Glenville State University BOG Approves new BA in Health Sciences to Help Combat the Rural Healthcare Crisis
GLENVILLE, WV – Glenville State University Board of Governors met this week and approved the new Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program. This program is a reformulation of existing degree programs within the College of Health Sciences to more transparently prepare students for professional degrees. The concentrations include Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Physician’s Assistant, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Chiropractic, and Pre-Athletic Training
University President, Mark A. Manchin, wants to see Glenville State University as the Beacon of Rural Healthcare in the state. “I am extremely excited about this opportunity to improve healthcare in central WV,” Manchin said. “The ultimate goal is to prepare students to continue their healthcare education so that, one day, they will return to their rural communities and serve their friends and neighbors.”
Dean of Health Sciences, Dr. Kevin Evans is proud of the opportunity to serve not only West Virginia, but also rural communities throughout the Eastern United States. “Developing this essential pipeline of prepared, driven students into strong graduate level programs throughout the East Coast could change the trajectory of medicine in these rural areas” Dr. Evans said. Evans has been an integral part of this process, working with Dr. Meri Clements, Provost of GSU, to develop a challenging program to prepare and inspire GSU students to continue their education as seamlessly as possible.
Dr. Evans has worked to develop memorandums of understanding with multiple professional schools in each concentration to ensure that, upon graduating with a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA, GSU students will have guaranteed spots waiting for them. “This fantastic opportunity will not only equip our students and grow the university, it will also make great strides in improving rural healthcare – making quality healthcare available to all West Virginians,” said Clements.
The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program will be available to students beginning in fall 2025 and is designed to provide a smooth transition into the respective degrees in medicine and allied health. It will provide 44 credit hours of core foundational knowledge in healthcare, 32 credit hours of coursework to meet the typical prerequisite requirements for the specific professional health-related program, and 14 credit hours of electives (general and/or restricted) for any unique requirements and to strengthen their academic preparation.
To learn more about this and other Glenville State University Programs, please visit https://www.glenville.edu/
