Department of Health Sciences
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.
- Athletic Trainer
- Registered Dietitian
- Health Administrator
- Health Assessment and Promotion Specialist
- Health Fitness Specialist
- Occupational Therapist (Graduate Program)
- Physician Assistant (Graduate Program)
- Public Health Educator
- Substance Abuse Prevention Professional
Co-curricular Activities and Organizations
- American College of Sports Medicine
- Student Athletic Trainers Association
- Eta Sigma Gamma (Health Sciences Honor Society)
- Health Administration Student Association
- 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, dietetics program, and the occupational studies program.
Deadline Notice for Change or Declaration of Majors
Deadlines for change or declaration of major forms are as follows:
| Semester | Deadline |
| Summer | February 15 |
| Fall February | 15 |
| Spring September | 15 of the previous year |
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 sit for the national certification examination 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.
Any student may declare athletic training as his/her major upon entering JMU and enroll in the pre-professional phase of the program. Students must apply to the professional phase of the program for a limited number of seats at the end of their sophomore year or upon completion of required prerequisite courses. Performance in the prerequisite courses is a strong consideration in the admission process. In order to make a formal application, students must have completed the following courses with a grade of "C" or better, or be currently enrolled or planning to enroll in May:
BIO 290. Human Anatomy
ATEP 205. Introduction to Athletic Training
ATEP 206. Recognition and Management of Athletic Injuries
ATEP 291. Pre-Professional Practicum in Athletic Training
Although not a prerequisite requirement for application, it is strongly preferred that students are also enrolled in BIO 270. Human Physiology, at the time of application. Preference for admission will be given to students who have completed BIO 270 if there is a tie between students for seats in the program.
The athletic training program application and supporting documents are available to students while enrolled in ATEP 291 or by contacting the program director. Applications can be submitted to the program director after January 15, but must be submitted no later than April 1 to be considered for full admission. Specific program requirements, including academic, clinical and technical standards, may be found on the Athletic Training Curriculum website (http://www.jmu.edu/healthsci/ATEP) or in the Athletic Training Curriculum Handbook, which can also be found on the ATEP website.
Degree Requirements
| Required Courses | Credit Hours |
| General Education 1 | 41 |
| Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education) | 3 |
| Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education) | 4 |
| Major and elective requirements (listed below) | 72 |
| 120 | |
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
Required Courses/Recommended Schedule for Majors
| First Year | Credit Hours |
| MATH 220. Elementary Statistics 1 | 3 |
| ATEP 205. Introduction to Athletic Training 2 | 3 |
| Electives | 5 |
| General Education courses (CHEM 120 or CHEM 131 suggested) | 18 |
| 29 | |
| Second Year | Credit Hours |
| BIO 270. Human Physiology 1 | 4 |
| BIO 290. Human Anatomy 2 | 4 |
| ATEP 206. Recognition and Management of Athletic Injuries 2, 3 | 3 |
| ATEP 291. Pre-Professional Practicum in Athletic Training 2, 3 | 2 |
| General Education courses | 15-16 |
| 28-29 | |
| Third Year | Credit Hours |
| ATEP 304A. Lower Quarter Evaluation 2, 4 | 3 |
| ATEP 304B. Upper Quarter Evaluation 2, 3 | 3 |
| ATEP 305. Rehabilitation in Athletic Training: Lower Extremity 2, 3 | 3 |
| ATEP 306. Therapeutic Modalities 2, 4 | 4 |
| ATEP 307. Acute Care of Injuries and Illnesses 2, 4 | 3 |
| ATEP 350. Measurement Techniques in Athletic Training 2, 4 | 2 |
| ATEP 355. Infectious Disease Control 2, 3 | 1 |
| ATEP 377. General Medicine in Athletic Training 2, 3 | 2 |
| ATEP 378. Assessment Skills in Athletic Training 2,3 | 1 |
| ATEP 392. Level II Practicum in Athletic Training 2, 4 | 3 |
| ATEP 393. Level III Practicum in Athletic Training 2, 3 | 2 |
| HTH 354. U.S. Health Care System 2 | 3 |
| HTH 441. Rehabilitative Biomechanics 2,3 | 3 |
| NUTR 280. Nutrition for Wellness 2 | 3 |
| 36 | |
| Fourth Year | Credit Hours |
| ATEP 376. Pharmacology for Athletic Trainers 2, 4 | 2 |
| ATEP 405. Rehabilitation in Athletic Training: Upper Extremity 2, 4 | 3 |
| ATEP 406. Organization and Administration in Athletic Training 2, 3 | 3 |
| ATEP 494. Level IV Practicum in Athletic Training 2, 4 | 2-3 |
| ATEP 495. Level V Practicum in Athletic Training 2, 3 | 2 |
| KIN 302. Physiology of Muscular Activity 2 | 3 |
| KIN 302L. Physiology of Muscular Activity/Lab 2 | 1 |
| NUTR 382. Sports Nutrition 2, 4 | 3 |
| General Education courses | 7-8 |
| 26-28 | |
1 BIO 270 and MATH 220 may be met by choosing the correct course in General Education and be counted for both general education and the major.
2 Grade of "C" or better required.
3 Offered only in spring semester.
4 Offered only in fall semester.
Bachelor of Science in Dietetics
The Bachelor of Science in dietetics is the first step toward registration as a dietitian. The Registered Dietitian (RD) credential is a national credential that requires completion of a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), a Dietetic Internship (DI), and successful completion of the national registration examination. The DPD at James Madison University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-4876. The program in dietetics gives the student a wide view of dietetics careers including clinical dietetics, administrative dietetics, community dietetics, food service, education and research.
Special Admission Requirements
Any student admitted to JMU can declare dietetics as his/her major and will be permitted to enroll in NUTR 280 Nutrition for Wellness and NUTR 295 Foundations of Nutrition Practice. However to make progress in the major beyond the first few courses students need to apply and be admitted to the professional program.
Student wishing to be admitted to the dietetics program at JMU must apply in the spring semester no later than February 15 during which admission requirements will be met, usually in the sophomore year. Students applying for admission must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in the following courses, with no grade lower than a "C":
CHEM 131 and 131L General Chemistry I
CHEM 132 and 132L General Chemistry II
BIO 270 Human Physiology
GCOM 121, 122 or 123 Human Communication
GPOSC 225 U.S. Government
GPSYC 101 or GPSYC 160 General Psychology or Life Span and Human Development
GWRTC 103 Critical Reading and Writing
MATH 220 Elementary Statistics
NUTR 280 Nutrition for Wellness
NUTR 295 Foundations of Nutrition Practice
Retention and Receiving Didactic Program in Dietetics Verification
To remain in the major, students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 in the major and earn grades of "C" (2.0) or higher in all remaining required courses. Transfer credit will not be accepted for the following courses: NUTR 363, NUTR 446, NUTR 482, NUTR 484 and NUTR 490. All successful graduates will receive four copies of a signed verification statement from the James Madison University DPD as soon as final transcript verifying all grades and degree confirmation is available.
Required Courses/ Recommended Schedule for Majors
| First Year | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 131-131L. General Chemistry I with laboratory 3 | 4 |
| CHEM 132-132L. General Chemistry II with laboratory | 4 |
| NUTR 295. Foundations of Nutrition Practice | 2 |
| Quantitative requirement (B.S. degree requirement) | 3 |
| General Education courses | 18 |
| 31 | |
| Second Year | Credit Hours |
| BIO 270. Human Physiology 3 | 4 |
| GPSYC 101. General Psychology 3 | 3 |
| or GPSYC 160. Life Span Human Development 3 | |
| GPOSC 225. U.S. Government 3 | 4 |
| MATH 220. Elementary Statistics 3 | 3 |
| NUTR 280. Nutrition for Wellness | 3 |
| General Education courses | 12 |
| Elective | 3 |
| 32 | |
| Third Year | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 241 & 241L. Concepts of Organic Chemistry with laboratory 2 | 4 |
| CHEM 260 & 260L. Concepts of Biochemistry with laboratory 1 | 4 |
| HTH 300. Medical Terminology | 3 |
| HTH 354. U.S. Health Care System | 3 |
| NUTR 340. Science of Food Preparation 2 | 3 |
| NUTR 362. Food Service Systems 1 | 3 |
| NUTR 380. Global Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 384. Clinical Nutrition I 1 | 3 |
| NUTR 385. Nutrition throughout the Life Cycle 1 | 3 |
| NUTR 395. Introduction to Patient Care in Dietetics 2 | 2 |
| 31 | |
| Fourth Year | Credit Hours |
| BIO 280. Allied Health Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 290. Human Anatomy | 4 |
| NUTR 360. Management in Dietetics 1 | 3 |
| NUTR 363. Quantity Food Production | 3 |
| NUTR 386. Community Nutrition 2 | 3 |
| NUTR 446. Experimental Foods 1 | 3 |
| NUTR 482. Nutrition and Metabolism 2 | 3 |
| NUTR 484. Clinical Nutrition II 1 | 3 |
| NUTR 490. Field Experiences in Dietetics 4 | 3 |
| NUTR 495. Senior Seminar in Dietetics 2 | 2 |
| Electives | 4 |
| 35 | |
1 Offered only in spring semester.
2 Offered only in fall semester.
3 These courses may count for both General Education and the major depending on General Education course choice.
4 Field Experience Practicum should be completed during summer between junior and senior years.
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 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.
Degree Requirements
| Required Courses | Credit Hours |
| General Education 1 | 40 |
| Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education) | 3 |
| Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education) | 3 |
| Major requirements (listed after schedule) | 74 |
| 120 | |
Required Courses/Recommended Schedule for Majors
| First Year | Credit Hours |
| General Education courses | 31 |
| 31 | |
| Second Year | Credit Hours |
| ACTG 244. Accounting for Non-Business Majors | 3 |
| COB 204. Computer Information Systems | 3 |
| ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro) | 3 |
| HSA 290. Gerontology for Health Services Administration 4 | 3 |
| HSA 385. Health Services Administration Career Seminar 2 | 1 |
| HTH 354. U.S. Health Care System 5 | 3 |
| MATH 220. Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| General Education courses | 9 |
| 28 | |
| Third Year | Credit Hours |
| FIN 345. Finance for the Non-Financial Manager | 3 |
| HTH 320. Statistical Methods for Health Science Research 2 | 3 |
| (B.S. degree requirement) | |
| HSA 358. Health Administration 2, 4 | 3 |
| HSA 363. Health Economics 2, 4 | 3 |
| HSA 365. Values in Health Care 2 | 3 |
| MGT 305. Management and Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| MKTG 380. Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| HSA 463. Quality Management in Health Care 2 | 3 |
| Program electives (choose from list of approved courses) | 6 |
| 30 | |
| Fourth Year | Credit Hours |
| HTH 450. Epidemiology 2 | 3 |
| HSA 454. Internship in Health Organizations 6 | 3 |
| HTH 458. Health Program Planning and Evaluation 2 | 3 |
| HSA 466. Health Politics and Policy (B.S. degree requirement) 2, 4 | 3 |
| HSA 462. Managed Care 2, 3 | 3 |
| Choose two of the following: | 6 |
| HSA 452. Hospital Organization and Administration 2, 3 | |
| HSA 455. Long Term Care Organization and Administration 2, 3 | |
| HSA 456. Ambulatory Care Services: Organization and Administration 2, 4 | |
| HSA 464. Funding in Health Care 2, 3 | 3 |
| Electives | 7 |
| 31 | |
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2 Grade of "C" or better required.
3 Offered only in spring semester.
4 Offered only in fall semester.
5 Grade of "B" or better required.
6 Grade 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 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 Science Core
All students pursing the B.S. in Health Science must complete the following core courses:
| Health Sciences Core Courses | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 120. Concepts of Chemistry | 3-8 |
| or CHEM 131/ 132+L. General Chemistry | |
| MATH 220. Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| GHTH 100. Personal Wellness | 3 |
| HTH 230. Community Health | 3 |
| Quantitative requirement for B.S. degree | 3 |
| (HTH 320. Statistical Methods will count) | |
| HTH 330. Introduction to Human Disease | 3 |
| HTH 408. Health Research Methods | 3 |
| HTH 450. Epidemiology | 3 |
| HTH 451. Health Behavior Change | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 8 |
| BIO 270. Human Physiology | |
| BIO 280. Allied Health Microbiology | |
| BIO 290. Human Anatomy | |
| 35-40 | |
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 12-18 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 Specialist certification program sponsored by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Concentration Requirements
Students must complete the General Education requirements, the B.S. degree requirements, the health sciences core and the health assessment and promotion core requirements.
| Course Requirements | Credit Hours |
| Health Sciences Core (See Health Sciences Core in previous section) | 35-40 |
| ATEP 205. Introduction to Athletic Training | 3 |
| BIO 290. Human Anatomy | 4 |
| CHEM 120. Concepts of Chemistry | 3 |
| NUTR 280. Nutrition for Wellness | 3 |
| NUTR 382. Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| HTH 308. Therapeutic Assessment | 3 |
| HTH 389. Practicum in Health Education | 3 |
| HTH 441. Rehabilitative Biomechanics | 3 |
| HTH 442. Chronic Diseases | 3 |
| HTH 458. Health Program Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
| HTH 471. Health Aspects of Gerontology | 3 |
| HTH 480. Health Assessment Techniques | 3 |
| HTH 482. Advanced Health Assessment Techniques | 3 |
| HTH 495. Internship in Health Organizations | 3 |
Required Courses/Recommended Schedule for Health Assessment and Promotion Concentration
Evidence of CPR/First-Aid certification must be presented for graduation.
| First Year | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 120. Concepts of Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| GHTH 100. Personal Wellness | 3 |
| HTH 230. Community Health | 3 |
| MATH 220. Elementary Statistics 1 | 3 |
| General Education courses | 15 |
| 27 | |
| Second Year | Credit Hours |
| BIO 270. Human Physiology 1 | 4 |
| BIO 290. Human Anatomy | 4 |
| ATEP 205. Introduction to Athletic Training | 3 |
| NUTR 280. Nutrition for Wellness | 3 |
| General Education courses | 15 |
| 29 | |
| Third Year | Credit Hours |
| HTH 308. Therapeutic Assessment 2 | 3 |
| HTH 330. Introduction to Human Disease | 3 |
| HTH 389. Practicum in Health Education | 3 |
| HTH 451. Health Behavior Change | 3 |
| HTH 471. Health Aspects of Gerontology | 3 |
| NUTR 382. Sports Nutrition 3 | 3 |
| Quantitative requirement for B.S. degree | 3 |
| (HTH 320. Statistical Methods will count) | |
| General Education courses | 4 |
| Core and elective courses | 6 |
| 31 | |
| Fourth Year | Credit Hours |
| HTH 408. Health Research Methods | 3 |
| HTH 441. Rehabilitative Biomechanics | 3 |
| HTH 442. Chronic Diseases 3 | 3 |
| HTH 450. Epidemiology | 3 |
| HTH 458. Health Program Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
| HTH 480. Health Assessment Techniques 3 | 3 |
| HTH 482. Advanced Health Assessment Techniques 2 | 3 |
| Core and elective courses | 6 |
| HTH 495. Internship in Health Organizations | 3 |
| 30 | |
1 BIO 270, CHEM 120 and MATH 220 may be counted for both general education and the major.
2 Offered only in spring semester.
3 Offered only in fall semester.
Health Studies Concentration
The health studies concentration is designed for students interested in applying to a professional program. The health studies concentration combines a broad foundation of health-related course work with a choice of preparatory courses suitable for entry into graduate programs in medicine, dentistry, optometry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, pharmacy, physician assistant and veterinary medicine.
Students must complete the core course requirements for a major in health sciences and the requirements for the concentration in health studies. Students are encouraged to identify individual professional program requirements to select courses within the concentration requirements that will be most suitable for the graduate program of their choice.
| Health Studies Concentration | Credit Hours |
| Health Sciences Core (see core requirements in previous section) | 35-40 |
| Required Courses | 6 |
| HTH 354. U.S. Health Care System | |
| HTH 300. Medical Terminology | |
| Select 16 credits from these pre-professional courses: | 16 |
| (check with pre-professional adviser prior to course selection) | |
| BIO 114. Organisms | |
| BIO 214. Cell and Molecular Biology | |
| BIO 224. Genetics and Development | |
| BIO 280. Allied Health Microbiology 1 | |
| BIO 370. Animal Physiology | |
| BIO 430. Human Genetics | |
| CHEM 241 + 241L. Organic Chemistry | |
| CHEM 260. Concepts of Biochemistry | |
| CHEM 242/242L. Organic Chemistry II | |
| HTH 441. Rehabilitative Biomechanics | |
| PHYS 140 + 140L. College Physics I | |
| PHYS 150 + 150L. College Physics II | |
| GPSYC 101. General Psychology | |
| GPSYC 160. Life Span Human Development | |
| PSYC 250. Introduction to Abnormal Psychology | |
| Select five courses from the following: | 15 |
| HTH 352. Environmental Health | |
| HTH 370. Child and Adolescent Health | |
| HTH 372. Human Sexuality | |
| HTH 378. The Use and Effects of Drugs | |
| HTH 423. Contemporary Health Issues | |
| HTH 441. Rehabilitative Biomechanics | |
| HTH 471. Health Aspects of Gerontology | |
| NUTR 280. Nutrition for Wellness | |
| HTH 368. International Health and Nutrition Studies | |
| 15 | |
1 Will not count for the 16 credits in this category unless also take BIO 270 and BIO 290.
Recommended Schedule for Health Studies Concentration
| First Year | Credit Hours |
| GHTH 100. Personal Wellness | 3 |
| MATH 220. Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| Other quantitative course for B.S. degree requirement | |
| or HTH 320. Statistical Methods for Health Science Research | |
| taken later | |
| Pre-professional courses | 4-8 |
| General Education courses | 13-17 |
| 30 | |
| Second Year | Credit Hours |
| HTH 230. Community Health | 3 |
| CHEM 120 + L. Concepts of Chemistry | 3-8 |
| or CHEM 131 + L and CHEM 132 + L | |
| Choose one of the following: | 4 |
| BIO 270. Human Physiology | |
| BIO 280. Allied Health Microbiology | |
| BIO 290. Human Anatomy | |
| Health studies electives/pre-professional courses | 3-6 |
| General Education courses | 12-17 |
| 30 | |
| Third Year | Credit Hours |
| HTH 300. Medical Terminology | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 4 |
| BIO 270. Human Physiology | |
| BIO 280. Allied Health Microbiology | |
| BIO 290. Human Anatomy | |
| HTH 330. Introduction to Human Disease | 3 |
| HTH 354. U.S. Health Care System | 3 |
| Health studies electives/pre-professional courses | 3-6 |
| General Education electives | 6-9 |
| Electives | 0-5 |
| 30 | |
| Fourth Year | Credit Hours |
| HTH 408. Health Research Methods | 3 |
| HTH 450. Epidemiology | 3 |
| HTH 451. Health Behavior Change | 3 |
| Health Studies electives/pre-professional courses | 11-16 |
| General Education courses | 3-8 |
| Electives | 0-7 |
| 30 | |
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 JMU Graduate School 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 85 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 35 undergraduate credits and will earn a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with an occupational studies concentration.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the M.O.T. program, prospective students must:
- be admitted to JMU as an undergraduate student majoring in health studies.
- submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores in verbal, quantitative and writing.
- undergraduate applicants should take the GRE in the fall semester (prior to November 15) of their junior year before applying to the M.O.T. program.
- apply and be admitted to The Graduate School during the senior year.
- complete at least 85 hours of undergraduate course work by the time of enrollment.
It is recommended that applicants have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to enhance their chances of being admitted to the program.
Applicants must achieve a grade of "C" (2.0) or higher in the following courses:
BIO 270. Human Physiology
BIO 290. Human Anatomy
GPSYC 160. Life Span Human Development
PSYC 250. Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
HTH 408. Health Research Methods
The minimum preferred grade to achieve in the following courses is "C" (2.0):
GANTH 195. Cultural Anthropology
GSOCI 140. Microsociology: The Individual in Society
or GSOCI 110. Social Issues in a Global Context
HTH 441. Rehabilitative Biomechanics or comparable physics
or kinesiology course
MATH 220. Elementary Statistics
CHEM 120. Concepts of Chemistry
NUTR 280. Nutrition for Wellness
GHTH 100. Personal Wellness
HTH 230. Community Health
HTH 300. Medical Terminology
HTH 320. Statistical Methods for Health Science Research
or second math course
HTH 330. Introduction to Human Disease
HTH 354. U.S. Health Care System
HTH 450. Epidemiology
HTH 451. Health Behavior Change
These are JMU courses and numbers. Students not attending JMU as undergraduates may request that courses with similar content be substituted for the specific courses listed. Transcripts and syllabi of the courses should be supplied for the review of content. The admissions committee of the occupational therapy program will determine if the courses meet the prerequisite requirements.
- Submit documentation of a minimum 40 hours of observation of occupational therapy services (form in application on the OT program website).
- Submit three reference forms: one from an employer, one from an instructor, and a third from any non-relative (form in application on the OT program website).
- Submit an autobiographical/professional aspirations statement of 1,500 words or less. Please refer to the JMU MOT program website for specific instructions regarding this assignment.
- Meet all ISST requirements and requirements in computer competency as required by the university and stated in the general education requirements in the JMU Undergraduate Catalog.
- Applicants who already have an earned baccalaureate degree should visit the Occupational Therapy Program website for prerequisite and admission requirements or call (540) 568-2399.
All applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment with their Pre-OT adviser for a formal visit and tour before applying to the program. Applicants offered admission to the program will be given no more than 2 weeks to accept admission.
Occupational Studies Core Required Courses/Recommended Schedule
| First Year | Credit Hours |
| Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Human Communication | 3 |
| Writing | 3 |
| Historical, Cultural, Philosophical Perspectives | 3 |
| Fine Arts | 3 |
| Literature | 3 |
| American Experience | 4 |
| Global Experience (GANTH 195) | 3 |
| GHTH 100. Personal Wellness | 3 |
| GSOCI 140. Microsociology: The Individual in Society | 3 |
| or GSOCI 110. Social Issues in a Global Context | |
| 31 | |
| Second Year | Credit Hours |
| GPSYC 160. Life Span Human Development | 3 |
| BIO 290. Human Anatomy | 4 |
| CHEM 120. Concepts of Chemistry | 3 |
| HTH 230. Community Health | 3 |
| HTH 300. Medical Terminology | 3 |
| HTH 354. U.S. Health Care System | 3 |
| MATH 220. Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| NUTR 280. Nutrition for Wellness | 3 |
| PSYC 250. Introduction to Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| 28 | |
| Third Year | Credit Hours |
| BIO 270. Human Physiology | 4 |
| HTH 320. Statistical Methods for Health Science Research | 3 |
| or MATH Elective | |
| HTH 330. Introduction to Human Disease | 3 |
| HTH 408. Health Research Methods | 3 |
| HTH 441. Rehabilitative Biomechanics | 3 |
| HTH 450. Epidemiology | 3 |
| HTH 451. Health Behavior Change | 3 |
| Elective | 4 |
| 26 | |
The Occupational Therapy Program has achieved full accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220; (301) 652-AOTA. All entry-level occupational therapy programs are now accredited at the post-baccalaureate level.
With full accreditation, program graduates are able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), 12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150; (301) 990-7979. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice. State licenses are usually based in part on the results of the NBCOT Certification exam. A prior felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Public Health Education Concentration
This concentration prepares the student 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. This concentration also provides a strong foundation for students to pursue a Master of Public Health degree. Students completing this concentration are eligible to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam. The program has been approved by the Society for Public Health Education and the American Association for Health Education.
Concentration Requirements
Students must complete the General Education requirements, the B.S. degree requirements, health sciences core and the public health education requirements.
| Required Courses | Credit Hours |
| Health Sciences Core (see core requirements in previous section) | 35-40 |
| HTH 352. Environmental Health | 3 |
| HTH 370. Child and Adolescent Health | 3 |
| HTH 372. Human Sexuality | 3 |
| HTH 378. The Use and Effects of Drugs | 3 |
| HTH 423. Contemporary Health Issues | 3 |
| HTH 453. Public Health Education Methods | 3 |
| HTH 458. Health Program Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
| HTH 471. Health Aspects of Gerontology | 3 |
| HTH 495. Internship in Health Organizations | 3 |
| Select 6 credits from the following designated electives: | 6 |
| HTH 300. Medical Terminology | |
| HTH 354. U.S. Health Care System | |
| HTH 407. Health Education Facilitation/Synthesis | |
| NUTR 280. Nutrition for Wellness | |
Public Health Education students are encouraged to have foreign language skills, particularly Spanish. Elective credits may be used for this purpose.
Recommended Schedule for Public Health Education Concentration
| First Year | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 120. Concepts of Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| MATH 220. Elementary Statistics 1 | 3 |
| General Education courses and electives | 24 |
| 30 | |
| Second Year | Credit Hours |
| BIO 270. Human Physiology 1 | 7-8 |
| and/or BIO 280. Allied Health Microbiology | |
| and/or BIO 290. Human Anatomy | |
| HTH 230. Community Health | 3 |
| Public health designated electives | 6 |
| General Education courses and electives | 14 |
| 30 | |
| Third Year | Credit Hours |
| HTH 330. Introduction to Human Disease | 3 |
| HTH 352. Environmental Health | 3 |
| HTH 370. Child and Adolescent Health | 3 |
| HTH 372. Human Sexuality | 3 |
| HTH 378. The Use and Effects of Drugs | 3 |
| HTH 451. Health Behavior Change | 3 |
| Quantitative requirement for B.S. degree | 3 |
| (HTH 320. Statistical Methods will count) | |
| General Education courses | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| 30 | |
In order to graduate in May of the senior year, a student must save HTH 423 , HTH 458 and HTH 471 to be completed the third block of the senior year. The internship, HTH 495, 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 the summer after their senior year.
Fourth Year
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours |
| HTH 408. Health Research Methods | 3 |
| HTH 450. Epidemiology | 3 |
| HTH 453. Public Health Education Methods | 3 |
| Electives | 9 |
| 18 | |
| Spring Semester | Credit Hours |
| Third Block | |
| HTH 423. Contemporary Health Issues 2 | 3 |
| HTH 458. Health Program Planning and Evaluation 2 | 3 |
| HTH 471. Health Aspects of Gerontology 2 | 3 |
| Fourth Block | |
| HTH 495. Internship in Health Organizations 3 | 3 |
| 12 | |
1 BIO 270, CHEM 120 and MATH 220 may be counted for both general education and the major.
2 Offered first eight weeks of spring semester.
3 Offered only in spring or summer.
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 JMU Graduate Catalog or gain access through the Health Sciences website.
- 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.
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.
