2026-2027

Allied Health Practice and Leadership, Bachelor of Science

Department of Health Sciences

College of Health and Human Services

The Bachelor of Science program in Allied Health Practice and Leadership is a flexible, online program that equips graduates with the essential knowledge and skills to excel as healthcare practitioners and leaders. We specialize in preparing allied health professionals for career advancement with our competency-based curriculum. Graduates develop expertise in health policy, health ethics, leadership, interprofessional practice, and evidence-based decision-making, as well as sustaining personal and organizational resilience. Allied Health Practice and Leadership students transfer a range of credits based on their prior studies and professional experience to complement coursework completed at NAU.

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's general studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

     

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • 30 - 66 units of major requirements.

  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Major GPA C
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 114
Additional Admission Requirements Required
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Optional
Some online/blended coursework Required
Progression Plan Link Not Available

Purpose Statement

The BS in Allied Health Practice and Leadership equips graduates with the essential knowledge, skills, and professional competencies to excel as skilled, compassionate allied health leaders. The program establishes a foundation in communication and relationship management to enable effective interactions with patients, colleagues, and the broader healthcare community. Students demonstrate professionalism through ethical conduct, critical thinking, and a commitment to self-care for career longevity, including stress management and resilience skills to combat burnout and promote sustained well-being. We emphasize a comprehensive understanding of healthcare knowledge across allied health disciplines for success in specialized leadership, teaching/training, and managerial roles. Further, the program integrates business knowledge and skills to prepare graduates for the complexities of the modern healthcare system, including healthcare administration and management. Our graduates meaningfully contribute to enhanced patient care and the advancement of allied health professions.

The online BS in Allied Health Practice and Leadership program provides a convenient personalized curriculum, allowing students to transfer and apply previous coursework from other universities or colleges and/or professional experience to their NAU bachelor's degree. The Allied Health Practice and Leadership program is designed for students with an Associate of Science or Applied Associate of Science degree and/or holding licensure/certification in their allied health field of practice.

Student Learning Outcomes

Student learning outcomes focus on developing evidence-based, professional competencies adapted from the American Hospital Association and American Congress of Healthcare Executives.

  • Collaborate effectively within interprofessional teams to achieve optimal patient outcomes and shared goals in various healthcare settings.
  • Analyze the interconnectedness of personal, family, organizational, community, and societal health on individual and population health outcomes.
  • Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, including patients, colleagues, and stakeholders, using appropriate communication channels and modalities.
  • Demonstrate self-awareness and employ strategies to maintain personal health and well-being in demanding healthcare environments.
  • Exhibit professional disposition and presence, including effective communication, ethical conduct, and a commitment to lifelong learning, in allied healthcare settings.
  • Apply ethical principles, healthcare law, and health equity concepts to analyze emerging health issues and prioritize the needs of diverse populations.
  • Analyze patient safety and population health concepts to identify and mitigate risks in allied health settings.
  • Apply systems thinking principles to analyze and improve allied healthcare processes and outcomes.
  • Evaluate and mitigate potential risks within allied health settings, considering legal, ethical, and financial implications.
  • Cultivate stress management and resilience skills to promote personal well-being, prevent burnout, and ensure sustained and impactful careers in healthcare.
  • Foster organizational resiliency by implementing strategies to create supportive workplace cultures, enhance team adaptability, and maintain effective operations during times of stress or change
  • Gain and apply expertise in the area of personalized study to further enhance applied interdisciplinary knowledge and skills related to health, healthcare, and health systems
  • Integrate fundamental principles of health sciences, including biological, social, and ethical considerations, analyze health issues and data, evaluate research, and communicate evidence-based recommendations for improving individual and population health outcomes.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

  • Students must hold one of the following:

    • Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree.
    • Licensure in any allied health field.
Transfer Pathway
    • In alignment with Northern Arizona University's commitment to workforce readiness and equitable access to high-quality education, this program accepts work/life experience, industry recognized credentials, certifications and/or exams as valid evidence of prior learning.
General Studies Requirement
    • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.
    • Students who have completed the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) from an Arizona public or tribal community college, or the Cal-GETC from a California college or university are considered to have satisfied NAU's General Studies and Foundation requirements.
Major Requirements

  • This major requires 30 - 63 units distributed as follows:

    • Allied Health Practice and Leadership Core: 15 units
    • Leadership Certificate Requirement: 15 units
    • Students who have only a license or only an AAS or AS are required to complete one of the following: 18 - 33 units
      • Health Sciences Foundation Option (Students who have only a license): 33 units
      • Certificate, Minor, or Track Option (Students who have only an AAS or AS degree): 18 - 30 units


    Take the following 30 - 63 units:

  • Allied Health Practice and Leadership Core (15 units)

    • HS 332*, HS 344, HS 410 (9 units)
    • HS 342W* which meets the junior-level writing requirement (3 units).
    • HS 460C which meets the senior capstone requirement (3 units).

     

    *Inclusion of this course is pending General Studies Committee and Curriculum Committee approvals.

  • Students who have only a license or only an AAS or AS are required to complete one of the following. (18 - 33 units)

    • Health Sciences Foundation Option (Students who only have a license) (33 units)

    • Students with only a license in an Allied Health Field must complete the Health Sciences Foundations. Students with an associate degree (AS or AAS) in a health profession would substitute the equivalent units of credit through any combination of the following, subject to advisor approval:

      • Transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions.
      • Credit for prior learning (through PLA-Prior Learning Assessment).
      • National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) test credit.
      • Exam-based industry certifications.

    • Certificate, Minor, or Track Option (Students who have only an AAS or AS degree) (18 - 30 units)

    • Students with only an associate degree (AS or AAS) in a health profession must complete a Certificate, Minor, or Track. Students with a professional license/certification would substitute the equivalent units of credit through any combination of the following, subject to advisor approval:

      • Transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions
      • Credit for Prior Learning (through PLA-Prior Learning Assessment)
      • National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) test credit
      • Exam-based industry certifications

      • Minor Option (18 - 24 units)

        • In consultation with your advisor, select a minor that is appropriate for your career aspirations and educational needs. Your minor advisor will advise you about this part of your academic plan.

      • Track Options (18 units)

        • Allied Health Practice and Leadership students interested in pursuing a Nursing - Accelerated Option, BSN complete the Accelerated Nursing Track.
        • Allied Health Practice and Leadership students interested in pursuing an Occupational Therapy, OTD complete the Occupational Therapy Track.
General Electives

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or General Studies Requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.