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Description of the Major | Degrees Offered | Concentrations | Minors |
Declaring the Major | Progressing in the Major

Description of the Major

The major is a part of the Department of Health Sciences, a program within the College of Health and Behavioral Studies.

The Health Sciences major gives students the opportunity to concentrate in a focused area of health. In this program, students have the opportunity to select a concentration from one of the following areas.

Health Assessment and Promotion
This concentration prepares students for positions in wellness, hospital, and corporate-based health promotion and assessment programs. Students are trained to develop and implement comprehensive health promotion activities by combining health education, assessment techniques and fitness concepts.

Health Studies
This concentration provides a solid foundation of health-related course work while allowing students to complete preparation in a pre-professional health area (i.e. pre-physical therapy, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physician assistant, pre-medicine, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, pre-veterinary, or pre-optometry).

Public Health Education
This concentration prepares students for entry level public health education positions or health related positions in a wide variety of government, community, and voluntary health agencies such as health departments and community-based health programs.

Occupational Studies
This concentration is an early-entry program that can lead to the Master in Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree graduate program. Admission to JMU does not guarantee admission to the occupational studies concentration or to the MOT graduate program.

Degrees Offered

B.S.

Concentrations

Health Assessment and Promotion

Health Studies

Public Health Education

Occupational Studies

Minors

None

Declaring the Major

New Freshmen and Transfer Students
Students should declare Health Sciences when they register for orientation.

Currently Enrolled Major Changers
Students should complete a "Change or Declaration of Major" form and obtain the signature of the department head in the Health and Human Services Building, room 3126.

Other Declaring Information
Deadlines for declaring the Health Sciences major (exceptions are made for new transfer students):

• September 15 for spring semester


• February 15 for summer and fall semesters

Progressing in the Major

Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 by the end of sophomore year to progress in the major.

Students must select one of 4 areas of concentration:

• Health Assessment and Promotion


• Health Studies (this concentration is only available to students in a pre-professional health program i.e., Pre-PT, Pre-OT, Pre-Med, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Veterinary, or Pre-Optometry)


• Occupational Studies (this concentration is only open to students admitted to the Occupational Therapy program)


• Public Health Education