Department of Health Sciences

[1] Purposes

The basic aims of the Department of Health Sciences are to (1) contribute to the general health promotion and education of all students and (2) provide advisement/counseling, comprehensive professional preparation, and foundation courses designed to prepare students for careers as health-care professionals, health educator, health promotion directors, and coordinators in private or community settings.

[2] Baccalaureate Degree Programs

Jump to BS, Health Education | BS, Health Sciences | BS, Addiction Studies | Bachelor of Professional Studies

[2.1] Bachelor of Science in Health Education

The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in community health education requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see the UCA Core requirements) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses; (2) degree requirements; (3) major courses as listed below; and (4) 40 upper-division hours.

Note: Admission to the Bachelor of Science degree program, with a major in health education, requires an overall GPA of 2.3 (on a 4.0 scale). However, enrollment in the health education internship (H ED 4600) requires an overall GPA of 2.5.

Elective and required science courses are used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirements in Diversity, Critical Inquiry and Communication. Students will take H ED 1320 to fulfill the First Year Seminar requirement and the Responsible Living requirement but may also take H ED 2320 as an elective to fulfill those requirements as well as the Social Science requirement.

For upper-division UCA Core requirements, students will take H ED 3300 for Communication, H ED 3301 for Responsible Living, H ED 3320 for Critical Inquiry, and H ED 4600 for the UCA Core Capstone. Students may choose H ED 3305, 4395, or 4396 to fulfill the Diversity requirement.

[2.1.1] Major in Health Education

Major requirements in Health Education (53 hours):

Required Core Courses (27 hours):

Required Content Courses (6 hours):

H ED 1320 Essentials of Health and Wellness
H ED 3325 Disease Management for Health Promotion

Health Education Elective Courses (9 hours):

Students are required to select at least one course designated as an upper-division UCA Core Diversity course.

Related Requirements (11 hours):

The remaining credits in the degree plan (32) will be met with elective courses approved by the major advisor.

[2.1.2] Minor in Health Education (25 credit hours)

The minor in Health Education requires successful completion of 25 hours:

Required Health Education Courses (12 credit hours):

Health Education Electives (5 credit hours)

Related Requirements (8 credit hours)

[2.2] Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

Degree requirements include successful completion of a minimum of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see the UCA Core requirements) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements designated courses; (2) degree requirements; (3) the health sciences core; and (4) one of the emphases in health sciences. Because of the number of hours included in the health science major, no minor is required.

Elective and required science courses are used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirements in Diversity, Critical Inquiry and Communication. Students should take H ED 1320 to fulfill the First Year Seminar requirements and the Responsible Living requirement but may also take H ED 2320 as an elective to fulfill those requirements as well as the Social Science requirement.

For upper-division UCA Core requirements, students will take H SC 4600 for the UCA Core capstone. The additional upper-division UCA Core requirements will be met by taking elective courses chosen with approval of the major advisor.

[2.2.1] Health Services Administration Emphasis

Degree Requirements (46 hours):

Related Requirements (24 hours):

The 15 hours of lower-division business courses and a basic statistics course must be completed prior to enrollment in upper-division courses. Students may choose PSYC 2330, MATH 2311, SOC 2321, or QMTH 2330.

Electives (6 hours): approved H ED courses.

[2.3] Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies

The Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies was the first BS program in Addiction Studies in Arkansas. The degree has two tracks: Prevention and Treatment. The degree requires successful completion of 120 hours including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see the UCA Core requirements) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses; (2) degree requirements; (3) major courses as listed below; and (4) upper-division hours.

Elective and required science courses are used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirements in Diversity, Critical Inquiry and Communication. Students may take H ED 2320 to fulfill the First Year Seminar requirement for Responsible Living as well as the Social Science requirement.

For the prevention track upper-division UCA Core requirements, students will take H ED 3300 for Communication, H ED 3301 for Responsible Living, H ED 3320 for Critical Inquiry, and H ED 4600 for the UCA Core capstone. The upper-division diversity course will be an elective chosen with approval of the program advisor.

For the treatment track upper-division UCA Core requirements, students will take H SC 3320 for the Diversity requirement and H SC 4610 for the UCA Core capstone requirement. The additional UCA Core upper-division courses will be taken as elective with approval of the program advisor.

[2.3.1] Core Courses and Related Requirements

Both the Prevention and the Treatment tracks require the following Addiction Studies core courses (9 hours):

Related requirements for the prevention and treatment tracks (17 hours):

[2.3.2] Prevention Track

Requirements for the Prevention track (25 hours):

Remaining credits (22) may be selected for a declared minor or from recommended courses selected in consultation with the departmental advisor.

[2.3.3] Treatment Track

Requirements for the Treatment track:

Remaining credits (18) may be selected for a declared minor or from recommended courses selected in consultation with the departmental advisor.

[2.3.4] Minor in Addiction Studies – Treatment

The minor in addiction studies requires successful completion of 18 hours of course work, including the following:

This is an appropriate minor for any student majoring in a health, behavioral, or social science field. Any student graduating with a degree in any of these fields would enhance their employment potential by having a minor in Addiction Studies. Students with a minor in Addiction Studies would be qualified for entry level addiction treatment positions in residential treatment facilities, the criminal justice system, drug courts, and outpatient substance abuse treatment facilities in addition to positions in other fields that involve potential contact with a chemically dependent clientele. In addition to increasing employability, it would also provide students the opportunity to serve the greater good by providing them with the tools to assist those afflicted with the disease of addiction.

[2.4] Bachelor of Professional Studies

The Bachelor of Professional Studies offers associate degree holders in the areas of health and technology the opportunity to increase knowledge and leadership skills and to enhance career opportunities. The program is currently offered in a hybrid format. Core courses in one of two areas of concentration are available: (1) Health and Safety and (2) Leadership and Technology (but see § 2.4.2, below). A total of 120 credits must be completed, including the transfer of a maximum of 60 credits from associate degree programs. The curriculum is designed to facilitate 45 of the 60 required credits to completion of a degree. An additional 15 hours of electives are required for completion of this degree program. These additional elective hours will be selected by the student in consultation with the academic advisor.

A set of core courses and upper-level electives follow.

[2.4.1] Concentration in Health and Safety

Core Program Required Courses (30 credit hours):

Upper Level Electives (15 credit hours minimum to be selected from the following and approved by the major advisor):

[2.4.2] Concentration in Leadership & Technology

This concentration is under review and is not currently accepting students.

[3] Master’s Degree

See the Graduate Bulletin.

[4] Course Links

[4.1] Courses in Health Education (H ED)

Follow this link for H ED course descriptions: course link.

[4.2] Courses in Health Sciences (H SC)

Follow this link for H SC course descriptions: course link.