Bachelor of Applied Science in Allied Health

According to the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP), “Allied health may be defined as those health professions that are distinct from medicine and nursing” and is a field which “encompasses a broad group of helath professionals who use scientific principles and evidence-based practice for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic diseases; promote disease prevention and wellness for optimum health, and apply administration and management skills to support health care systems in a variety of settings.” Some estimates suggest that as much as 60% of the U.S. healthcare workforce qualify as allied health positions.

The possible careers you can land with an allied health degree are essentially limitless. Some examples include working as a clinical laboratory technician, dental assistant, diagnostic medical sonographer, respiratory therapist, medical assistant, or a home health aide.

The specifics of what you would do as an allied health professional depend on the career path you choose. In general, though, “allied health professionals are concerned with the identification, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of acute and chronic diseases and disorders; provision of dietary and nutrition services; rehabilitation services; and the management and operation of health systems,” according to ASAHP.

University of the Cumberlands offers an allied health degree curriculum both on-campus and online. You can pursue an Associate of Applied Science, a Bachelor of Applied Science, or a minor.

At University of the Cumberlands, you can complete your associate degree in allied health sciences in as little as 1.5 years and your bachelor’s degree in as little as two years.