Associate of Applied Science in Health Science for Military Students

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

Ready to Take the Next Step?
Ready to Take the Next Step?

Program at a Glance

  • Earn your health science associate’s degree in as few as 5 courses when applying credit for your allied health occupation toward degree requirements.*
  • Receive college credit for your prior allied health occupation and health science training.
  • Pursue military or civilian career opportunities in the health science field with a program designed for servicemembers and veterans.
Upcoming Start Dates

Course Delivery
100% Online
Course Length
10-Week Terms
Courses Required
As Few As 5
Tuition Reduction
55% for Active Duty
38% for Veterans
Servicemembers and Veterans: Earn Credit for Your Training
calendar with dollar sign icon

Associate of Applied Science in Health Science Overview

At Purdue Global, we believe your highly specialized military training should give you a jumpstart on your education and career prospects. That’s why our military medical program is focused on awarding you the most credit possible for your prior training and providing you with immediate military career progression. By maximizing your allied health occupation and prior medical training, you can earn your associate’s degree in as few as 5 courses.

We have evaluated various allied health occupations for credit toward the associate’s degree program:

  • Air Force: 4A0X1, 4A1X1, 4A2X1, 4C0X1, 4D0X1, 4J0X1, 4N0X1, 4N1X1, 4P0X1, 4R0X1, 4V0X1, 4Y0X2
  • Army: 18D, 68A, 68C, 68D, 68E, 68EN5, 68F, 68G, 68J, 68K, 68M, 68P, 68PM5, 68Q, 68S, 68V, 68W, 68X, 68Y
  • Coast Guard: HS
  • Navy: HM

Don’t see your occupation listed? Your military experience could still earn you college credit at Purdue Global. We will evaluate your military transcripts and may award credit for prior coursework and occupational training.

Program Highlights

We build on your prior military medical training to help you find the fastest, most affordable way to achieve your health science associate’s degree. Our curriculum focuses on a comprehensive framework that incorporates current research and industry advances in:

  • Health care
  • General education
  • Technical health information

Apply techniques and skills from your prior military training to real-world health science scenarios with a capstone project. You can also choose to complete a health science preprofessional concentration.

See the University Catalog for policy and degree plan information specific to this program.

Military Transfer Credits

Servicemembers and veterans can earn a degree faster with our PME2Degree® program. Many occupations across each branch have been evaluated for credit toward a Purdue Global degree. Use our Military Transfer Credit Estimator to see how much of your training counts as credit.

How Many Credits Have You Earned?
Tuition Reductions

We offer significantly reduced tuition rates for servicemembers, including Guard and Reserve, and veterans.

Learn More

Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Admissions Requirements

You must be a high school graduate or possess a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or other equivalency diploma. You are also encouraged to complete orientation before you start classes. Refer to the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

Ways to Save

  • Transfer Credits

    Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions, including community colleges.

    Save Time and Money on Your Degree

  • Prior Work Experience

    You could earn undergraduate credit for your life and professional career experiences.

    Your Experience Counts

  • Financial Aid

    Title IV federal financial aid is available for many of our degree programs.

    Financial Aid FAQ

  • Military Tuition Reduction

    55% reduction per credit for current servicemembers, 38% per credit for veterans for undergraduate programs.

    Tuition Savings for Military

  • Prior Military Experience

    We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.

    Credit for Military Training

Program Cost Estimator

Calculate your estimated tuition and ways to save.

Next

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Choose the Associate’s Degree That’s Right for You

Apply your allied health occupation and military medical training toward an associate’s degree in health science. Advance your status within the military, continue toward completing a bachelor’s degree, or pursue career opportunities in the health science field.

Health Sciences Program Comparison Table

AS in Health Science AAS in Health Science
Program Objective

Designed for military servicemembers and veterans focused on earning an associate's degree and progressing toward completing a bachelor's

Learn more about the AS in Health Science.

Designed for military servicemembers and veterans focused on earning an associate’s degree for immediate career progression

Program Duration

Earn your associate’s degree in 9 courses or less when applying credit for your allied health occupation toward degree requirements

Earn your associate's in as few as 5 courses when applying credit for your allied health occupation toward degree requirements

Transfer Credit Options

Prior military medical and health science training put you on a path toward advancing your education

View a sample transfer credit pathway.

Allows greater flexibility to apply credit from prior institutions, credit by examination, and experiential learning toward degree requirements to put you on a path for career advancement

View a sample transfer credit pathway.

Key Outcomes

Best option to immediately continue toward a bachelor’s and later a master’s degree in health science

Best option to immediately apply for advancement in a military or civilian career

What Courses Will I Take?

Our military medical programs provide a unique opportunity for you to excel in the health science field. Health science coursework includes a focus on anatomy and physiology, chemistry, nutrition, clinical skills, pathophysiology, health education, and health informatics.

Courses are taught by professionals with years of industry experience. Interactive technology allows you to collaborate and engage with fellow classmates.

See All Health Science Courses
Sample Courses
  • Associate's Capstone in Health Science
  • Human Biology
  • Fundamentals of Microbiology
  • Fundamentals of Science

Concentration

In addition to the required core and major courses, you can further specialize your health science associate degree by choosing a preprofessional concentration. This concentration can serve as a first step on the path to a graduate or advanced degree, providing many of the foundational courses they require.

Program Requirements

  • Core Credits
    20
  • Major Credits
    50
  • Elective Credits
    20
  • Total Credits
    90
Career Opportunities

Advance your status within the military with an associate’s degree in health science from Purdue Global. Additionally, military servicemembers and veterans who return to civilian life can pursue a number of entry-level careers within the growing field of allied health.

Top 5 Skills Employers Are Looking for:

  1. Speaking
  2. Active Listening
  3. Reading Comprehension
  4. Critical Thinking
  5. Social Perceptiveness

Top Jobs With This Degree

Labor market, salary, and projected growth information are supplied by Emsi. Average salary range is based on national data. Projected growth represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2016–2028) at the state level and is based on your geographic location. Actual outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, and opportunities for employment. Purdue Global cannot guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Additional certification or licensing may be required to work in certain fields. This program is only available to military servicemembers and veterans, and career outcomes may vary based on experience.

Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

View Health Sciences Faculty Directory
grad hat icon 98% Faculty members who have advanced degrees
diploma icon 51% Faculty members who hold a doctorate
tablet icon 395 Faculty publications in 2021–2022
student at desk icon More Than 38,000 Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2021–2022

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2022. 2021–2022 academic year.

icon of page with arrow pointing down

Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about our health sciences programs for military students and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.

clipboard with list of items
Take a Career Assessment

Discover your work interests, and use them to chart your ideal career path.

NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*5-Course Determination: The 5-course determination is based on the transfer of 65 quarter credit hours toward the 90-credit AAS in Health Science. As of February 2020, of the 149 U.S. military occupation codes evaluated by Purdue Global across Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force, 40% had 5 courses remaining to complete the degree. Coursework reduction reflects an educational mapping based on the credit recommended by the Medical Education & Training Campus (METC) for occupation duties. Credit awards will vary based on occupation, skill level, completed military courses as listed on your official Joint Services Transcript(s), and applicable prior learning that can apply toward degree requirements. Purdue Global does not guarantee transferability of credit from any of these sources. All credits must be validated on official transcript(s) to be eligible for transfer.

9-Course Determination: The 9-course determination is based on the transfer of 48 quarter credit hours toward the 90-credit AS in Health Science. As of February 2020, of the 149 U.S. military occupation codes evaluated by Purdue Global across Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force 44% had 9 or fewer courses remaining to complete the degree. Coursework reduction reflects an educational mapping based on the credit recommended by the Medical Education & Training Campus (METC) for occupation duties. Credit awards will vary based on occupation, skill level, completed military courses as listed on your official Joint Services Transcript(s), and applicable prior learning that can apply toward degree requirements. Purdue Global does not guarantee transferability of credit from any of these sources. All credits must be validated on official transcript(s) to be eligible for transfer.

Future Programs: The University cannot guarantee that students will be granted admission to any future programs. Speak to an Advisor about transfer credit opportunities and see the University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy.

§Certification Exams: Students are responsible for understanding the requirements of optional certification exams. The University cannot guarantee students will be eligible to sit for or pass exams. In some cases, work experience, additional coursework beyond the Purdue Global program, fieldwork, and/or background checks may be necessary to be eligible to take or to successfully pass the exams.