Required Core Courses
Professional Health Science majors must take the following courses as part of their liberal arts cores regardless of whether the core is otherwise met:
Liberal Arts, Mathematics
Liberal Arts, Natural Science with Lab
Liberal Arts, Philosophy
Liberal Arts, Social Science
Professional Health Science Honors Research
The Honors Track in Professional Health Science emphasizes hands-on experience with research techniques applicable to a broad range of fields in Biology, Chemistry, and the Medical Sciences. Students completing a B.S. in Professional Health Science with Honors will be prepared to pursue competitive careers in academic research, private industry, medicine, biomedical research, and related fields. To qualify for honors status, students must:
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.3 GPA within the biology major.
- Complete an honors-level capstone research project (one semester of BI 392, two semesters of BI 493, and one semester of BI 499). The capstone research project must be completed as part of an active research lab and address an original research question.
Students interested in the PHS Honors Program must first enroll as Professional Health Science majors. They should complete course work within the major that prepares them sufficiently for the demands of Honors Research, with special attention paid to specific area of interest. Students who have maintained a qualifying GPA enroll in BI 392 in their second or third year of study. BI 392 students identify a research mentor to supervise their Honors Capstone Project. They then apply for Honors status by developing, presenting, and defending a research proposal.
Students accepted to the Honors Capstone work closely with Biology or Chemistry Faculty to complete an original laboratory or field research project that spans at least three semesters prior to graduation. The Honors Capstone Project is subject to periodic review and must meet with the Biology and Chemistry Faculty’s approval to qualify for honors.
Outcomes
The Bachelor of Science in Professional Health Science has the following outcomes:
Outcome 1. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the basic principles of biology. (BI 111 and BI 112 )
Outcome 2. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the principles of chemistry (CH 135, CH 137 , and CH 216)
Outcome 3. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the basic principles of physics. ( PH 231 )
Outcome 4. Explain genetic processes, including inheritance, gene function, the flow of genetic information, regulation of gene expression, and population genetics. (BI 318 )
Outcome 5. Demonstrate laboratory skills, such as experimental design, data collection and analysis, lab techniques, and research presentation. (Capstone courses)
Assessment: The outcomes for the Professional Health Science major are assessed throughout the curriculum through a combination of quizzes/examinations, papers, and written research reports or oral research presentations.
Assessment
The outcomes for the Professional Health Science major are assessed through a combination of examination results, term papers, oral reports, and mentor evaluations in the courses listed above.
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