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 education specialists, health promotion directors, and coordinators in private or community settings.

[2] Honors in Health Sciences

[Jump to Recognition of Academic Achievement for general information about Honors in the Majors.]

Junior and senior students majoring in a program within the Department of Health Sciences are invited to become candidates for the Honors in Health Sciences. The student must have earned an overall GPA of at least 3.5 and a major GPA of 3.7. In addition to the planned curriculum, the student will complete an independent project. On successful completion of the project, the student is eligible to graduate with honors.

[3] Baccalaureate Degree Programs

[3.1] Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion

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The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in health promotion 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.

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

For upper-division UCA Core requirements, students will take HLTH 3300 for Communication, HLTH 3301 for Responsible Living, HLTH 3320 for Critical Inquiry, and HLTH 4600 for the UCA Core Capstone. Students may choose HLTH 3305, 4343, 4395, or 4396 to fulfill the Diversity requirement.

[3.1.1] Major in Health Promotion

Major requirements in Health Promotion (53 hours)

Required Core Courses (27 hours)

Required Content Courses (6 hours):

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.

[3.1.2] Minor in Health Promotion (25 credit hours)

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

Required Health Promotion Courses (12 credit hours)

Health Education Electives (5 credit hours)

Related Requirements (8 credit hours)

[3.1.3] Certificate of Proficiency in Health Coaching

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The Certificate of Proficiency (CP) in Health Coaching requires completion of 14 credit hours. This CP prepares students for employment in health promotion and wellness programs found in businesses, corporations, exercise/fitness centers, and clinics, as well as for self-employment opportunities.

[3.2] Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

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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, Responsible Living and Communication. Students should take HLTH 1320 to fulfill the First Year Seminar requirements and the Responsible Living requirement but may also take HLTH 2320 as an elective to fulfill those requirements as well as the Social Science requirement.

For upper-division UCA Core requirements, students will take HLTH 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.

[3.2.1] 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 one of the following to fulfill the statistics requirement: GEOG 2330, MATH 2311, PSCI 2312, PSYC 2330, QMTH 2330, or SOC 2321.

Electives (6 hours)

[3.3] Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies

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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, Responsible Living and Communication. Students may take HLTH 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 HLTH 3300 for Communication, HLTH 3301 for Responsible Living, HLTH 3320 for Critical Inquiry, and HLTH 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 HLTH 3320 for Responsible Living, 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.

[3.3.1] 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):

[3.3.2] Prevention Track

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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.

[3.3.3] Treatment Track

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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.

[3.3.4] Minor in Addiction Studies – Treatment

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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.

[4] Master’s Degree

See the Graduate Bulletin.

[5] Course Links (HLTH, H SC)

Follow this link for HLTH course descriptions: course link.

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