COLLEGE of HEALTH and SOCIAL SERVICES
HEALTH SCIENCE
Professors Arnold, Brandon, Buckingham, Robinson, Young; Associate Professors Forester-Cox, Hill (Emerita), Hussain, Kozel, Rao, Wilson; Assistant Professors Kratzke, Palacios; College Assistant Professor Hawe, Kendall;
(575) 646-4300;
DEGREE: Bachelor of Community Health
MINORS:
- Community Health
- Gerontology
- U.S.-Mexico Border Health
DEGREE: Bachelor of Community Health
The curriculum in community health prepares students for careers in community and public health programs, and in voluntary, private, and governmental agencies. Upon completion of the degree, the graduate is eligible to take the national Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. The Bachelor of Community Health degree has the full approval of the national Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)/American Association for Health Education (AAHE)/Baccalaureate Program Approval Committee (SABPAC).
Students seeking admission to the Bachelor of Community Health degree in the Department of Health Science at NMSU are first admitted as pre-community health (PCHL) students. Students keep this designation until they have met the following admissions requirements:
- A cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0 after completing specified general education coursework (the common core).
- A grade of C or better in prerequisite departmental courses (HL S 100, 150, 275, and 395).
- A grade of C or better in both MATH 120 and EST 251/STAT 251 or STAT 271.
- A score of 37 or better on the Conventions of Written English examination.
- Submission of an application packet that includes (1) a brief personal statement of interest in the profession, and (2)a completed application for the Bachelor of Community Health degree program.
The Bachelor of Community Health degree program accepts applicants during the Spring and Fall semesters. The deadlines for accepting application packets are September 15 for Spring admission and February 15 for Fall admission. All applications must be submitted to the College of Health and Social Services Student Resource and Advising Center, room HSS 326.
Applicants may receive a conditional acceptance into the program if they are currently enrolled in the last of the required pre-requisites at the time that they submit an application to the Bachelor of Community Health degree program. Such conditional acceptance will be revoked if the applicant does not successfully complete each of the pre-requisite courses.
Students must attain a grade of C or better in all required HL S core coursework.
Any student who receives two or more grades of D or F in required HL S core courses must petition, in writing, to continue as a major. Unsuccessful petitioners will be dismissed from the program.
General Requirements (44 credits)
General education requirements for the Department of Health Science follow those outlined by the university in this catalog.
Departmental Requirements
You are required to complete the following Health Science core courses. Of the 128 credits required for the degree, you must have a minimum of 48 upper division credit hours (300- and 400-level courses).
Prerequisite Courses (16 credits)
| HL S 100, Introduction to Health Science | 1 |
| HL S 150, Personal Health and Wellness | 3 |
| HL S 275, Foundations of Health Education | 3 |
| HL S 395, Foundations of Public Health | 3 |
| MATH 120, Intermediate Algebra | 3 |
| EST/STAT 251, Statistics for Business and the Behavioral Sciences, or *EST 311G, Statistical Applications | 3 |
Community Health Education Core (25 credits):
| HL S 471, Resources and Computer Applications in Health Education | 3 |
| HL S 473, Health Program Planning | 3 |
| HL S 475, Methods of Community Health Education | 3 |
| HL S 476, Health Risk Reduction | 3 |
| HL S 478, Health Program Evaluation and Research | 3 |
| HL S 496, Community Health Education Field Experience | 6 |
| HL S 497, Senior Seminar in Community Health Education | 1 |
| HL S 499, Problems in Health Education | 3 |
Public Health Core (15 credits)
| HL S 450, Epidemiology | 3 |
| HL S 451, Biometrics and Health Research | 3 |
| HL S 452, Environmental Issues in Community Health | 3 |
| HL S 457, Administration of Health Programs | 3 |
| HL S 459, Infectious/Noninfectious Disease Prevention | 3 |
Select one (1) of the following (3 credits) Cultural Foundations Course Requirements
| HL S 461, Health Communication with Hispanic Clients | 3 |
| HL S 462, Hispanic Health Issues | 3 |
| HL S 463, Interdisciplinary Seminar | 3 |
| HL S 464V, Cross Cultural Aspects of Health | 3 |
| HL S 465, International Health Problems | 3 |
| HL S 466, International Health Practicum | 1-3 |
| HL S 467, Rural Health Issues | 3 |
| HL S 468, Coping With Loss and Grief: A Cross-Cultural Perspective | 3 |
| HL S 469, U.S.-Mexico Border Health Issues | 3 |
Elective (31 credits)
An additional 31 credit hours of elective courses are required. You must select additional electives to bring your total number of credit hours to the University requirement of 128. Students are encouraged to select additional HL S and GERO courses to satisfy the elective requirement. Students with an associate degree in an allied health field may transfer up to 31 credit hours of electives.
Minors in Health Science
A grade of C or better is required for all minors coursework.
MINOR: Community Health (18 credit hours)
| Core Community Health Education Courses (12 credit hours): HLS 275, Foundations of Health Education; HLS 395, Foundations of Public Health; HLS 450, Epidemiology; HLS 457, Administration of Health Programs | 12 |
| Select one (3 credit hours): HLS 300, Drugs and Behavior; HLS 355, Responding to Emergencies; HLS 301, Human Sexuality; HLS 380, Women’s Health Issues; HLS 320, Human Stress Management; HLS 492, Health Care of the Aged | 3 |
| Select one (3 credit hours): HLS 461, Health Communications with Hispanic Clients; HLS 462, Hispanic Health Issues; HLS 463, Interdisciplinary Seminar; HLS 464, Cross-Cultural Aspects of Health; HLS 465, International Health Problems; HLS 466, International Health Practicum; HLS 467, Rural Health Issues; HLS 468, Coping with Loss and Grief: A Cross-Cultural Perspective | 3 |
MINOR: Gerontology (18 credit hours, on-line program only)
| Core Gerontology Courses (12 credit hours): GERO 415, Intro to Gerontology; GERO 493, Adulthood and Aging; GERO 456, Biological Aspects of Aging; GERO 494, Aging in a Multicultural Society | 12 |
| Select two (6 credit hours): FCS 448, The Aging Family; HNFS 406, Geriatric Nutrition; GERO 450, Health Promotion for the Elderly; GERO 451, Aging and Public Policy; NURS 324, Nursing Care of the Older Adult | 6 |
MINOR: U.S.-Mexico Border Health Issues (18 credit hours)
| Core - U.S.- Mexico Border Health Issues Courses (6 credit hours): HLS 463, Interdisciplinary Seminar (when subtitle relates to US-Mexico Border Health) or HLS 466, International Health Practicum; HLS 469, US-Mexico Border Health Issues | 6 |
| Select four (12 credit hours): HLS 461, Health Communication with Hispanic Clients; HLS 462, Hispanic Health Issues; HLS 464V, Cross-Cultural Aspects of Health; HLS 465, International Health Problems; HLS 467, Rural Health Issues; HLS 486, Special Topics (when subtitle relates to US-Mexico Border Health); GERO 494, Aging in a Multi-Cultural Society; HLS 481, AIDS and Public Health Practice and Policy; HLS 483, Parental and Child Health Issues; HLS 484, Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Control; HLS 488, Health Dilemmas of Selected Populations | 12 |