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Health Sciences Requirements

  • The Department of Health Sciences offers a comprehensive curriculum focused on the study of the human body through majors in Allied Health Studies, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Public Health, and Health and Physical Education. These majors will prepare students for a variety of graduate school opportunities and careers including exercise physiology, public health, occupational therapy, physical therapy, wellness management, sports medicine, and health and physical education. Health Sciences majors gain valuable applied, professional, and clinical experiences working in a variety of health and exercise related settings through internships, volunteer/shadowing, and research opportunities. The educational goals of the department are to introduce students to current concepts in the Health Sciences, to expose them to a variety of work-related experiences, to gain relevant professional skills, to nurture skills of oral and written communication, cultural competence, and ethics, and to engage in various aspects of basic science and translational research. These experiences allow students to develop analytical, interpersonal, and technical skills for various health-related careers. These curricula also foster a sense of responsibility and establish critical, independent thinking consistent with the objectives of a liberal arts education.

    The Allied Health Studies major is designed to prepare students to seek advanced degrees in nursing, physician assistant studies, nutrition/dietetics, medicine and dentistry or employment in a variety of health-related professions. The Kinesiology and Exercise Science major will prepare students seeking advanced degrees in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, kinesiology, exercise physiology, or related job opportunities that do not require advanced degrees. Students completing this major will have an educational background to seek related professional certifications through organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine and National Strength and Conditioning Association. The Public Health major is constructed to prepare students to meet the eligibility criteria for the certified health education specialist (CHES) certification, various careers in health education, administration, epidemiology, and research, or pursue additional graduate studies. The Health and Physical Education major is designed for students interested in obtaining Pennsylvania teacher certification for grades K-12.

      The Health Sciences department also offers minors in Health Sciences or Coaching that complement the studies of students majoring in other disciplines.

    Note: Due to the overlap in the number of courses among the majors, students may only major in one of the four majors offered by the department.

    Allied Health Studies Major

    Requirements:

    •   Four introductory courses: HS-100, BIO-102-Q, HS-150 and STAT-141Q

    • Required Courses: HS-202, 205, 205L, 206, 250, 261W or 262, 275, 335, 370.

    • Two elective courses from the following list: HS-220, 232W, 263W, 278, 298, 300,
      340, 351, 352Q, 360, 366W, 413, 446, 447, 452, 460, 464, 490W or 491W.

    • One capstone from the following list: HS-413, 415, 455.
      • If you take more than one capstone, it may count as an elective.

     

    Kinesiology and Exercise Science Major

    Requirements:

    • Four introductory courses: HS-100, BIO-102-Q, HS-150 and STAT-141Q

    •   Required Courses: HS-205, 205L, 206, 220, 250, 261W or 262, 278, 351 and 352Q.

    • Two elective courses from the following list: HS-202, 232W, 263W, 275, 298, 300,
      335, 340, 360, 366W, 413, 446, 447, 452, 460, 464, 490W or 491W

    • One capstone from the following list: HS-446 or 455.
      • If you take more than one capstone, it may count as an elective.

     

    Public Health Major

    Requirements:

    • Introductory Courses: BIO-102Q, HS-100, 150, 202, 262

    • Intermediate Natural Science Courses: HS-205, 205L, 206; or HS-207, 205L, 208

    • One additional natural science course or four credits of research focus or outdoor leadership courses: HS-223, 224, 225, 232, 234, 235, 240, 245, 263W, 333, 351, 352, 370, 490W, 491, 492W

    • Two Population-level/Synthesis courses: HS-320, 321

    • One Intermediate Math Course: STAT-243W (prerequisites: STAT-141Q and STAT-142 or permission of the instructor)

    • One Social Science/Humanities/Natural Science/HS Social Determinants Course from the following list: ANTH-100, 235; ANSO-200, ANTH/ENVS-230; ANTH/HSOC-283; ECON-311; ENVS-100, 110, 111, 112, 216, 238, 242, 244; HS-220, 275;  HS/SOC-298; HSOC-100; PHIL-246; PHIL/ENVS-248; POL-218, 252, 254; PSYC-100, 240; PSYC-311, 312; SOC-100, 255; SOC/ENV-220

    • Capstone Courses: All HS majors must complete a capstone experience which includes an oral presentation by taking HS-413, 415, 446, 447, 455, 490W, or 491W.

     

    Health and Physical Education Major

    Requirements:

    • Introductory courses: HS-100, BIO-102-Q and STAT-141Q

    • Intermediate Natural Science Courses: HS-205, 205L, 206; or HS-207, 205L, 208

    • Required HS courses: HS-202, 220, 223, 224, 232W, 235, 245, 250, 333, 351, 352Q, 355, 356, and 464

    • DANC/HS-200

    • Capstone course: HS-446

    Note: Students wishing to obtain PA teacher certification for grades K-12 must also take: EDUC-100, 265, 320, 360, 375, 453 or 493, and 454. In addition, students must complete the requirements for admission to the teaching certification program (see Education) and obtain passing scores on two Praxis II examinations.

    Students must earn a cumulative 3.0 GPA (Pennsylvania Department of Education Standard) and a 2.8 GPA within the HS Department to receive the departmental   recommendation to be eligible for student teaching.   Students and their advisers should consult the Education Department website and department chair for further information.

    Requirements for Minors

    A minor concentration in coaching consists of HS-100, 220, 278, 365, 366W; select two of the following courses: 223, 224, 225, 226 or 245 (24 credits).

    A minor in Health Sciences consists of HS-100 and 16 additional elective credits including eight credits from each category listed below:

    • 200-level courses: HS-202; HS/BIO-205, HS/BIO-206; HS-220, 232W, 250, 275, 278; HS/SOC-298

    • 300- and 400-level courses: HS-335, 351, 352Q, 360, 366W, 370, 413, 415, 446. 447, 452, 455, 460, 464

    Note: Students enrolled in any major with the Health Sciences department are not eligible for a health sciences minor.

Allied Health Major Advising Sheet

Kinesiology & Exercise Science Major Advising Sheet

Health & Physical Education Major Advising Sheet