Department of Health Sciences

Chair and Professor: E. Fox (EdD), 501-450-3194
Professor: B. Hubbard (EdD), J. Rainey (PhD)
Associate Professor: H. Hudson (PhD), D. Morris (PhD)
Assistant Professor: D. Demers (PhD), S. Rose (DSW), A. Sego (PhD)
Clinical Instructor II: C. Gilbreath (PhD), L. Ray (MS)
Clinical Instructor I: K. Jamerson (MS), C. Shelton (MS), D. Smith (MS)

[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.

To jump directly to a particular program of study, use these links:

Degrees/Majors: BS, Health Education | BS, Health Sciences | BS, Addiction Studies | BPS, Professional Studies
Addiction Studies Concentrations: Prevention | Treatment
Minor programs: Health Education | Addiction Studies (Treatment)

[2] Baccalaureate Degree Programs

Abbreviation Key – UCA Core Program

[2.1] Bachelor of Science in Health Education

[Back to program-of-study links]

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):

H ED 3300 Health Education Methods and Materials [UD UCA Core: C]
H ED 3301 The Health Education Profession [UD UCA Core: R]
H ED 3320 Epidemiological Research [UD UCA Core: I]
H ED 4300 Community Health Problems
H ED 4320 Health Communication and Advocacy
H ED 4331 Program Planning and Evaluation
H ED 4370 Administration of Health Programs
H ED 4600 Health Education Internship [UD UCA Core: Z]

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.

H ED 2201 First Aid
H ED 2320 Mental Health
H ED 3305 Human Sexuality [UD UCA Core: D]
H ED 3315 Theory and Practice of Prevention
H ED 4301 Health Education in the Medical Care Setting
H ED 4302 Health Education in the Worksite
H ED 4303 Environmental Health Problems
H ED 4312 Drug Education
H ED 4343 Health Strategies for Multicultural Populations [UD UCA Core: D]
H ED 4395 Contemporary Health Concerns: Women [UD UCA Core: D]
H ED 4396 Contemporary Health Concerns: Men [UD UCA Core: D]
H ED 4398 Health Coaching I
H ED 4399 Health Coaching II
HSC 3123 Medical Terminology

Related Requirements (11 hours):

BIOL 2405 Human Anatomy and Physiology
BIOL 2411 Microbiology in Human Affairs
Statistics: PSYC 2330, MATH 2311 or SOC 2321 – Choose One

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)

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

Required Health Education Courses (12 credit hours):

H ED 3300 Health Education Methods and Materials [UD UCA Core: C]
H ED 3301 The Health Education Profession [UD UCA Core: R]
H ED 4300 Community Health Problems
H ED 4331 Program Planning and Evaluation

Health Education Electives (5 credit hours)

H ED 2201 First Aid
H ED 2320 Mental Health
H ED 3305 Human Sexuality [UD UCA Core: D]
H ED 3315 Theory and Practice of Prevention
H ED 3325 Disease Management for Health Promotion
H ED 4301 Health Education in the Medical Care Setting
H ED 4302 Health Education in the Worksite
H ED 4303 Environmental Health Problems
H ED 4310 Health Concerns of Aging
H ED 4312 Drug Education
H ED 4343 Health Strategies for Multicultural Populations [UD UCA Core: D]
H ED 4370 Administration of Health Programs [UD UCA Core: C]
H ED 4395 Contemporary Health Concerns: Women [UD UCA Core: D]
H ED 4396 Contemporary Health Concerns: Men [UD UCA Core: D]
H ED 4398 Health Coaching I
H ED 4399 Health Coaching II

Related Requirements (8 credit hours)

BIOL 2405 Human Anatomy and Physiology
BIOL 2411 Microbiology

[2.2] Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

[Back to program-of-study links]

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):

BIOL 2405 Anatomy and Physiology and 4 hours of BIOL electives
CHEM 1402 General Chemistry for Health Sciences and CHEM 2450 Intro to Organic and Biochemistry
or
CHEM 1450 College Chemistry I and CHEM 1451 College Chemistry II
PHYS 1410 College Physics I
PHYS 1420 College Physics II
PSYC 1300 General Psychology
BIOL 4311 Pathophysiology
BIOL 4351 General Pharmacology
H SC 3123 Medical Terminology
H SC 4600 Health Science Internship [UD UCA Core: Z]
H ED 4301 Health Education in a Medical Care Setting
H ED 4370 Administration of Health Programs [UD UCA Core: C]

Related Requirements (24 hours):

MIS 2343 Information Processing and Analysis
ECON 2320 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2321 Principles of Microeconomics
ACCT 2310 Principles of Accounting I
ACCT 2311 Principles of Accounting II
FINA 3330 Managing Finance and Capital
MGMT 3340 Managing People and Work
MKTG 3350 Principles of Marketing

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

[Back to program-of-study links]

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 4314 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):

H ED 2320 Mental health
H ED 3315 Theory and Practice of Prevention
H ED 4312 Drug Education

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

PSYC 2330 Psychological Statistics or SOC 2321 Social Statistics
PSYC 3332 Research Methods [UD UCA Core: I] or SOC 3320 Social Research Methods [UD UCA Core: I, C]
PSYC 4320 Abnormal Psychology
BIOL 2405 Human Anatomy and Physiology
BIOL Elective to fulfill BS degree requirements

[2.3.2] Prevention Track

[Back to program-of-study links]

Requirements for the Prevention track (25 hours):

H ED 3120 Prevention Practicum
H ED 3300 Methods and Materials of Health Education [UD UCA Core: C]
H ED 3301 The Health Education Profession [UD UCA Core: R]
H ED 3320 Epidemiological Research [UD UCA Core: I]
H ED 4300 Community Health Problems
H ED 4331 Program Planning and Evaluation
H ED 4370 Administration of Health Programs [UD UCA Core: C]
H ED 4600 Health Education Internship [UD UCA Core: Z]

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

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Requirements for the Treatment track:

H ED 2201 First Aid
H SC 2310 Addiction Counseling: Theory and Practice
H SC 2320 Addictions: Assessment, Intervention and Treatment Planning
H SC 2330 Etiology and Epidemiology of Addiction
H SC 3310 Group Counseling Skills
H SC 3320 Legal and Ethical Issues in Addictions
H SC 3330 Family Systems and Addiction
H SC 4610 Practicum in Substance Abuse [UD UCA Core: Z]
One of the following courses must be chosen for the Treatment track:
PSYC 2370 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 4300 Theories of Personality
Electives for Treatment track:
H SC 4314 Multicultural Counseling  [UD UCA Core: D]

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

[Back to program-of-study links]

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

H SC 2310 Addiction Counseling: Theory and Practice
H SC 2320 Addictions: Assessment, Intervention and Treatment Planning
H SC 2330 Etiology and Epidemiology of Addiction
H SC 3310 Group Counseling Skills
H SC 3320 Legal and Ethical Issues in Addictions
H SC 3330 Family Systems and Addiction

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

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The Bachelor of Professional Studies is not accepting new students, effective 2019-09-05.


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):

H ED 3310 Fundamentals of Occupational Health
H ED 3320 Epidemiological Research
H ED 3325 Disease Management
H ED 4300 Community Health
H ED 4303 Environmental Health Problems
H ED 4320 Health Communication and Advocacy
H ED 4343 Health Strategies for Multicultural Populations [UD UCA Core: D]
H ED 4370 Administration of Health Programs [UD UCA Core: C]
MGMT 3315 International Business Communications
WRTG 3310 Technical Writing

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

H ED 3315 Theory & Practice of Prevention
H ED 4301 Health Education in the Medical Care Setting
H ED 4302 Health Education in the Worksite
H ED 4310 Health Concerns of Aging
H ED 4312 Drug Education
H ED 4395 Contemporary Health Concerns: Women [UD UCA Core: D]
H ED 4396 Contemporary Health Concerns: Men [UD UCA Core: D]
H SC 4305 Technology Applications in Health Sciences

[2.4.2] Concentration in Leadership & Technology

This concentration is inactive.

[3] Master’s Degree

See the Graduate Bulletin.

[4] Course Links (H ED, H SC)

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

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