Declaring the Major | Progressing in the Major
Description of the Major
The health sciences major gives you the opportunity to concentrate in a focused area of health. All students select a concentration from one of the following areas.
Health Assessment and Promotion
This concentration prepares you for positions in wellness, hospital, and corporate-based health promotion and assessment programs. You 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 you to complete preparation in a pre-professional health area (i.e. Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Physican Assistant, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Dental, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Veterinary, or Pre-Optometry).
Public Health Education
This concentration prepares you 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
None
Minors
None
Declaring the Major
New Freshmen and Transfer Students
Declare health sciences when you register for orientation and one of the four areas of concentration.
Currently Enrolled Major Changers
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.
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:
1. Health Assessment and Promotion
2. Health Studies (this concentration is only available to students in a
pre-professional health program i.e., Pre-PT, Pre-OT, Pre-Med, Pre-Dent,
Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Vet, or Pre-Optometry)
3. Occupational Studies (this concentration is only open to students admitted to the Occupational Therapy program)
4. Public Health Education
