΢ƽ

Health Sciences

Advisors: Dr. James Scifers, Dr. Louise Keegan, Dr. Colin Tomes, and Dr. Danielle Costanzo

The Health Sciences major is intended for students who wish to pursue careers in health professions after completing their undergraduate degree at ΢ƽ. This program is designed to specifically prepare students for graduate study in the fields of Athletic Training, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology. 

Upon declaring a major in health sciences, students select one of the following tracks, based on their intended career path:

Health Sciences Core: 8 units

  • BIOL 106: Human Anatomy & Physiology for Health Science I
  • BIOL 107: Human Anatomy & Physiology for Health Science II
  • PSYC 120: Introduction to Psychology
  • HLTR 185: Introduction to Health Professions 
  • HLTR 210: Medical Terminology
  • HLTR 310: Research Methods in Health Sciences
  • HLTR 385: Social Issues in Health Sciences
  • MATH 107: Elementary Statistics 
    OR
  • HLTP 189: Biostatistics for Health

Pre-Athletic Training Track: 9 units

  • BIOL 111: Foundations of Biology
  • CHEM 108: Fundamentals of Chemistry
  • HLTR 231: Nutrition for Health Sciences
  • HLTR 260: Kinesiology
  • HLTR 261: Prevention & Management of Athletic Injuries
  • HLTR 360: Exercise Physiology
  • PHYS 109: Physics for Life Sciences I
  • Two additional courses, chosen from the list of Health Sciences elective courses and approved by advisor

Pre-Occupational Therapy Track: 9 units

  • HLTP 110: Introduction to Public Health
  • HLTR 260: Kinesiology
  • HLTP 321: Global Health 
    OR
  • HLTP 289: Social Determinants of Health
  • PSYC 207: Lifespan Development
  • PSYC 362: Abnormal Psychology
  • PHYS 109: Physics for Life Sciences I
  • SOC 115: Introductory Sociology 
    OR
  • SOC / ANTH 113: Cultural Anthropology
  • Two additional courses, chosen from the list of Health Sciences elective courses and approved by advisor

Pre-Physical Therapy Track: 9 Units

  • BIOL 111: Foundations of Biology
  • One additional course in BIOL at the 200-level or above, to be selected in consultation with advisor
  • CHEM 113: General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 114: General Chemistry II
  • PHYS 109: Physics for Life Sciences I
  • PHYS 110: Physics for Life Sciences II
  • PSYC 207: Lifespan Development
  • Two additional courses, chosen from the list of Health Sciences elective courses and approved by advisor

Communication Sciences & Disorders Track: 9 units

  • PHYS 109: Physics for Life Sciences I
  • HLTR 150: Introduction to Communication Sciences & Disorders
  • BIOL 108: Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech & Hearing Mechanism
  • HLTR 252: Speech & Hearing Science
  • HLTR 253: Phonetics & Phonology
  • HLTR 354: Clinical Linguistics
  • HLTR 355: Audiology
  • EDUC 410.3: Speech & Language Development 
  • Two additional courses, chosen from the list of Health Sciences elective courses and approved by advisor

Health Sciences Electives:

  • Any HLTR course not required for major or discipline-specific track
  • Any HLTP course not required for major or discipline-specific track
  • BIOL 206: Microbiology for Health Sciences
  • BIOL 210: Genetics
  • BIOL 350: Human Physiology
  • CHEM 108: Fundamentals of Chemistry
  • CHEM 113: General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 114: General Chemistry II
  • ECON 211: Economics of Healthcare
  • HLTR 285: Clinical Observership
  • NEUR 218: Brain Sex
  • PHYS 109: Physics for Life Sciences I
  • PHYS 110: Physics for Life Sciences II
  • PSYC 207: Lifespan Development
  • PSYC 260: Sports Psychology
  • PSYC 362: Abnormal Psychology
  • SOC / ANTH 113: Cultural Anthropology
  • SOC 115: Introductory Sociology

Courses in Health Science

HLTR 150. Introduction to Communication Disorders. The course is designed to introduce students to the field communication sciences and disorders (CSD). It will provide learners with an overview of disorders of speech, language, and hearing as seen in children and adults. Additionally, special topics such as overviewing typical speech and language development across the lifespan and multicultural issues and CSD will be discussed.

HLTR 185. Introduction to Health Professions. Students are introduced to various health professions and the knowledge base, skills, and abilities necessary for success in healthcare.  This course examines healthcare from multiple perspectives including healthcare ethics, cultural competence, and social disparities in healthcare access. Students are asked to reflect on their roles as future healthcare providers in addressing current issues facing national healthcare. The course reflects key introductory themes in health professions education which will be developed in more depth in subsequent courses within the Health Sciences program. This course is intended to foster a deeper understanding of the following: 1) Health professions education as a field of study and practice 2) Current challenges to the healthcare system and implications for health professions education 3) Current trends and priorities in health professions education 4) Interprofessional practice the healthcare environment.

HLTR 210. Medical Topics and Terminology. Students are introduced to the study and application of medical terminology, interprofessional communication, and documentation through the system-by-system exploration of general medical topics. This course meets pre-professional learning objectives by providing a foundational understanding of medical word parts and origins, word building, abbreviations, medical record conventions, and unique medical terminology through dissection and analysis of realistic case studies and the construction of medical documents. Prerequisite: health science majors only or ‘permission of the school dean/associate dean.

HLTR 231. Nutrition for Health. (Also HLTP/NURS 231) Is an introduction to the science of nutrition with emphasis on applications for the allied health professions. As such, focus will be on the nutrient needs of the body, the processes by which nutrients are obtained and processed, and the foods that meet these needs in selected social, environmental, cultural, and performance contexts. The course is designed for students entering professional fields such as nursing, physical or occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, athletic training, and public health which require a functional understanding of the relationship between nutrition and health or performance. Students will be introduced to tools and techniques of the field by completing an individual dietary assessment and consulting robust scientific literature to answer discipline-specific questions. (U1)

HLTR 252.  Speech & Hearing Sciences.  The communication process is a physical and biological science. This course is designed to give students an introduction to speech and hearing science theories, instrumentation, and measurement, emphasizing normal speech perception and production to establish a reference for pathological deviations.

HLTR 253.  Phonetics & Phonology.  This course focuses on the physical and linguistic aspects of speech sounds. We will examine these sounds in terms of articulatory, acoustic, and perceptual aspects. Particular emphasis will be placed on the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for transcribing speech, and in the development of auditory and speech perception skills necessary for transcription and analysis of typical and disordered speech. Topics in phonetics are also essential topics as preparation for studying phonology, which seeks an understanding of how speech sounds are organized in languages. Towards the end of the course we focus on these language-specific patterns.

HLTR 254.  Social and Communication Development.  This 1-unit course is designed as an overview of typical social and communication development from birth through adulthood. Course content includes but is not limited to the review of theoretical perspectives of language acquisition, the typical sequence of speech and language development, special topics in communication development, and the analysis of communication samples. 

HLTR 260.  Kinesiology.   Upon completion of this course, a student should be able to identify the structural characteristics, movements, and muscles acting as the major joints of the body.  The student will be able to select movements or exercises which utilize specific muscle groups and analyze the joint actions, muscle actions, and mechanical principles which apply to the performance of a specific movement.  Prerequisites: BIOL 103 and  BIOL 104 or BIOL 310 and  BIOL 350 or BIO 106 and BIO 107. Fall

HLTR 261. Management and Prevention of Sports Injuries. This course is an introduction to the principles and practices associated with sport and fitness injury management. The course emphasizes the development of competencies in the recognition and treatment of injuries appropriate for professionals working with active populations. Topics include injury mechanics, injury prevention strategies, and injury recognition and management. Prerequisites: BIOL 103 and BIOL 104 or BIOL 310 and BIOL 350. Spring.

HLTR 270. Emergency Medical Care. Upon successful completion of this course the student will be eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) Exam required for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania EMT certification. This course meets all the educational requirements for the certification process as specified in the regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Sophomore or above, students enrolled in this course are required to provide proof of background checks, vaccinations, and other onboarding required paperwork.  Students enrolled in this course are also required to complete clinical education hours outside of class meeting times. Prerequisites: None.

HLTR 285/285.2. Clinical Observership. Supervised observation in a clinical setting for pre-medical, pre-veterinary, and pre-health professions students. A minimum of 50 hours plus assigned work for one-half unit of credit; a minimum of 100 hours plus assigned work for one full unit of credit. Prerequisites: junior or senior class standing; 2.70 overall GPA. Application required prior to registration for the class. 

HLTR 310.  Research Methodology in the Health Sciences. Scientific method as the means through which knowledge advances in allied health fields. Developing and researching hypotheses, collecting data, testing hypotheses using appropriate statistical techniques, interpreting and reporting statistical results. Research methodology, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics, as well as use of the computer software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyze data. Writing intensive.  Prerequisite: PSYC 120 and junior or senior class standing.

HLTR 354.  Clinical Linguistics.  Clinical linguistics is a core component of interdisciplinary education for those who wish to work with individuals who experience communication difficulties. This course will provide grounding in the traditional aspects of language (e.g. phonetics, phonology, grammar and semantics) and an overview of theories and approaches relevant to language science and linguistics. Students will describe, analyze, and interpret aspects of social interaction in a variety of populations across the lifespan (e.g. populations that are typically developing, multilingual, and have cognitive and linguistic difficulties). (U1)

HLTR 355.  Audiology.  The general objective of the course is to introduce the student to the profession and practice of audiology. This course will provide students an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the auditory system, the physical properties of sound relevant to hearing and auditory disorders. In addition, the students will be introduced to the concept of hearing assessment, and techniques for hearing assessment. The information will be studied across the life span and across culture. Prerequisite: HLTR 252.

HLTR 360. Exercise Physiology. This course is an introductory course in exercise physiology. It will introduce certain concepts of the “how and why” the body responds to both acute and chronic exercise stress.  Topics will include exercise metabolism, respiration, circulation, neuromuscular, hormonal, and environmental influences on exercise. Prerequisites:  BIOL 104 or BIOL 107.

HLTR 385. Social Issues In Health Science. A capstone seminar for students in the health sciences major.  Guided readings and research to prepare students for graduate and professional study in allied health fields.  Students explore ethical and social issues related to health science (such as the debate regarding immunizations, homeopathic approaches to healing, obesity as a cause of illness vs. an illness in itself), and co-author research papers which include perspectives from their chosen/intended field of study.  Prerequisites: senior class standing; major in health sciences, nursing, or public health; other students by permission of instructor.

HLTR 190–199, 290–299, 390–399. Special Topics.
HLTR 286, 381-383. Independent Study.
HLTR 384. Independent Research.
HLTR 288, 386–388. Internship. 
HLTR 400-401. Honors.