The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is a versatile degree that provides students with extensive preparation for work in any field that addresses people’s health.  The objective of this program is to address the needs of those students seeking a broad understanding of the science of human health and its application to their chosen career. 

Health Sciences provides education to help prepare individuals to maintain and improve the health, quality of life and well-being of people; to prepare students to acquire knowledge of various health care related subjects and apply this knowledge to improve the health of those they come in contact with. The curriculum is structured to allow students to complete graduate prerequisites and courses for continued education in health professional programs.

The health sciences field is the single largest industry in the country, accounting for more than 14 million jobs. Many of the fastest growing occupations today are in health sciences. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, health sciences occupations are expected to generate as many as 3 million new jobs by 2018. In addition, the field of health education is expected to grow by 20 percent, or roughly 25,000 new jobs, in the next decade.

This highly interdisciplinary degree offers coursework that promotes an understanding of the biological, social, behavioral, economic and ethical factors that influence health care today. This degree offers courses from departments throughout the University and has a flexible curriculum so students can choose an area of specialization to suit their career interests.

Health Sciences is an interdisciplinary degree that meets the needs of three student groups: (1) students who want to prepare for careers in Health Promotion, Exercise and Sport Science, or Nutritional Sciences; (2) students who want to apply to graduate programs; and (3) health care professionals who have already obtained an associate’s degree and would like to obtain a baccalaureate degree.  Students majoring in Health Science will have the opportunity to prepare for entry and mid-level positions at for-profit and not-for-profit health care organizations such as community/public health, hospitals, fitness centers, and health clinics.

The primary goal of the degree is to provide students the basic, technical and applied aspects of health science.  Another goal is to help students apply this knowledge to a variety of career opportunities.  A baccalaureate degree in Health Science will enable students to gain knowledge of problem-solving skills relevant to health-related professions, medicine and interrelated fields of health and wellness care.

Degree Requirements:

General Education Requirements (32-34 cr): 

• Written Communication: ENG-W 131 (3 cr)
• Speaking & Listening: SPCH-S 121 (3 cr)
• Quantitative Literacy: AHLT-H 322 (3 cr) and a course that fulfills MATH-M requirement (3 cr)
• Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing: PSY-P 103 (3 cr) and a course* that fulfills social and behavioral requirements (3 cr)
• Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing: Student's choice of two courses* (3 cr each)
• Scientific Ways of Knowing: PHSL-P 215 (5 cr) and CHEM-C** (3 cr)

Core Requirements (38 cr)

• AHLT-A 491 Internship in Health Sciences (3 cr)
• AHLT-H 321 Research Methods in Health Sciences (3 cr)
• AHLT-H 333 Cultural Competence in Health Education (3 cr)
• AHLT-H 364 Stress Management in the Health Professions (3 cr)
• AHLT-W 314 Ethics for Health Professions (3 cr) or HPER-P 402 Ethics in Sport (3 cr)
• ANAT-A 215 Basic Human Anatomy with Lab (5 cr)
• HPER-F 222 Human Sexuality (3 cr)
• HPER-N 220 Nutrition for Health (3 cr)
• HPER-P 120 Introduction to Health and Fitness (3 cr)
• HPER-P 204 Motor Development (3 cr)
• HPER-P 212 Introduction to Exercise Science (3 cr)
• MICR-J 200  Microbiology (3 cr)
• Sophomore Sojourn - Program field trip embedded within HPER-P 204 (0 cr)

Students can take any courses to reach 120 total credit hours. However, a student cannot exceed 15 credit hours of electives from outside the Division of Allied Health Sciences, unless granted permission by Health Sciences Coordinator or Chair of Allied Health Sciences.

Health Sciences Concentrations:

IU Kokomo offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with three concentrations: (1) Health Promotion; (2) Exercise and Sport Science; and (3) Nutritional Science. These three concentrations provide students the knowledge and skills that enhance awareness about healthy lifestyle behavior, increase health-enhancing behaviors, decrease health risk behaviors, and create environments supportive of healthy lifestyles. Students are prepared to pursue the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification.

Health Promotion is the science of helping people, organizations, and communities change lifestyle behaviors to move toward a state of improved health resulting in decreases in chronic disease and health care costs. To accomplish this objective, students learn the science of health through the study of nutrition, biology, anatomy and physiology, and psychology combined with program planning for health promotion by learning how to assess, implement, and evaluate programs that effectively achieve the outcome of improved health.  What can Health Promotion concentration graduates do? 

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm

Required Courses:

• AHLT-H 325 Foundations of Health Education (3 cr)
• AHLT-H 327 Introduction to Community Health (3 cr)
• AHLT-H 411 Promoting Health Behavior (3 cr)
• AHLT-H 415 Global Child and Adolescent Health (3 cr)
• AHLT-H 434 Diseases of Diverse Populations (3 cr)
• AHLT-H 451 Health Coaching (3 cr)
• AHLT-H 477 Program Planning (3 cr)
• AHLT-H 478 Program Evaluation (3 cr)
• AHLT-H 499 Senior Capstone (3 cr)

Exercise and Sport Science is appropriate for students interested in personal training, sports administration/management, sport leadership, exercise science, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, athletic coaching, and fitness specialties. Upon completion, a number of students apply and are accepted into the following professional schools: physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy and athletic trainer. To accommodate these careers, we offer courses that are both academically and physically challenging. This unique degree offers science-based courses in the field of health and nutrition as well as performance-based activity courses. What can Exercise and Sport concentration majors do?

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/athletic-trainers-and-exercise-physiologists.htm

Required Courses:

• AHLT-C 360 Philosophical Foundations of Coaching (3 cr)
• AHLT-F 144 Fundamentals of Human Movement (3 cr)
• AHLT-N 442 Exercise and Nutrition (3 cr)
• HPER-E XXX 3 credits of any HPER-E course(s)
• HPER-P 391 Biomechanics (3 cr)
• HPER-P 405 Introduction to Sport Psychology (3 cr)
• HPER-P 452 Motor Learning (3 cr)
• HPER-P 496 Children's Talent Development (3 cr)

Nutritional Science is an important component of a well-rounded Health Sciences undergraduate degree.  The nutritional science concentration allows for the Health Sciences major to understand the value of food, food preparation and substances within what is consumed and the relationship to personal and community health. 

A concentration in nutritional science provides a foundation for Health Science majors to pursue careers that improve lives, prevent diseases, and promote general healthy living in individuals and our communities.  What you eat not only has the ability to promote health, it also influences your risk of many diseases. Students who earn this concentration develop a knowledge-based in science and nutrition to understand and explore the relationship between what we eat and health. Courses specific to this concentration emphasize the fundamentals of nutrition, food preparation, and the metabolism of nutrients in health and disease.  If you want to make a difference in helping people lead healthier lives a concentration in nutritional science may be for you.

This concentration may lead the Health Sciences graduate to be eligible for graduate programs in Dietetics.  Dietetics is a specialized area of nutrition.  Registered Dietitians (RD) need a program that includes additional chemistry courses as well as an internship.   Dietetics’ focus is on prevention of disease and chronic processes.

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm

Required Courses:

• AHLT-N 130 Introduction to Foods (3 cr)
• AHLT-N 336 Nutrition Through the Lifecycle (3 cr)
• AHLT-N 378 Global Nutrition (3 cr)
• AHLT-N 388 Advanced Human Nutrition and Metabolish (3 cr)
• AHLT-N 404 Medical Nutrition Therapy I (3 cr)
• AHLT-N 405 Medical Nutrition Therapy II (3 cr)
• AHLT-N 422 Exercise and Nutrition (3 cr)
• AHLT-N 498 Senior Nutrition Seminar (3 cr)
• AHLT-W 365 Physical Assessments and Emergency Care (3 cr)

Pre-Physical Therapy and Pre-Occupational Therapy

Students interested in Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy should enroll in the Bachelor of Health Sciences (concentration in Exercise and Sport Science) at IU Kokomo. By selecting appropriate elective courses, students can then complete the admission requirements for the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) at IUPUI https://shrs.iupui.edu/index.html

Students are advised to consult with their advisors, Health Science faculty members, and the IUPUI DPT website regarding admission requirements including courses, required grades and other admission requirements. Nutritional Science is another key component to a healthy life.  Everyone needs food and nutrition to sustain life. Courses in this concentration include both traditional didactic material and experiential learning through our nutrition laboratory.  Students study a variety of nutritional science that include how the body metabolizes of nutrients, food preparation, global sustainability, medical therapy, food as an art, and nutrition for chronic diseases and weight management