Major
School of Arts, Sciences & Business
Bachelor of Science
NDMU's Health Sciences degree provides students access to an innovative opportunity to enroll in courses that help prepare them for multiple employment opportunities upon graduation, such as patient care advocate, health service managers, health communicators, health educators, clinical researchers, and public health advocates. The degree also prepares students to apply for graduate programs in areas such as Physician’s Assistant, Occupational Therapy, or other public health fields. Students will work closely with an advisor to ensure that they have taken all the necessary prerequisites for the advanced degree they wish to pursue.
Program Location

Program of Study

The degree consists of 41-43 credit hours in interdisciplinary courses, including courses specifically created for the program.  Twenty-nine credit hours (9 courses) will comprise the core of classes. There is one elective course (3-4 credits) from a list of 3 science courses, and three elective courses (9 credits) selected from an approved list of interdisciplinary courses.  Students will work with their advisor to select the elective courses best suited for their career goal.  The current modality of the program is face-to-face, and we plan to continue this primary modality, with the option of hybrid or occasional online sections if required to serve the student body.

Program Objectives 

  1. Apply the principles of scientific inquiry to investigate key issues in health care and public health,
  2. Use pedagogy to improve health care delivery and advance knowledge in the field,  
  3. Utilize advanced communication, education and research skills to act as leaders in the fields of health care, 
  4. Consider ethical values and principles that are fundamental to the provision of health care services and research,
  5. Critically analyze health science literature and utilize information correctly,  
  6. Demonstrate sensitivity to culturally diverse populations and their attitudes toward health and health care professionals,
  7. Apply managerial and leadership concepts to real world business and clinical settings.

The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program builds upon a strong foundation in the sciences in order to expose students to a wide variety of careers in health care and related professions.  The program’s emphasis on interdisciplinary study, coupled with a liberal arts background, gives students the opportunity to explore different facets of health care and health-related professions before entering the work force or going on to specialized graduate programs. The multidisciplinary approach provides students with a highly competitive edge as they work with communities to make health care and medicine more understandable and accessible.  While the degree is interdisciplinary in nature, it will be housed within the department of biology.

The learning objectives for the Health Sciences major complement the learning objectives for the recently approved General Education program revision.  Both focus on critical thinking, study of diversity and identity, and civic responsibilities.  Students will be able to take courses in the General Education curriculum that will help prepare them for further study in these areas within this new major:

  • BIO 111 Fundamentals of Biology (4 cr)
  • MAT 215 Basic Statistics (3 cr)
  • PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology (4 cr)
  • PHL 201 Introduction to Philosophy (3 cr)
  • PHL 339 Medical Ethics (3 cr)
  • COM 106 Human Communication in the Digital World (3 cr)
  • LCL 333 Medical Terminology (3 cr)
  • LSP 150 Spanish for Health Professionals (3 cr)
Curriculum

Core Health Science Courses (29 cr)

  • HSC 1XX Intro to Health Science (3 cr)
    Encourages awareness of the scope and details regarding the practice of various health care professions as well as the career possibilities. The historical and current U.S. health care system will be discussed including policies, areas of reform, and cultural awareness. Students will be introduced to key terms, role of health science professionals as part of a health care team, and provided an overview of the educational areas that will be explored further throughout the Health Science curriculum, and increase their understanding of health care as a whole. 
  • BIO 201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 cr)
    Integrates the study of structure with function of the human body. As a suite of courses, BIO-201 and 202 are intended for students interested in satisfying requirements for pharmacy, nursing, and various allied health programs. The content and level of delivery of both BIO-201 and 202 are structured so that they are compatible with similar courses offered by cooperating institutions. BIO-201 includes discussion of cellular, tissue, integumentary, skeletal, muscular and neural systems. Includes laboratory study of anatomical models of humans and skeletal components, and dissection of a cat. BIO-202 includes discussion of endocrine, circulatory, immunological, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. Strongly emphasizes study of physiological functions that includes monitoring of body systems with analog and digital hardware. Each course includes three hours lecture and three hours laboratory. A competency exam covering basic chemistry and biology may be administered at the first class meeting and weighed in the final grade. To begin the course sequence, the student must complete BIO-111 or the equivalent with a minimum grade of C or obtain permission of the instructor. BIO-201 with minimum grade of C is a prerequisite for BIO-202.
  • BIO 202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 cr)
    Integrates the study of structure with function of the human body. As a suite of courses, BIO-201 and 202 are intended for students interested in satisfying requirements for pharmacy and various allied health programs. The content and level of delivery of both BIO-201 and 202 are structured so that they are compatible with similar courses offered by cooperating institutions. BIO-201 includes discussion of cellular, tissue, integumentary, skeletal, muscular and neural systems. Includes laboratory study of anatomical models of humans and skeletal components, and dissection of a cat. BIO-202 includes discussion of endocrine, circulatory, immunological, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. Strongly emphasizes study of physiological functions that includes monitoring of body systems with analog and digital hardware. Each course includes three hours lecture and three hours laboratory. A competency exam covering basic chemistry and biology may be administered at the first-class meeting and weighed in the final grade. To begin the course sequence, the student must complete BIO-111 or the equivalent with a minimum grade of C or obtain permission of the instructor. BIO-201 with minimum grade of C is a prerequisite for BIO-202.
  • PSY 205 Theories of Personality (3 cr)
    Explores the structure, processes and development of personality from major theoretical perspectives, including psychoanalytic, neoanalytic, humanistic, behavioral, social behavioral and trait approaches. Emphasizes the comprehension, application and contrast of theories of personality and the enhancement of the student's critical thinking skills. Prerequisite: PSY-101.
  • PSY 233 Human Growth and Development (3 cr)
    Explores the principles of developmental psychology from infancy through adulthood and includes general consideration of developmental tasks through the lifespan. Prerequisite: PSY-101.
  • HSC 3XX Legal and Current Trends in Health Science and Care (3 cr)
    Develops an overview of healthcare law, policy and future trends in health science and care. Students discover and discuss local, state and federal laws, regulatory mandates, healthcare policies and practices and appraise the risk related legal aspects of ethical cost-efficient and effective current healthcare services systems. Corporate structure, legal liabilities, and risk management of healthcare institutions and professionals is studied from a federal, state and local legislative and regulatory perspective. Prereq:  HSC 1XX
  • HSC 3XX Research in Health Care Assessment Planning and Evaluation (3 cr)
    Produces an overview of the fundamental skills needed to conduct research with community partners related to health assessments, program planning and evaluation of health programs. This course focused on research methodologies recommended for effectively and efficiently conducting research without interrupting organizational flow. Current technology and software necessary for the field will also be addressed.  Applied research will engage students with community partners. Prereq: HSC 1XX 
  • COM 3XX Health Science Communication (3 cr)
    Generates knowledge of how to communicate more effectively about the field of health science with patients, the public, the media, potential funders, employers, and colleagues.   This course will engage students in an understanding of effective communication techniques based on audience, purpose, and setting.  The goal of communicating meaningful connections with health through visual and multimedia presentations will be addressed through applied projects.   Prerequisite:  COM 106.
  • HSC 461 Capstone (3 cr)
    Examines the concepts of various aspects of health science and serves as a synthesis experience for the major. Students choose a topic in health care, review relevant literature, interview community members, and develop, implement and evaluate a health promotion project. Achievement is determined through an annotated bibliography, class presentations and a written summary of the health promotion project. Prereq: HSC 1XX and HSC 3XX.

Electives-Select One (1) of the Following (3-4 cr)

  • CHM 108 Survey of General, Organic and Biochemistry Principles (4 cr)
    Emphasizes the fundamental principles that form the basis of general inorganic, organic and biochemistry that are pertinent to the health sciences. The following topics are covered: understanding the properties and reactivity of elements and compounds, chemical bonding and structure, chemical equations and calculations, acids/bases and solutions, behavior of gases, identification and reactions of fundamental groups, system of nomenclature and stereochemistry. Course also investigates the properties and reactions of important compounds such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and some pharmaceuticals. Use of practical applications will aid students in understanding chemical problems. Laboratory activities engage students in a variety of chemical experiments that enhance the understanding of lecture topics. Students who have completed CHM 110 and 111 with a grade of “C” or higher can use those classes instead of CHM 108.
  • PHY 101 General Physics I (4 cr)
    Studies the fundamental physical laws of nature and their use in understanding natural phenomena. Course provides a knowledge base for study in all areas of science and mathematics. Topics include kinematics, dynamics of motion, Newton's laws, rotational mechanics and conservation of energy and momentum. Development of the concepts of vector algebra and calculus are provided as needed. Three lectures, one three-hour laboratory weekly. Fulfills general education requirement in natural science.
  • BIO 260 Genetics and Genomics for Clinical Practice (3 cr)
    Considers the basics of molecular and Mendelian genetics and how they apply to human medical conditions. Uses specific examples to demonstrate general principles of human diseases and conditions with genetic causes to demonstrate general principles of Mendelian and molecular genetics. Discusses medical applications of emerging genetic technologies. Introduces emerging concepts in the genetic and epigenetic causes of human disease. Prerequisites: BIO-111 with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor 
    OR
  • BIO 239 Genetics (4 cr)
    Considers the mechanisms by which biological information is stored, accessed, and passed on from one generation to the next from both Mendelian and molecular genetic perspectives. Introduces basic techniques of molecular biology such as bacterial transformations, gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing and sequencing analysis. Includes the use of online databases such as Pub Med and sequence analysis tools such as BLAST. Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory. Prerequisites: BIO-111 and CHM-110, each with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor.

Elective- Select Three (3) of the Following (9-10 cr)

  • SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr)
    Uses the sociological imagination to help explain what sociology is and how it is relevant to everyday life. Examines culture, social structure, socialization, social institutions, social inequality and social change. Topics include gender roles, deviance and social control, class, race and ethnic inequality, family, and work. Serves as a foundation course for students interested in the field of sociology and criminology. Fulfills general education requirement in social science and thinking critically and analytically.
  • HSC 2XX Cultural Competencies in Health Care (3 cr)
    Explores the skills and ideas necessary for culturally competent health care practice. Throughout this course the students will learn about other cultural value systems while exploring their understanding of their own cultural identity.  The course will promote the development of skills and culturally sensitive behaviors that will enrich therapeutic, client-centered interactions. Prereq: HSC 1XX
  • BIO 253 General Microbiology (4 cr)
    Presents basic concepts of bacteriology, virology, mycology and parasitology with a special focus on bacteria and viruses. The structure, morphology and genetics of microbes will be investigated, as well as their requirements for and patterns of growth. Other topics will include the human microbiota, mechanisms of pathogenicity, basic host defense mechanisms, antimicrobial chemotherapy and the development of microbial drug resistance. Finally, the epidemiology of infectious diseases, along with the characteristics and methods utilized in the control of classic and emerging pathogens will be addressed. In the laboratory, students will learn basic aseptic transfer, staining and culture techniques required for the isolation, identification and enumeration of microbes, and will investigate various factors affecting microbial growth, including antiseptics, disinfectants and antimicrobial drugs. Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory. Prerequisites: BIO-111 with a minimum grade of C.
  • BUS-380 Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System (3 cr)
    Introduces the student to the organization and structure of the U.S. health care system, including institutions, health care professionals and government programs that influence the delivery of health care services. The student is also introduced to policy issues relating to access, efficiency and quality of health care services.
  • BUS-334 Teamwork and Negotiation (3 cr)
    Analyzes the dynamics, structure and function of teams in businesses and other organizations. Examines the framework and components of conflict resolution and negotiation in both organizational and personal situations. Learners will assess and strengthen key interpersonal skills. This course utilizes active learning pedagogy extensively including role plays, small group exercises, and simulations.
  • HSC 4XX Topics in Health Science (3 cr) 
    Surveys current topics of interest within the field of health science.  May be taken more than once on different topics. Prereq: HSC 1XX

Students may receive approval from their advisor to take elective courses not on this list.

Total Credits for BS in Health Science 41-43

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Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Health Sciences major, Caring Healthcare Professionals cohort-The Caring Healthcare Professionals cohort is a NDMU distinction for a Health Sciences major student, who expresses an interest in Nursing and has not fully met the Nursing major admission criteria.

During the first and second years, Health Sciences students pursue liberal arts and sciences, general education, and program of study Health Sciences course requirements. This nearly mirrors the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program of study.

The School of Nursing offers Health Sciences Caring Healthcare Professionals cohort students an opportunity to transfer into the Nursing program in their third year. Using this link, read about the process to apply for transferring to the nursing program in a student’s second year.

Admission Policy for Direct-Entry and Transfer Nursing Students

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