Health Sciences
This program is designed to give you the first two years of a Bachelor’s degree.
What You'll Learn
Build your future in healthcare with foundational courses in biology, chemistry, psychology, and more.
You’ll explore how the human body and mind work, develop essential chemistry and math skills used across the healthcare industry, and prepare for advanced study in related fields. This transfer-friendly degree opens the door to a wide range of careers across healthcare administration and direct patient care. Your credits seamlessly transfer to partner institutions such as SUNY Upstate Medical University, SUNY Cortland, Alfred University, and additional four-year programs.
This program begins accepting students in Spring 2026!
Where You’ll Go
Radiation Therapist
- Prepare and position patients for radiation treatments, ensuring accuracy and comfort before each session.
- Operate linear accelerators and other radiation delivery equipment to administer prescribed cancer treatments.
- Follow precise treatment plans created by radiation oncologists and medical physicists, ensuring correct dosage and targeting.
- Monitor patients during treatment, watching for physical or emotional distress and stopping procedures if needed.
- Maintain detailed treatment records, documenting each session and any patient reactions or changes.
- Provide patient education and support, explaining procedures, side effects, and aftercare in a reassuring way.
- Collaborate with the oncology care team, including doctors, nurses, and physicists, to adjust and coordinate treatment plans.
- Ensure safety and quality control, performing equipment checks and following strict radiation safety protocols.
Respiratory Therapist
- Assess patients’ breathing and lung function using tests like spirometry, blood gases, and physical evaluation.
- Administer respiratory treatments and therapies, including nebulizers, inhalers, chest physiotherapy, and airway clearance techniques.
- Manage ventilators and other life-support equipment for patients who cannot breathe on their own.
- Respond to emergency situations, providing airway management, CPR support, and rapid breathing interventions.
- Educate patients on managing chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, or cystic fibrosis.
- Monitor patient progress and adjust treatment plans based on response to therapy and physician instructions.
- Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other specialists to coordinate care for patients with respiratory issues.
- Document treatments and patient outcomes to ensure accurate medical records and continuity of care.
Radiography Technologist
- Prepare patients for imaging procedures, explaining the process and ensuring comfort and proper positioning.
- Operate X-ray and other imaging equipment to capture high-quality diagnostic images safely and accurately.
- Follow strict radiation safety protocols to protect patients, themselves, and other staff.
- Adjust equipment settings based on the type of exam and the area of the body being imaged.
- Evaluate images for clarity and diagnostic quality, repeating views if necessary to meet physician requirements.
- Assist radiologists by providing images and relevant patient information for interpretation.
- Maintain and troubleshoot imaging equipment, ensuring it remains calibrated and functioning properly.
- Document procedures and update patient records, contributing to accurate and efficient clinical workflows.
Salary information presented are estimates and can be different for each individual based on education, experience, and the specific employer. Labor market data is based on 2021 estimates derived from Lightcast (Career Coach | Lightcast)
The careers listed above are just a starting point. Our programs mix together important concepts and hands-on skills—but that doesn’t mean your future has to follow the same script. Find out more at Career Exploration & Support.
Salary information presented are estimates and can be different for each individual based on education, experience, and the specific employer. Labor market data is based on 2021 estimates derived from Lightcast (Career Coach | Lightcast)
The careers listed above are just a starting point. Our programs mix together important concepts and hands-on skills—but that doesn’t mean your future has to follow the same script. Find out more at Career Exploration & Support.
Program Requirements
To Graduate At least 60 credits + 2.0 GPA or higher
Note: View the Pre-requisites for Upstate Medical University programs
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL098/100 | Accelerated Writing Skills/Academic Writing I | ||
| RDNG116 | College Reading and Study Skills | ||
| MATH020 | College Algebra Support Course | ||
| MATH029 | Statistics Support Course | ||
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSS Elective | Biotech and Freshman Success Seminar | 1 | |
| CHEM107 | General Chemistry I | 4 | C |
| or BIOL114 | Nutrition | 4 | C |
| BIOL104 | General Biology I | 4 | C |
| or BIOL101 | Principles of Biology | 3 | C |
| PSYC103 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |
| or SOCI101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | |
| ENGL100 | Academic Writing I | 3 | C |
| CAPS Elective | CAPS Elective | 1 |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM108 | General Chemistry II | 4 | C |
| or CHEM101 | Principles of Chemistry | 4 | C |
| or CHEM107 | Gen Chem I | 4 | C |
| ENGL101 | Academic Writing II | 3 | C |
| MATH120 | College Algebra | 4 | C |
| or MATH138 | Pre-Calculus | 4 | C |
| or MATH201 | Calculus | 4 | C |
| BIOL216 | General Microbiology | 3 - 4 | C |
| or BIOL112 | Medical Microbiology | 3 | C |
| CAPS Elective | CAPS Elective | 1 - 2 |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL131 | Principles of Anatomy I | 4 | C |
| or BIOL201 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 | C |
| CHEM205 | Organic Chemistry | 4 | C |
| or NATSCI Elective | General Physics I | 4 | C |
| or MATH Elective | NatSCI or MATH elective | 4 | C |
| ENGL210 | Intercultural Communication | 3 | |
| SUNY Gen Ed | Humanities | 3 |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL132 | Principles of Anatomy II | 4 | |
| or BIOL202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 | |
| PSYC103 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |
| or SOCI101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | |
| MATH200 | Statistics | 3 | |
| or Natural Science Elective | Elective | 3 | |
| or PHSC211 | Physics I | 3 | |
| SUNY Gen Ed | To earn SUNY Bachelor's degree, you must earn 30 credits in at least 7 of the 10 skill areas. Select one from the following areas: US History and Civic Engagement/ World History and Global Awareness/World Languages/Arts | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | Courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor and should be based on requirements at the intended four-year transfer institution. Applied learning experiences and/or internships are highly encouraged. | 3 |
Transfer Agreements
To Transfer choose a Transfer Agreement below
If your goal is to earn a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, it’s important to use a specific transfer agreement to help you decide which classes to register for. If you need help, reach out to our Transfer Advisors.
| Transfer School Sort descending | Transfer Program |
|---|---|
Transfer School: Alfred University |
Transfer Programl: Sports and Health Sciences B.S. |
Transfer School: Upstate Medical University |
Transfer Programl: College of Health Professions |
Transfer School: SUNY Cortland |
Transfer Programl: Community Health B.S. |
On this page
Free Community College!
SUNY ReConnect can boost your earning power with a free associate degree in a high-demand fields like engineering, nursing, education, green jobs or cybersecurity. Open to all New York State residents age 25-55 who don't already have a college degree.
Take on as much (or as little) as you want. Our smaller programs provide you with credits you can apply to higher programs – when you’re ready!