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Department of Health Sciences

Dr. Robert Koslow, Head
Phone: (540) 568-6510
E-mail: koslowre@jmu.edu
Web site: www.healthsci.jmu.edu/

Professors
H. Amato, A. Bopp, P. Brevard, J. Hammond, R. Koslow, J. Martino-McAllister, J. Thompson, M. Warner,
D. Wenos, M. Wessel

Associate Professors
D. Cockley, J. Gloeckner, J. Loveland, P. Maxwell, D. Sutton, D. Torisky, T. Wagner

Assistant Professors
P. Bailey, C. Cadieux, T. Enyeart Smith, A. Kent, S. Knickrehm, K. Lewis, S. Maiewski, C. Peterson, R. Prodoehl, T. Sabato, J. Wenos, A. Russell Yun

Instructors
S. Cook, S. Hudy, J. Kaltenborn, T. Kuster, B. McSorley, E. Richardson, C. Smith, S. Summers, G. Tessier

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Department of Health Sciences is to contribute to the liberal arts education of all students and prepare students for professional careers in the health sciences and/or for entry into professional programs.

Goals

The goals of the Department of Health Sciences are to:

• promote the health and well being of the JMU community.
• support the general education program.
• educate health professionals.
• provide service to the community, the state, the region and the nation.
• conduct, disseminate, and publish research/scholarship in health sciences.

Career Opportunities

• Athletic Trainer
• Registered Dietitian
• Health Administrator
• Health Assessment and Promotion Specialist
• Occupational Therapist (Graduate Program)
• Physician Assistant (Graduate Program)
• Public Health Educator
• Substance Abuse Prevention Professional

Co-curricular Activities and Organizations

• American College of Health Care Executives Student Association
• American College of Sports Medicine
• Student Athletic Trainers Association
• Eta Sigma Gamma (Health Sciences Honor Society)
• JMU Dietetic Association
• JMU Physician Assistant Student Society
• JMU Student Occupational Therapy Association
• Pre-OT Society
• Pre-PT Society

Special Admission Requirements

Admission to JMU does not guarantee admission to all academic majors and minors. Special applications are required for admission to the clinical portions of the Athletic Training program, the Health Services Administration program and the Occupational Studies program.

Deadline Notice for Change or Declaration of Majors

Effective fall 2007, deadlines for change or declaration of major forms will be as follows:

Forms submitted after the deadline will apply to the following semester.

Degree and Major Requirements

The Department of Health Sciences offers the following degrees:

• Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training
• Bachelor of Science in Dietetics
• Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a concentration in:
  • Health Assessment and Promotion
  • Health Studies
  • Occupational Studies
  • Public Health Education

The Physician Assistant program and the Occupational Therapy program are available at the master’s degree level.

Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training

This major prepares students to become Certified Athletic Trainers through the Board of Certification. Areas of study include injury prevention, emergency care, injury evaluation and rehabilitation of the physically active. The Athletic Training Education Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). This program is comprised of both academic and clinical requirements. It is not an open major; students are selected through a competitive admission process. Specific program requirements, including academic, clinical and technical standards, may be found on the Athletic Training Curriculum Web site (www.jmu.edu/healthsci/at/courses.html). Additional information pertaining to admission and retention policies may also be found online or in the Athletic Training Curriculum Handbook, located in the CISAT Library, in the Program Director’s office or on the ATEP Web site.

Required Courses/ Recommended Schedule for Majors

Bachelor of Science in Dietetics

The major in dietetics is an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) which prepares the student as a generalist in dietetics. The program in dietetics gives the student a wide view of dietetic careers including clinical dietetics, administrative dietetics, community dietetics, education and research. Following the completion of the program in dietetics, students should plan to meet the experience requirements for registered dietitian status by completing a dietetic internship (DI). The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at James Madison University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of The American Dietetic Association, 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-4876.

Meeting the Didactic Program in Dietetics

Any student wishing to complete the DPD at James Madison University must be enrolled in either the B.S. program in Dietetics or in the M.S. program in Health Sciences with a concentration in Dietetics or Nutrition and Physical Activity and completing DPD classes at the undergraduate level concurrently. In order to receive a signed Verification Statement from JMU, students must take a minimum of NUTR 482, Nutrition and Metabolism; NUTR 484, Clinical Nutrition II; NUTR 446, Experimental Foods; NUTR 363, Quantity Food Production; NUTR 460, Computer Systems for Foods and Nutrition; and NUTR 490, Field Experience Practicum on campus at James Madison University.

Receiving Verification Statement

In order to receive a signed Verification Statement from James Madison University, a student must have documentation of the following:

• Completion of all DPD courses required at JMU, with a “C” or higher in all nutrition classes and an average GPA of at least 2.5 in all DPD classes.
• Final transcript verifying all grades and degree confirmation.

As soon as the final transcript is received, the student will be given four copies of the signed Verification Statement, which is necessary before beginning a dietetic internship.

Required Courses/ Recommended Schedule for Majors

Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration

The program in Health Services Administration prepares the student for entry-level administrative positions, and staff positions requiring administrative skills, in various health services organizations including hospitals, hospital systems, managed care organizations, retirement and long term care facilities, ambulatory care organizations and public health organizations. The student is prepared to plan, organize, direct and control health programs and/or facilities. In addition, the program provides the foundation for graduate study in health services administration and related fields. The Health Services Administration program is not an open program; students must meet specific criteria for admission to the program. The criteria are available from the program director and are available on the program’s Web site at www.healthsci.jmu.edu/hsa/pages. The Health Services Administration program is approved as a Full Certified undergraduate program by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). Upon completion of all JMU and program requirements, the student is awarded the B.S. in Health Services Administration.

No more than 30 hours may be taken in the College of Business.

Required Courses/Recommended Schedule for Majors

¹The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
²Grade of “C” or better required.
³Offered only in spring semester.
⁵Offered only in fall semester.
⁶Grade of “B” or better required.
⁷Grade of “C” or better required in all HSA courses.

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

The B.S. degree with a major in health sciences consists of health and science course requirements in addition to general education requirements and B.S. requirements. For specialization in a professional area, concentrations are available in health assessment and promotion, health studies, occupational studies, and public health education.

Health Assessment and Promotion Concentration

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. HAP students master a variety of clinical assessments and can begin to develop health communication skills prior to graduation. The concentration includes 16-18 hours of electives which can be used to complete any minor requirements or which pre-professional students can use to finish prerequisites for their selected professional program. Additionally, this broad-based program provides a strong foundation for related graduate studies. Upon completion, students are prepared to enroll in the Health/Fitness Instructor certification program sponsored by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Students must complete the General Education requirements, the B.S. degree requirements and the Health Assessment and Promotion core requirements.

Required Courses/Recommended Schedule for Health Assessment and Promotion Concentration

Evidence of CPR/First-Aid certification must be presented for graduation.

¹BIO 270, CHEM 120 & MATH 220 may be met by choosing the correct course in General Education and be counted for both general education and the major.
²Grade of “C” or better required.
³Offered only in spring semester.
⁴Offered only in fall semester.

Health Studies Concentration

The Health Studies concentration is designed for students interested in making application to a professional program. The Health Studies concentration combines a broad foundation of health-related course work with preparatory courses in one of the pre-professional programs: pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-optometry, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physical therapy, pre-pharmacy, pre-physician assistant and pre-veterinary. Students must select a pre-professional program and complete the related course work. See pre-professional packages. Completion of a pre-professional program does not ensure that individual professional program prerequisites, including JMU professional programs, have been met. Students are encouraged to identify individual professional program requirements.

Additional requirements:

Select one pre-professional program from the following: pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-occupational therapy, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-physician assistant, pre-veterinary medicine. See the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services for course requirements.

Recommended Schedule for Health Studies Concentration

A pre-professional program is required.

Occupational Studies Concentration

This concentration is an early-entry program that can lead toward the Master in Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program. Through this concentration qualified and selected JMU undergraduate students prepare for admission to the MOT program during their senior year. The health sciences major core is combined with prerequisite courses and first year requisite courses that can lead to the MOT degree. This concentration allows the occupational studies student the opportunity to earn a B.S. degree prior to applying to, and gaining admission to, the MOT program. Entry into this concentration requires a supplemental admission process. Admission to JMU does not guarantee admission to the occupational studies concentration or to the MOT Program; likewise admission into the Occupational Studies program as a senior does not ensure direct admission in the College of Graduate and Outreach Programs (CGOP) or the MOT program. Application to the MOT program will occur during the student’s senior year with admission based on academic performance and other factors. Students must complete the General Education requirements, the health sciences major core requirements and the occupational studies core requirements prior to admission.

Students who successfully complete the required 84 undergraduate credits and meet all criteria listed for the supplemental application process, and are selected by the OT program admission committee, will be admitted to the occupational studies concentration prior to the start of their senior year. These students will then complete the remaining prescribed 36 undergraduate credits and will earn a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with an occupational studies concentration.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the occupational studies concentration must initially be accepted to JMU and can apply once all requirements for admission are completed. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 and earn a “C” (2.0) grade or better in all prerequisite course work. Applicants must submit:

• Graduate Record Examination scores in Verbal, Quantitative and Writing
• documentation verifying a minimum of 40 hours of observation of occupational therapy services
• three reference forms: One from an instructor, one from an employer/ volunteer supervisor and one from another non-related individual
• an autobiography/professional aspirations statement (1,500 words or less). See the OT Program Web site for further information.
• evidence of at least one instructional experience in the arts or media (from high school, community college or college course, private instruction or community arts certificate). See the OT Program Web site for further information.

Applicants must meet all General Education requirements including the Information Seeking Skills Test (ISST) and computer competency requirements as required by the university. All prerequisites and requirements must be complete by the stated deadlines. Incomplete application packages will not be considered for admission.

Students must complete the General Education requirements, the B.S. degree requirement and the occupational studies core requirements. Students can take elective credits that may allow them the opportunity to complete a minor if desired.

Occupational Studies Core

The Occupational Therapy Program has achieved full accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220; (301) 652-AOTA; www.aota.org. As of January 1, 2007, all entry level occupational therapy education programs are at the post-baccalaureate level only.

Program graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational therapy (NBCOT), 800 South Frederick Ave., Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150; (301) 990-7979; www.nbcot.org. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Passage of this exam forms the basis for regulation of practice in forty-eight states, the District of Columbia and most territories.

A prior felony conviction may impact ability to practice occupational therapy. Applicants are advised to check individual state requirements for the practice of occupational therapy.

Public Health Education Concentration

This concentration prepares the student for entry-level health education positions or health-related positions in community, voluntary, and public health agencies such as health departments, American Heart Association, and American Red Cross. The program has been approved by the Society for Public Health Education and the American Association for Health Education.

Students must complete the General Education requirements, the B.S. degree requirements and the public health education core requirements.

In order to graduate in May of the senior year, a student must save HTH 450, HTH 453 and HTH 471 to be completed the third block of the senior year. The internship, HTH 454, is completed the fourth block. The internship is full-time supervised work at a professional site for eight weeks; thus, semester long courses cannot be taken the spring semester of the senior year.

Students who need additional courses must complete their internship during May-June after their senior year.

Master Level Degrees

In addition to undergraduate programs, the Department of Health Sciences offers several advanced degrees. For more information about any of the programs listed, refer to the Graduate Catalog, College of Graduate and Outreach Programs Web site at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop or gain access through the Health Sciences Web site at http://www.healthsci.jmu.edu.

Master of Occupational Therapy

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Master of Science in Health Sciences/Dietetics Concentration

Master of Science in Health Sciences/Nutrition and Physical Activity Concentration

Physical and Health Education Teacher Education Certification

This program is housed in the Department of Kinesiology and culminates in a Master of Arts in Teaching degree.

Minor Requirements

Substance Abuse Intervention Minor

The interdisciplinary substance abuse intervention minor prepares the student to understand the impacting forces on the abusing individual and help the individual seek aid as appropriate.
The SAI minor also prepares the student to assist communities in designing science-based prevention programs. Course work in the SAI minor can lead to a Certified Prevention Professional, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (CPP-ATOD). For a full description of this program, see “Interdisciplinary Programs.”

Credit by Examination

The Department of Health Sciences offers credit by examination for a limited number of the courses taught in the department. Students who want permission to take an examination must apply to the department head during the regular registration period. Students will receive details regarding approval and examination dates after they apply. Examinations will be given only in courses offered during the semester.