you’ll likely qualify for an accelerated BSN program. Much of your coursework from your Health Science degree will transfer, but you will be required to do some additional clinical training.

Start your career in healthcare at Goodwin University

Whether you’re drawn to nursing or the health sciences, Goodwin University is here to help. With supportive faculty and flexible degree paths, you can achieve your career goals in healthcare.

The choice between Health Science vs. a Nursing degree is a deeply personal one. Understanding the career options with both is important to your decision-making process. Regardless of what path you choose, Goodwin University is here to support you.

Learn more about the healthcare programs at Goodwin University to see which program (and field) is the best fit for your interests and goals.