Major in Allied Health

The Allied Health program is designed to give practicing health care professionals the opportunity to advance their careers by expanding their skills in the health care marketplace. Students enter the program with a completed associate degree from a regionally accredited institution in an allied health field. The program builds on students’ existing associate degrees and clinical backgrounds and prepares them to assume additional responsibilities through advanced learning in health care administration and management, organization and funding, ethical and professional issues, and research findings that affect best practice. Graduates are better positioned for promotions, movement into related positions or job expansion.

Students can choose from one of six tracks: Administration/Management; Education; Health Promotion, Wellness, Prevention and Community Health Education; Family Studies; Science and Professional Preparation; and Advanced Respiratory Therapy.

Each student’s program of study and the courses they choose must be approved by an Allied Health adviser. Students are required to take a capstone course (AHLT 450 ) at or near the end of their Towson University studies. This course is required among the 18 units of the track. Students are also required to take an ethics class in their track.

Students are able to pursue a minor in a number of different areas along with the Allied Health major by selecting specific tracks. Minors in Health Care Management and Family Studies are examples.

Note: Students may have additional units to complete beyond the 18 required to earn the minor. Students may also select the Science and Professional Preparation track if planning to attend graduate school, selecting courses within the track that help satisfy requirements for their graduate program. 

The Bachelor of Technical or Professional Studies (B.T.P.S.) in Allied Health is a recognized bachelor’s degree program designed to facilitate maximum transfer of academic credit for associate degree graduates from a variety of health and health-related programs. Frequently, graduates from associate degree allied health programs entering baccalaureate degree programs are not able to transfer health discipline specific courses to the baccalaureate program. This is not the case with the Allied Health program since most or all of the health discipline specific courses, up to 64 transfer units, transfer to the bachelor’s degree program. Students may also be able to transfer in other applicable course work that has been taken at other four-year institutions, for a combined total of 90 transfer units.

Associate degree graduates of the disciplines listed below are eligible for enrollment in the Allied Health program. Graduates of associate degree health programs receive a number of different degrees—A.A.S., A.S., A.A., etc.—all of which are eligible for participation in the program.

  • Cardiovascular technologist
  • Clinical laboratory technician
  • Dental hygienist
  • Diagnostic medical technologist
  • Dietetic technician
  • Emergency medical technician – paramedic
  • Health information technician
  • Massage therapist
  • Medical assistant
  • Nuclear medicine technologist
  • Nurse
  • Occupational therapy assistant
  • Physical therapist assistant
  • Physician assistant
  • Radiation therapy technologist
  • Radiographer
  • Respiratory therapist
  • Surgical technologist
  • Veterinary technologist

  • Other Associate of Arts degrees may be eligible; contact program director.

Financial Aid 

While the Allied Health Program has no scholarships specifically designated for the program, students in the program are eligible for a number of merit and need-based financial aid awards through Towson University. For information on available aid, please contact the Towson University Financial Aid Office at (410) 704-4236, or visit the office’s website.

For More Information 

For further information concerning the Allied Health Program, including specifics on how course work completed at community colleges will apply toward the program, contact Dr. Wendy Whitner in the Department of Health Sciences at Towson University by email or phone, 410-704-4223.

Admission Requirements 

Program applicants must have an earned associate degree in an allied health discipline and a minimum 2.00 GPA upon transfer. If you hold an associate degree in a health discipline that is not listed, please contact the Allied Health program coordinator for further information. You may be eligible for admission.

One route to earn an associate degree to meet the requirement for admission into the Allied Health Program is through a dual enrollment option whereby students are simultaneously enrolled at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) to earn an Applied Associate of Science Degree (A.A.S.) in Respiratory Care Therapy while taking classes at Towson University. Eligibility to complete the Allied Health Degree and earn the B.T.P.S. in Allied Health is contingent upon the completion of the Respiratory Therapy A.A.S. degree. See the Advanced Respiratory Track for more information about this option.

Major in Allied Health with tracks in:

Learning Objectives for Required Courses

  1. Students will effectively use scientific inquiry and evidence based practice through current technology to support and guide health care delivery. (ILTC)

  2. Students will develop leadership skills through advanced reasoning and communication that promotes the expansion of discipline scientific clinical roles.

  3. Students will identify, interpret, evaluate and integrate human values by demonstrating an understanding of competing human values as evidenced by cultural, socio-economic or other differences.

Overall Program Objectives

The Allied Health degree program is designed to prepare students to:

  • assume managerial, supervisory and/or clinical education roles within their respective areas of health practice.

  • enhance their use of ethically grounded and culturally sensitive practices in their administration and delivery of health services.

  • effectively use technology and scientific inquiry to support and guide their roles as health practitioners and administrators.

  • understand, evaluate and influence societal, economic and political forces that impact health practices at the individual, regional, and national levels.

  • communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, agencies, and the community in their roles as health practitioners and administrators.