http://iuk.edu/allied-health-sciences/degrees/majors/online-applied-health-science/index.php

The BSAHS degree is joint online degree program offered collectively by all five IU-managed regional campuses.   The curriculum is available in an all-online format through the statewide BSAHS consortium.

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Applied Health Sciences program is a 120 credit hour online program. The program is for individuals who are interested in health education, promotion or leadership and have completed at least 30 credit hours of coursework that can be applied toward the degree.  Full-time students entering with 30 credit hours can expected to complete the program in three years.

• The Online BSAHS is “student-centered,” appealing to a wide spectrum of traditional and non-traditional students who have an interest in a health sector career but do not wish pursue clinical degree programs.
• The program allows flexibility for students who are seeking to complete their degrees while meeting their responsibilities to their families and/or employers.
• The degree design offers health workers with previous college credit (including those with associate degrees) a convenient, high-quality option for completing a baccalaureate degree that students can pursue while working full- or part-time.
• The degree provides additional skills and training needed to advance within the student’s chosen profession. It is also appropriate for those who wish to find a new career in the health care field

Academic Advising

Students with a declared major are advised in the academic unit on their home campus. To determine who your advisor is and how to contact them, see www.One.IU.edu

Admission Requirements

• Full admission to the regional campus from which you will receive the degree
• Minimum 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 grade scale

Course Requirements

Course requirements fall into four categories, and are defined by student learning outcomes.

General Education (varies by campus) 30 - 42 credit hours.  Students must achieve the general education outcomes of the campus from which they will graduate.

BSAHS Core (required) 42 credit hours

Students take courses that meet the following learning outcomes:

• Utilize problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills in a variety of health care settings and situations.
• Utilize effective leadership and management strategies in common health care delivery systems and environments.
• Apply evidence-based health care practices for optimum health outcomes.
• Demonstrate accountability within the legal and ethical parameters of the health care system.
• Integrate communication skills into professional roles.
• Utilize information technology in the delivery of health care.
• Explore the historical and contemporary social determinants of health that shape health status, health behavior, and health inequalities.

BSAHS Core Courses are:

• AHSC- H301 Health Care Delivery and Leadership (6 cr.)
• AHSC- H330 Intercultural Health Communication (6 cr.)
• AHSC- H310 Health Policy, Ethics, and Legal Issues (6 cr.)
• AHSC- H360 Epidemiology/Biostatistics and Population Health (6 cr.)
• AHSC- H340 Research (3 cr,)
• AHSC- H320 Consumer Health (3 cr,)
• AHSC- H350 Economics of Health Care (3 cr.)
• AHSC- H370 Informatics (3 cr.)
• AHSC- H480 Grant Writing & Internship (6 cr.)

BSAHS Track (one required) 18 credit hours

Track 1: Community Health Educator

Coursework will provide instruction in the skills necessary to conduct general health and wellness assessments and the techniques of health education. Students majoring in the BSAHS with a concentration in the Community Health Educator track will be able to take the Certified Health Education Specialist Examination (CHES) offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Becoming a CHES opens many more opportunities for students in public health.

Community Health Educator Courses

• AHSC- C415 Community Health Assessment, Education, and Promotion (6 cr.)
• AHSC- C425 Program Assessment, Planning, Evaluation I (6 cr.)
• AHSC- C435 Program Assessment, Planning, and Evaluation II (6 cr.)

Track 2: Healthcare Administration

Coursework will provide instruction in health care organization, planning, budgeting and finance.

Healthcare Administration courses are:

• AHSC- A440 Health Care Administration and Strategic Planning (6 cr.)
• AHSC- A420 Health Care Budgeting and Finance (6 cr.)
• AHSC- A430 Health Care Organization Supervision and Resource Management (6 cr.)

 Electives:  To total equal minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.

Students should choose electives that best support the BSAHS track they are pursuing, and in consultation with their academic advisor.

AHSC- H 301 Health Care Delivery and Leadership (6 cr):  (Taken in the student’s first semester of major). Health care is diverse and dynamic. In this course, students examine the history and current functions of health services delivery systems in the United States. The focus is on the components, their interaction, and internal/external controls. As a person in leadership roles of organizations, you will also discover how to effectively deliver health care services in hospitals, nursing homes, multi-specialty clinics, and home health care agencies. Students will examine how principles of effective leadership skills including organizational design, motivation, conflict management, teamwork, and strategic alliances are utilized in the ever-changing healthcare environment.

AHSC- H 310  Health Policy, Ethics, and Legal Issues (6 cr):  In this course, students are introduced to the concepts of health policy and policy analysis, health care ethics and contemporary ethical dilemmas, and legal issues related to health care and health care outcomes.  Students will be exposed to leadership strategies for effecting changes in policy, and in resolving legal and ethical dilemmas that arise in health care. Emphasis is placed on the application of knowledge to real and simulated case problems.

AHSC- H 320 Consumer Health (3 cr):  In this course, students are introduced to the ways consumers receive and use the information to inform health practices and influence choices of health products, services, and providers.  Concepts include health literacy and decision-making, internal and external influences on health care decisions and health outcomes, and effective health education.  Exemplary health issues are discussed.

AHSC- H 330 Intercultural Health Communication (6 cr):  This course explores issues related to intercultural communication practices. It examines the important role of social, cultural, and historical context in human interactions related to health disparities.  Students will explore the definition of health, wellness, and illness by various underrepresented groups.  Students will be able to critically analyze how various groups are affected by illness, what effect this has on the community, and what health promotion specialists can do to address these concerns in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way.

AHSC- H 340 Research in the Health Sciences (3 cr):  This course is designed as an introduction to using the research process to address health science problems and the use of evidence as a foundation for practice. Critical analysis of research studies will be emphasized.

AHSC- H 350 Economics of Health Care (3 cr): Economics of Health Care is a growing field and is an important aspect of public policy in developed and developing countries. This course is designed to introduce undergraduate students to the field of Health Economics. The provision and production of health care have different characteristics and incentives from other consumer goods making health related markets a unique topic for study. You will cover a number of topics including basic economic concepts important for the study in health economics, why health is different from other good, aspects of the US health care market, health care in other countries, health care reform, as well as discussing the importance of health for development and some basic economic evaluation techniques. 

AHSC- H 360 Epidemiology/Biostatistics and Population Health (6 cr):  In this course, students are provided an overview of the principles and practice of population health, epidemiology, and biostatistics. Students will be introduced to the basic terms and definitions of population health and the factors that lead to disease causation, as well as disease prevention.  Students will explore and discuss the concepts of social justice, health disparities, determinants of health, culture, health systems, lifespan, and health promotion as they apply to groups of people, rather than to individuals.  Through an introduction to epidemiologic terminology, methods, critical thinking, and basic analysis, students will be able to describe how the disease is distributed within populations and communities. 

AHSC- H 370 Informatics (3 cr):  In this course, students will explore the impact of meaningful data on health care systems.  The concepts of converting data to information to knowledge in the national effort to create electronic health care records that provide privacy and security while ultimately improving patient outcomes will be discussed.  Details on meaningful use in electronic health records, health care data analytics, health informatics exchange, quality improvement strategies, public health informatics, and health informatics ethics will be examined.

AHSC- H 480 Grant Writing & Internship (6 cr): (Taken in the student’s last semester)

AHSC- C 415 Community Health Assessment, Education, and Promotion (6 cr): This is an introductory course with a focus on the discipline and profession of health education. Major concepts to be explored include health and wellness, determinants of health behavior, the nation’s health status and health promotion. Preparing an assessment and plan for health promotion for the student’s own community will be the culminating teaching-learning activity.

AHSC- C 425 Program Assessment, Planning, Evaluation I (6 cr): This course examines individual, group, and community needs assessment strategies and how these strategies are used in conjunction with theory to develop program goals, objectives, and program evaluation mechanisms that address public health concerns through health education and health promotion programs.

AHSC- C 435 Program Assessment, Planning, and Evaluation II (6 cr) (P:  AHSC-C 425): This course examines the implementation and evaluation of health education and promotion programs, population health status, and health behavior initiatives.  Effective strategies for developing, implementing, and evaluating program goals, objectives and outcomes will be examined. 

AHSC- A420 Health Care Budgeting and Finance (6 cr): This course is designed as an introduction to healthcare finance. Basic concepts of healthcare finance and business including health care reimbursement, cost, pricing, planning, budgeting, financial operations, investment, cash flow, risk analysis, profit, financing, and financial condition assessment.

AHSC- A 430 Health Care Organization Supervision and Resource Management (6 cr): This course is designed for those individuals with healthcare experience who are currently, or striving towards healthcare management positions.  In addition, it will provide basic knowledge of many crucial aspects of healthcare organization and resource management that can be used as a foundation or course for graduates.  Healthcare organizations supervision can differ from other sector management in that it is multifaceted especially in the area of generating revenue and reimbursement for services.  Although it is a highly regulated industry, principle of creating a positive organization, the use of resources and management of those resources have similarities to many non-healthcare related organizations. This course will discuss various pertinent topics involved in resource management which may include but may not be limited to the following: healthcare resource management overview, the healthcare marketplace, quality management within healthcare organizations, establishing benchmarks and organizational research methods, productivity and performance management, metrics in healthcare organizations, the basics of project management, supply chain management, purchasing and materials management, inventory management and best practices for health care organizational management.

AHSC- A 440 Health Care Administration and Strategic Planning (6 cr): (P:  ASCH H 301) This course will build on concepts introduced in ASCH H 301 Health Care Delivery and Leadership.  In this course, students will explore issues related to management and planning in health care organizations.  Management theory will be discussed as will concepts related to organizational culture, leading and motivating, planning, quality improvement, managing change, and conflict resolution.  Emphasis will be placed on practical application of knowledge related to organizational planning.