HEALTH SCIENCES

This degree is limited to students with a completed A.A.S. degree in a health-related field from a KCTCS college.

The major in Health Sciences requires 65-67 core health sciences credit hours, including a required concentration ranging from 21-22 hours. The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a health and human sciences related career. The program is an interdisciplinary program with three primary purposes:

1. Allowing students with a general interest in Health Sciences to pursue a B.S. while obtaining a concentration in a specific area of Health and Human Services.
2. Providing an option for students with a health related associate’s degree that wish to continue their education.
3. Permitting students to prepare for post-graduate or professional health sciences programs.

It is important to meet with a WKU-O advisor as soon as possible to evaluate transcripts and transfer equivalencies.

Characteristics associated with success in this major include a strong desire to improve the health and well being of the population and an interest in science and in scientific research. You should:

• have a caring, sympathetic nature

• be organized

• be logical and creative in decision making

• be able to lead and to work well with people of different backgrounds

• be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing

Occupations with Health Science:

• Community Health & Preventive Medicine

• Environmental Health

• Health Services Administration

• Health/Medical Physics

• International Public Health

• Maternal & Child Health

• Occupational Health/Industrial Hygiene

• Public Health

• Public Health Education & Promotion

 

Concentrations:

Students pursuing the major may select one of the following concentrations offered at WKU-O: Health Promotions, Health Services or Social Services. Depending on the concentration, some courses may only be offered at the WKU main campus. Please meet with at WKU-O advisor as soon as possible to determine the best track for you. Transfer students with an associate degree from a health related program receive a 19-hour waiver in the upper-division hour requirement for the health science major.

Coursework:

 

 WKU COURSES                                                                                 KCTCS EQUIVALENT

CFS 111 Human Nutrition	NFS 101
PSY 199 Intro to Developmental Psych	PSY 223
BIOL 120/121 Biological Concepts and Lab	BIO 137 & 139
BIOL 131 Human Anatomy & Physiology
CHEM 304 Biochemistry for the Health Sciences
AH 190 Intro to Allied Health Professions
AH 290 Medical Terminology
PHYS 231/232 Intro to Physics & Biophysics
PE 311 Exercise Physiology
PH 381 Community Health
PH 383 Biostatistics in the Health Sciences or SOCL 300 Using Statistics in Sociology
PH 447 Human Values in the Health Sciences or PHIL 322 Biomedical Ethics
HCA 340 Health Care Organization & Mgmt
HCA 446/447 Health Care Informatics and lab or CIS 243 Principles of MIS

  Health Promotions Concentration* may travel to BG

SFTY 171 Safety & First Aid

PH 261 Foundations of Health Education

PH 365 Human Sexuality

PH 384 Intro to Epidemiology

PH 402 Worksite Health Promotion

PH 461 Comprehensive School Health Program

PH 467 Drug Abuse Education

PH 469 Critical Issues in Health & Safety

Health Services Concentration

HCA 344 Health Systems Management

HCA 440 Health Economics

HCA 441 Legal Aspects/Health Care

HCA 442 Principles & Methods of Health Planning

HCA 345 Long-Term Care Administration or HCA 346 Ambulatory Care Administration

MGT 210 Organization & Management

ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics

Sequencing:

Because of transferring credits and WKU-O course offerings, the length of time to finish this program differs for each student. It is important to meet with a WKU-O advisor as soon as possible. Bring an unofficial copy of transcripts from all previously attended colleges and/or universities. It is also important to determine your availability to take courses: part-time, full-time, summer term.

WKU-O Academic Requirements:

• 120 college-level undergraduate semester hours including the following:

- 44 semester hours of General Education

- 30 hours must be earned in residence (at WKU), at least 16 of which must be completed after the semester in which the student earned a cumulative total of at least 90 hours.

• Students must earn a minimum of 54 semester hours with WKU to graduate with honors.
• Students must apply for graduation upon the completion of 90 semester hours.
• Students are to meet with an advisor each semester.