Health Sciences

An overview of the healthcare professions including a description of the responsibilities associated with each profession, appropriate undergraduate preparation, and steps in the application process. Students will develop personal educational plans to pursue entrance into their desired healthcare field. 

Comparison between health, population health, and public health; health literacy; health behavior change and motivation; factors that enhance or lessen health. 

Exploration of the complex factors that impact health and wellness in our society.  Five domains of social determinants of health; role of public health in society, analysis of health policies, describe what it means to be a healthy member of society.  

Includes career exploration and discernment, shadowing opportunities, and consideration of clinical and non-clinical career paths. 

Explore personal, societal, and ethical issues affecting health policy.  Develop scientific, clinical, and social perspectives on health-related issues.  Consider key ethical frameworks relevant to public health as well as current principles and mechanisms of health care policy. 

Consideration of the causes and prevention of major health issues. Incorporation of the scientific method and applications to health policy.  Applications to morbidity and mortality, wellness, disease transmission, diagnosis, population studies, and research methodology.  

An overview of the incidence, prevalence, causation, and prevention of the major infectious diseases and chronic diseases, and disabilities across the lifespan which are currently of concern in the twenty-first century.  Signs and symptoms of disease as well as the body's defenses and disease occurrence across the lifespan.  

Complete targeted shadowing or prep for a summer internship, develop test-taking strategies for entrance exams, and learn about the application process and timeline for their intended profession(s).  Includes professional skills such as CPR/AED certification, assessment of vital signs, research methods, resume-writing and preparations for graduate applications.  Also includes shadowing or clerkship.  

The nature, organization, and functions of the continuum that delivers health services in the U.S. healthcare system. Includes general management principles and practices as found in health care organizations.  Analyzes the nature and role of health policy.  Reviews the roles of health care providers, managers, and consumers. The course focuses on managing change, as seen in health reform efforts, the influence of payment systems, leadership, and technological and scientific innovations.  Current issues explored at global, national, state, and local levels. 

Compliance, informatics, analytics, and data management/strategies to advance individual health, healthcare, public health, and health-related research.  Application of informatics skills and knowledge to health-related problems, simple data analysis and visualization of clinical data answering clinical questions using information effectively; Develop oral and written communication skills to honestly and persuasively convey health-related empirical research to technical and lay audiences.  

Professional preparation, including application essays/personal statements, interview skills, and professional presentation.  Prepare application materials and/or plan for gaining relevant professional experience during a gap year.  Culminates with capstone showcase and/or service learning project.