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 at least one 300-level biology or chemistry course with a grade of B or higher.
- Complete Honors application (available on Canvas page)
- Complete an honors-level capstone research project (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 Honors Program must first enroll as Professional Health Science majors and complete coursework that prepares them for the rigorous demands of Honors Research, focusing on their specific area of interest within biology. To apply, students should fill out the application form on the Canvas page and also contact their faculty mentor or the chair of the School of STEM. Those who maintain a qualifying GPA will be eligible for the program. Once accepted into the Honors Capstone, students will collaborate closely with Biology or Chemistry faculty to conduct an original laboratory or field research project, spanning at least three semesters before graduation. The Honors Capstone Project will undergo periodic reviews and must receive approval from the science faculty 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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