The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences at Franklin Switzerland is designed for students who are passionate about health, science, and global impact. This interdisciplinary program brings together biology, chemistry, psychology, and public health to prepare students for careers in medicine, research, and healthcare leadership. Whether your goal is to pursue medical school, public health graduate programs, or health policy, this major provides the scientific foundation and global perspective to get you there.

This program is currently pending Title IV approval with the U.S. Department of Education.

Why Choose Health Sciences at Franklin?

A Truly Global Foundation for a Health Career

At Franklin, your education is not limited to classrooms and textbooks. With students from over 50 countries and faculty who mentor and inspire, you will study science in an environment that values culture, ethics, and collaboration. From day one, you will be part of a close-knit academic community, supported by professors who know your name and are committed to your success.

Through Academic Travel, you will explore health systems around the world - from public health initiatives in Europe to environmental health issues in Africa. This experiential learning is built into the program, offering 10–14 days of hands-on exploration every semester.

A Launchpad to Medicine—and Beyond

Franklin’s Health Sciences major provides rigorous, interdisciplinary preparation for students aspiring to careers in medicine and the health professions. The curriculum covers the standard pre-med coursework required by U.S. and Canadian medical schools, ensuring students are fully equipped to apply to any MD program. This foundation also satisfies the prerequisites of Caribbean, European, and other international medical institutions. Students are equipped with the knowledge, research experience, and critical thinking skills needed to excel on the MCAT and apply confidently to any medical school of their choosing.

Graduates are well prepared for diverse future paths, including:

  • Medical school and allied health professions
  • Public health and epidemiology
  • Clinical psychology and neuroscience
  • Biotechnology and biomedical research
  • NGO work and global health leadership
View requirements

Health Sciences

Major Requirements (58 credits)

The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is designed for students that are interested in or are planning to apply to pursue graduate or professional studies in the broad field of Health Sciences. This curriculum covers most of the courses usually necessary to enter medical schools in the United States by combining basic and advanced knowledge in biology, chemistry, psychology and physics with quantitative courses and applied experiences and research opportunities.
Foundation Courses (26 credits)
BIO 101 Introduction to Biology: Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology

An introduction to the biological sciences. Topics include the principles of genetics, evolutionary theory, ecology, and conservation biology. Students enrolling in this course must enroll in the parallel laboratory section BIO 101L.

BIO 101L Laboratory to Introduction to Biology: Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology

The laboratory course parallels the topics in BIO 101 and provides lab-based investigations of the material covered in BIO 101. Students must register for both BIO 101 and the lab section concurrently. (This course carries an additional laboratory fee.)

BIO 102 Introduction to Biology: Cell and Animal Biology

This course provides students with an introduction to the biological sciences focused on the structure and functioning of animal cells and organs. Topics include basic biochemistry, cell structure and function, cellular respiration, and animal physiology. This course will emphasize human anatomy and physiology as model systems for understanding and contrasting key principles of animal biology. Students enrolling in this course must enroll in the parallel laboratory section BIO 102L.

BIO 102L Laboratory to Introduction to Biology: Cell and Animal Biology

The laboratory course parallels the topics in BIO 102 and provides lab-based investigations of the material covered in BIO 102. Students must register for both BIO 102 and the lab section concurrently. (This course carries an additional laboratory fee.)

CHEM 101 General Chemistry I

The course examines atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry and the mole concept, the behavior of gases, liquids and solids, thermochemistry, and intermolecular forces. Students are required to concurrently enroll in the corresponding lab section CHEM 101L. This course is a prerequisite for CHEM 102 and is a pre-health course.

CHEM 101L Laboratory to General Chemistry I

The laboratory course parallels the topics in CHEM 101 and provides lab-based investigations of the material covered in CHEM 101. Students must register for both CHEM 101 and the lab section concurrently. (This course carries an additional laboratory fee.)

CHEM 102 General Chemistry II

This course examines chemical equilibria and acids and bases, coordination chemistry, oxidation-reduction reactions, electrochemistry, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, nuclear chemistry, and an overview of organic chemistry. Students are required to concurrently enroll in the corresponding lab section CHEM 102L. This course is a prerequisite for all upper-level chemistry courses and is a pre-health course.

CHEM 102L Laboratory to General Chemistry II

The laboratory course parallels the topics in CHEM 102 and provides lab-based investigations of the material covered in CHEM 102. Students must register for both CHEM 102 and the lab section concurrently. (This course carries an additional laboratory fee.)

PHYS 101 Physics for the Health Sciences

This course will provide students with a comprehensive introduction to key topics in physics.  Specifically, the course will be divided in four main sections: basic mechanics (e.g., kinematics, equilibrium, vectors, work and energy, and Newton's laws); vibrations and waves (e.g., sound, harmonic waves, and Doppler effects); electricity (e.g., Ohm's law and electric circuits), and; light and optics (e.g., reflection, refraction and magnification). As part of the pre-health curriculum, this course will also connect concepts to human body structure and functioning.
Students enrolling in this course must enroll in the parallel laboratory section PHYS 101L.

PHYS 101L Laboratory to Physics for the Health Sciences

The laboratory course parallels the topics in PHYS 101 and provides lab-based investigations of the material covered in PHYS 101. Students must register for both PHYS 101 and the lab section concurrently (This course carries an additional fee for laboratory supplies).

PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology

This introductory course is designed to provide an overview of the field of psychology, including theoretical positions, major research areas and methods of gathering data. Subtopics of psychology, such as physiological processes, developmental, abnormal behavior and social psychology are discussed.

SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology

What is ''society''? What does its structure look like and how does it work? How does it change? Why does it change? How do are individuals and society intertwined? This course provides students with the tools to answer these questions. Modern societies have experienced dramatic social changes with the emergence of individualism, new class structures, the development of urban life or changing relationships between individuals and their natural environments. Sociology provides an understanding of these changes by studying human interactions and forms of social organization. In this course, students will be introduced to major sociological thinkers, concepts and approaches.

Required Courses (20 credits)
BIO 204 Human Anatomy and Physiology: A Biological and Environmental Perspective
This course delves into the fundamentals of human anatomy and physiology, focusing on the key biological mechanisms that govern cellular functions and various vital organ systems.
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the structure and function of essential components of human body, such as cells, tissues and critical organ systems, including the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, digestive, musculoskeletal, integumentary and reproductive systems. Through a holistic perspective merging anatomy, physiology, and environmental science, the biological foundational knowledge will be enriched by real-world contextualization, examining the complex interactions with environmental factors, such as air quality, toxins, and lifestyle choices. The course employs lectures, case studies, interactive activities, student-led presentations and a potential laboratory visit to merge theoretical principles with practical understanding.
BIO 330 Epidemiology, Disease and Public Health

Epidemiology examines a wide range of disease conditions and their distribution in the human populations to promote public health. The course will at first analyze the methods employed in describing, monitoring, and studying health and diseases in populations. The core of the course will then focus on the discussion of factors and issues of illnesses most currently prevalent in the world including: HIV/AIDS, vaccine preventable diseases, avian influenza, emerging infections, DT, tuberculosis and malaria. Particular attention will be given to the immune system and on the body's reactions when exposed to foreign agents such as bacteria, viruses and toxins. Aspects addressed in lectures will also be the strategies for disease surveillance and for outbreak prevention, detection and control. Two case studies that may be considered are the Spanish Flu and the Avian Influenza. The class format will include lectures, discussions and critical review of assigned reading material.

CHEM 201 Organic Chemistry I

This course is an introduction to the chemistry of carbon-based compounds. The course begins with a quick review of foundational concepts from CHEM 101 and CHEM 102, specifically covalent bonding, hybridization, VSEPR theory, polarity and intermolecular forces. It continues with an introduction to the different classes of compounds within organic chemistry and their characteristic physical and chemical properties, with an emphasis on structure and functional groups as well as stereochemistry. The study of the different types of chemical reactions will rely on an understanding of how the electrons in the covalent bonds are rearranged, giving rise to the full understanding of the mechanisms of each reaction. Students enrolling in this course must enroll in the parallel laboratory section CHEM 201L.

CHEM 201L Laboratory to Organic Chemistry I

The laboratory course parallels the topics in CHEM 201 and provides lab-based investigations of the material covered in CHEM 201. Students must register for both CHEM 201 and the lab section concurrently. (This course carries an additional laboratory fee.)

CHEM 202 Organic Chemistry II

This course builds upon the foundation of CHEM 201 with a focus on the synthesis and identification of organic compounds. The reactions of aromatic compounds, carbonyl containing compounds and the pericyclic reactions will be emphasized. Finally the major biomolecules will be covered in depth as well as an introduction to biochemistry. Students enrolling in this course must enroll in the parallel laboratory section CHEM 202L.

CHEM 202L Laboratory to Organic Chemistry II

The laboratory course parallels the topics in CHEM 202 and provides lab-based investigations of the material covered in CHEM 202. Students must register for both CHEM 202 and the lab section concurrently. (This course carries an additional laboratory fee.)

CHEM 301 Biochemistry

This course will provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the properties, synthesis, and metabolism of amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, and nucleotides. The polymeric nature of these biomolecules will be a focus as students learn how these molecules are synthesized and their roles in energy production and the removal of waste products. While there are thousands of reactions that govern cellular metabolism, there are only relatively few types of reactions. This course will focus on the reaction types observed most frequently in cellular metabolism: nucleophilic substitution, elimination, isomerization, oxidation-reduction, and hydrolysis. This course is part of the pre-health sciences curriculum. Recommended prerequisite: CHEM 202. Students without CHEM 202 should have a solid understanding of the material from the prerequisite courses.

ENV 240 Environment and Health

Modern human society has generated various biological, chemical, and physical hazards that threaten human health, as well as the quality of the air, water, soils, and ecosystems. This course first presents the origin and characteristics of these hazards. It then evaluates how the hazards affect the environment and human health and the disproportionate nature of these effects. It also explores the strategies and approaches that have been developed to manage risks and mitigate impacts. The course considers these issues in regional and global contexts, with a particular focus on Switzerland and Europe.

Quantitative Skills (3 credits)
MAT 200 Calculus

The course begins with a review of functions and their graphs, after which students are introduced to the concepts of differentiation and integration. Understanding is reinforced through extensive practical work, with a strong emphasis on applications in economics, statistics and management science.

Major Electives (6 credits)
Two of the following:
BIO 498 Internship in Health Sciences
This course provides credit for a professional experience in the Health Sciences field in a public, private, or non-profit organization anywhere in the world. Throughout the internship period, the student should ensure close on-site supervision. Students should follow guidelines laid out in the document Internship Program Information.
POL 302 Political Philosophy

This course is designed to familiarize students with the major currents of political philosophy. It covers a broad range of central thinkers from the major philosophers of ancient Greece up to the proponents of modern-day liberalism. The course situates political philosophies in their historical context of emergence and thereby provides an overview of the history of the central ideas which are at the heart of thinking about politics, society and justice. The reading of primary and secondary sources serves as the basis for in-depth class discussions and a critical engagement with the normative underpinnings of societal organization.

PSY 201 Social Psychology

Introduction to major theories and research findings of social psychology in order to provide an understanding of the roles of cognitive and motivational processes in social behavior. The focus of this course is on how people's behavior, feelings and thoughts are influenced through social environment.

PSY 202 Developmental Psychology

This course surveys the major areas of developmental psychology - the science of individual human development. The overall aim is to introduce students to the fundamental questions, ideas and approaches in the psychology of development. The course emphasizes an understanding of the methods, terms, theories and findings in the field, traces human development across the entire lifespan, and explores the basic developmental theories including the biological influences on development, behavior and learning. To complete the study of human development, the course presents a multi-cultural perspective, examining the diversity of human adaptations to change across the lifespan, by cultures around the world.

PSY 203 Theories of Personality

The course addresses itself to a comprehensive in-depth study of the following question: What is personality? The major theories of personality which are prominent and important today in the field of psychology are considered individually in detail, chronologically and comparatively. These include the classical psycho-analytical theory of Freud, Jungian theory, existential/phenomenological theories, cognitive theories and behavior psychology.

PSY 207 Introduction to Psychiatry and Forensic Psychopathology

This course will examine the main concepts of psychiatry, a branch of medicine focused on studying and treating mental illnesses. In line with the present classification of mental disorders, it will consider various mental illnesses such as psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive related disorders, eating disorders, substances related disorders, organic mental disorders and personality disorders. The course will also examine  associations between mental disorders, crimes and violent behaviors, as important in forensic psychopathology. The course will include lectures focused on the main psychiatric disorders and the main themes of forensic psychiatry.   

PSY 210 Cognitive Psychology

This course provides an in-depth exploration of human cognition, focusing on both classic and current issues. In this class, students will discuss how cognitive psychologists build theories (or models) of mental processes, and how these models are used to understand and predict behavior. Topics to be covered include (but may not be limited to): history of cognitive psychology, research methods in cognitive psychology, attention, perception, memory, language, and reasoning. In addition to these subjects, we will examine the research on social cognition, motivation, and emotions.

PSY 314 Clinical and Abnormal Psychology
This course examines the treatment of psychological disorders in clinical practice. Students will study the major patterns of abnormal behavior and their description, diagnosis, interpretation, treatment, and prevention. They will explore and practice current evidence-based treatments for individual and group psychotherapy as well as crisis management across diverse populations. Bio-psycho-social as well as spiritual models of care will be discussed with an emphasis on ethical decision-making and effective treatment planning and intervention. 
PSY 315 Environmental Psychology

This course introduces a relatively new field of study in psychology that focuses on the interaction between the environment and human beings, examining how the physical features of the environment impact cognition, behavior, and well-being, and how human actions in turn produce immediate and long-term consequences on the environment. In this course, the environment is broadly defined to include not only our physical surroundings (both natural and built) but also the larger, socio-cultural and political milieu in which people live. This course will borrow ideas and information from a variety of other areas and disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, biology, geography, urban planning, public policy, and other areas. Topics to be covered include: dysfunctional and restorative environments, the effects of environmental stressors, the nature and use of personal space, environmental risk perception, psychological impact of ecological crises, values and attitudes towards nature, and conservation psychology.

Other approved courses in PSY, ENV, BIO, CHEM, PHYS or other disciplines dealing with Public Health or Medicine can fulfill this requirement along with pre-approved Internships or pre-approved study abroad (e.g., SFS or SIT) courses.
Capstone Requirement (3 credits)
BIO 499 Senior Research Project in Health Sciences
The research project is an opportunity for the student to pursue independent research or a professional project on a topic related to the student's course of study. Depending on the student's career path, the research can be classified either as a research project or a thesis.

Direct Pathway to Medical School

Franklin’s partnership with St. George’s University School of Medicine (SGU) provides Health Sciences majors a streamlined route to pursue their medical degree. Eligible students who meet SGU’s admissions requirements are guaranteed an interview—and international applicants are not required to take the MCAT.

Curriculum Highlights

  • General Biology I and II with labs
  • General and Organic Chemistry with labs
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Psychology, Sociology, and Clinical Psychology
  • Epidemiology and Environmental Health
  • Calculus and Statistics
  • Senior Thesis in Health Sciences
  • Academic Travel

Example of a 4-Year Study Plan

Fall Semester Spring Semester
  • First year seminar
  • Language I
  • Academic Travel I
  • MAT 181QL
  • BIO 102/LSR
  • WTG 150W
  • Language 2
  • Academic Travel 2
  • MATI82QL
  • BIO 101/L
  • Language 3
  • Academic Travel 3
  • Core Requirementic
  • Electivew
  • PSY 100
  • Language 4
  • Academic Travel 4
  • Core RequirementIE
  • BIO 204
  • BIO 330
  • Language 5
  • Academic Travel / Elective
  • CHEM 101/L
  • PHYS 101/L
  • Core RequirementIE
  • Academic Travel / Elective
  • CHEM 102/L
  • ENV 240
  • PSY 313
  • MAT200
  • Academic Travel / Elective
  • PSY 201
  • ElectiveW
  • CHEM 201/L
  • PSY 202
  • Academic Travel / Elective
  • BIO 4XXW
  • CHEM 202/L
  • Core RequirementIC
  • SCO 100SR
     

Your Future Starts Here

The Health Sciences program is more than a major—it is a community, a launchpad, and a purpose-driven education. It is for students who want to understand the world, care for others, and lead with science and compassion.

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Faculty

Associate Professor, Biology and Environmental Sciences 

Ph.D. Montana State University, United States 
M.S. Swiss Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland

Office: North Campus Villa, Faculty  
Phone: +41 91 986 36 62
Email: pdellacroce@fus.edu

Patrick Della Croce

Assistant professor, Environmental Science 

Ph.D. Chemical and Environmental Science, Insubria University, Italy 
MSc Environmental Science, Insubria University, Italy 
BSc Natural Sciences, University of Milan, Italy 

Office: North Campus Villa Faculty Office 12
Phone: +41 91 986 36 35
Email: spiccinelli@fus.edu 

Silvia Piccinelli

Instructor, Chemistry

Doktorand, Fachdidaktik der Naturwissenschaften, Universität Konstanz, DE
MSE, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, CH
MA, University of Maryland, USA
MS, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, USA
BA, Duke University, USA 

Office: Lowerre Academic Center, Faculty Office 2
Phone: +41 91 986 36 32
Email: mbullock@fus.edu

L. Martin Bullock

Assistant Professor, Psychology

Ph.D., The New School for Social Research, United States
M.A., University of Bergamo, Italy 

Office: North Campus Villa, Faculty Office 11
Phone: +41 91 986 36 63
Email: mongis@fus.edu 

Martino Ongis

Nora McNeely Hurley Assistant Professor, Psychology

Ph.D. University of Jyväskylä, Finland
M.A. University of Eastern Finland
B.A. University of Joensuu, Finland

Office: Lowerre Academic Center, Faculty Office 11
Phone: +41 91 986 36 55
Email: hktoivonen@fus.edu
Personal website: https://www.heiditoivonen.com/

Heidi Toivonen
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