Health Sciences

Faculty 

KELLY PARSLEY, M.A., M.P.H., DEPT. CHAIR
GERALD SCHAFER, PH.D.

Mission

Carroll College’s Health Sciences and Public Health programs are based on the application of evidence-based, health-related knowledge, with a goal of developing future leaders in health promotion and disease prevention on the individual, local, national, and global levels. These degree programs are inherently interdisciplinary, with emphases that include the biological, quantitative, and social sciences. They introduce students to an integrated model of health improvement and maintenance so that graduates may competently address the complex public health challenges facing the world today.

The Health Sciences major is designed for students seeking careers in clinical health professions. The Public Health major is intended for students who want to improve health by informing and leading decision-making by policymakers, practitioners, and the public, in order to advance individual and population health. These students may pursue work in population health fields such as infection control, epidemiology, and environmental health, and also in community health and education. Both degree programs work to develop future leaders who rely on their knowledge of current research for improving health on both the individual and community levels.

Goals

  1. To provide students with the specialized knowledge, skills, and global perspective they need to pursue their chosen health profession.
  2. To offer students practical experience that will supplement their academic work and facilitate their entry into a chosen health career.
  3. To foster evidence-based perspectives of local, national, and global health challenges and solutions.

Student Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes for students in the Health Sciences Program are set by the National Consortium for Health Science Education:

  1. Foundational Knowledge of Public Health and Health Sciences: Students will gain foundational knowledge for proficiency in basic epidemiologic principles, including diseases and disorders, surveillance techniques, statistical applications, and data presentation.
  2. Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills both individually and in groups.
  3. Healthcare Delivery Systems: Students will be able to identify how various healthcare systems affect the services they provide and quality of care delivered.
  4. Employability Skills: Students will demonstrate key employability skills including development of resumes, personal statements, and interview skills.
  5. Legal and Ethical Responsibilities: Students will understand ethical practices with respect to regulations, policies, laws and legislative rights of citizens.
  6. Health Care Maintenance: Students will understand the fundamentals of wellness, healthy behaviors, and the prevention of disease.

Courses

HS-150: Medical Terminology

Credits 3
Medical terminology is the study of words that pertain to the body, diseases, and medical processes. This course introduces medical word building using a body systems approach. Students will gain a thorough knowledge of basic medical terminology by identifying root words, prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms to develop an extensive medical vocabulary.

HS-189: Special Topic

Credits 1 3
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

HS-198: Introduction to Health Sciences

Credits 3
This course presents a multi-disciplinary look at topics in the health sciences. Students will explore a range of issues that affect health at all levels enhanced by presentations from health professionals from the Helena community. Students who are anticipating careers in health and medical fields, those who are considering graduate health studies, as well as students who want to help improve health and wellness in their communities and beyond will find this an engaging introduction to the field of health sciences.

HS-230: Introduction to Epidemiology

Credits 3
This course covers foundational concepts through study design for epidemiologic investigations of infectious and chronic diseases. Evaluation of screening programs and health services research will also be discussed. Problems presented in class will provide students with the opportunity for gaining skills in descriptive and analytic epidemiology and will include outbreak investigations, the natural history of infectious diseases, validity of clinical tests, and statistical methodology used for differing types of epidemiologic studies.

HS-289: Special Topic

Credits 1 3
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

HS-289G: Special Topic

Credits 1 4
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

HS-303: Public Health Nutrition

Credits 3
This course focuses on the main concepts of nutritional health from a public health perspective. Students will learn about health promotion and disease prevention via nutritional issues, as well as community based approaches to nutritional health and disease prevention. This course addresses private and governmental health care providers and food assistance programs; nutritional interventions and response for vulnerable and special populations; the complex links between health, social, and economic factors with regard to nutrition; and best practice delivery of nutritional information and services.

HS-307: Evidence Based Research Methods (WI)

Credits 3
Advanced Writing. HS 307 is an introduction to and exploration of processes, including the use of citation databases, evaluation of the literature, and data analyses. Students will learn the differences between primary, secondary, and tertiary research through the writing process and how research leads to evidence-based practice in clinical and public health settings. Junior or Senior Standing.

HS-325: Applied Anatomical Kinesiology

Credits 3
Course includes the study of the anatomical locations, insertions, and actions of the major skeletal muscles, the structure and function of the major joints of the body, and a review of the skeleton. It will emphasize basic myology and osteology and their relationship to the science of body movement.

HS-329: Public Health & Environment

Credits 3
Cultural Diversity. This course provides students with an introduction to and overview of the key areas and principles of environmental health. Students will gain an understanding of 1) the interaction between individuals, communities, and the environment, 2) the impacts of various environmental agents on the health of the public, and 3) specific applications of environmental health and environmental engineering. Topics to be covered include environmental policy and regulation, agents of environmental disease, and practices for water quality, air quality, food safety and waste disposal.

HS-335: Health Policy Mgmt/Issues

Credits 3
Intermidiate writing. Global Diversity. Health Policy Management and Issues. This course addresses key topics in global and national health. Students will gain additional awareness of the biological and social aspects of major global health issues and diseases. General areas of emphasis are chronic and infectious diseases, nutrition, and environmental health. Within these areas populations at risk, health policies, and programs designed to reduce health inequalities will be analyzed. Students will also become proficient in public/global health vocabulary, basic methods used to assess global health, and explore resources for further understanding emerging health issues.

HS-389: Special Topic

Credits 1 3
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

HS-405: Senior Seminar

Credits 1
Writing Intensive. The purpose of this seminar is to provide senior level public health and health sciences majors information that will assist them in preparing for professional life. Students planning to attend graduate school should take this course during fall semester.

HS-413: Exercise Physiology/Human Performnce

Credits 3
The study of basic physiological functions of the body and their response to exercise. Topics include muscle structure and function, responses and adaptations to exercise, energy metabolism, effects of exercise and training on body composition, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, and nutrition and other aids to performance.

HS-425: Internship

Credits 1 6
Sed Vitae. Internship Experiences recognize that learning can take place outside the classroom. Carroll College allows its students to participate in opportunities that relate to their area of study. This opportunity must relate directly a student's program of study in order to qualify for an internship. Close cooperation among Carroll and the participating organizations ensures an experience that contributes significantly to the student's overall growth and professional development. Juniors and seniors in any major area may participate with the approval of faculty internship advisor and/or department chair, Career Services, and a site supervisor. Students will receive academic credit and may or may not receive monetary compensation for an internship. Enrollment in the course must be during the same semester in which the experience takes place. Interested students should contact their academic advisor and Career Services prior to the start of an experience.

HS-485: Independent Study

Credits 1 3
Independent study is open to junior and senior students only. At the time of application, a student must have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. A student may register for no more than three (3) semester hours of independent study in any one term. In all cases, registration for independent study must be approved by the appropriate department chairperson and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

HS-489: Special Topic

Credits 1 3
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

HS-499: Senior Thesis

Credits 1 3
The senior thesis is designed to encourage creative thinking and to stimulate individual research. A student may undertake a thesis in an area in which s/he has the necessary background. Ordinarily a thesis topic is chosen in the student's major or minor. It is also possible to choose an interdisciplinary topic. Interested students should decide upon a thesis topic as early as possible in the junior year so that adequate attention may be given to the project. In order to be eligible to apply to write a thesis, a student must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 based upon all courses attempted at Carroll College. The thesis committee consists of a director and two readers. The thesis director is a full-time Carroll College faculty member from the student's major discipline or approved by the department chair of the student's major. At least one reader must be from outside the student's major. The thesis director and the appropriate department chair must approve all readers. The thesis committee should assist and mentor the student during the entire project. For any projects involving human participants, each student and his or her director must follow the guidelines published by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Students must submit a copy of their IRB approval letter with their thesis application. As part of the IRB approval process, each student and his or her director must also complete training by the National Cancer Institute Protection of Human Participants. The thesis is typically to be completed for three (3) credits in the discipline that best matches the content of the thesis. Departments with a designated thesis research/writing course may award credits differently with approval of the Curriculum Committee. If the thesis credits exceed the full-time tuition credit limit for students, the charge for additional credits will be waived. Applications and further information are available in the Registrar's Office.