School of Community Health Sciences

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Purpose and Focus

The purpose of the School of Community Health Sciences (SCHS) is to prepare individuals to become effective public health practitioners, researchers, and teachers who will competently identify public health problems and needs, develop effective mechanisms to address those needs, and promote appropriate services to be available for the protection of human health. The SCHS is actively involved in educational, research, and outreach programs in public health with the expectation to be nationally recognized as innovative and excellent, comprehensive in nature and scope, cooperative in character, and serve as catalysts to improve the quality of life in Nevada and the nation.

The School of Community Health Sciences offers undergraduate preparation programs in Health Care Administration and Policy (Bachelors of Science) and Public Health (Bachelors of Science). 

Accreditation

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Association of University Programs in Health Administration
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
 

Health Care Administration Major
 

Students in the undergraduate Health Care Administration program gain a broad view of the health care delivery system and health care management practices. They develop skills through the curriculum and internships to prepare them primarily for entry level management positions in the organization, financing, and delivery of health care services. The HCA degree is a 124 credit hour program that includes 33-39 credit hours of HCA core requirements, 24 credit hours of HCA foundation courses and 12 credit hours of guided electives.
 

Accreditation

Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA)

Admission Policies

A cumulative grade point average of 2.50 and completion of nine credits of department prerequisite courses is required for admission to the major. 

Pre-requisite courses to be taken before applying for admission to the health care major include: MATH 124 or higher; PSY 101 or SOC 101, or ECON 102; HCA 175 or HCA 201.
 

Advisement:

Students are encouraged to seek advisement in the Division of Health Sciences Advising Center regarding general education and program requirements. Program of study sheets are available in the Advising Center. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain current information relative to UNLV academic policies, and programs of study requirements.
 

Health Promotion

Purpose and Focus

The public health degree program provides academic and professional opportunities for students who wish to prepare themselves as professionals, resource persons, and teachers in the special subject matter areas included in the discipline of health promotion. Majors take a set of courses designed to promote an understanding of health enhancement, wellness, and disease prevention. They study a broad range of public health concerns from individual lifestyle disease prevention and harm reduction behaviors to development, implementation and evaluation of community-based health programs. The overall mission of the program is to improve the health and quality of life of people and communities and to eliminate health disparities. Faculty in the health promotion program prepares students to meet the demands of a multitude of health issues facing individuals of various ages. The program provides leadership training in health information, planning, assessment, and evaluation of programs, along with education and skill acquisition strategies for use in schools, voluntary and private health organizations, the corporate sector, medical, and governmental agency settings where public health majors may be employed.

Accreditation

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
American Association for Health Education

Undergraduate Major

Public Health

Two Public Health Tracts

Community Health

Prepares students to assume the role of a public health specialist in voluntary health agencies public health departments, private health organizations, corporate worksite and wellness settings, and medical or governmental environments.

School Health Licensure

Prepares students to gain Nevada state licensure to teach health education at the middle school, junior high, or senior high school levels.

Admission to the Major

All students must complete the University Core General Education Classes. The Public Health Major consists of courses taken in the core disciplines within the Health Promotion Program and School of Community Health Sciences and designated courses taken in other important areas outside the School of Community Health Sciences. The major requires a minimum of 124 total semester credits for graduation.

Requirements for full admission to the Public Health Major are:

Community Health
         Minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA
         Passing HED 165 with a “C” or better
         Passing EOH 200 with a “C” or better

School Health Licensure
         Minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA
         Passing HED 165 with a “C” or better
         Passing Praxis I (Pre-Professional Skills Test – PPST) scores
 

Program Policies

Students who do not attend class throughout the semester may be administratively dropped. Any substitute course(s) taken at another institution for a UNLV course requirement must be approved on a Substitution Form available from the Division of Health Sciences Advising Center.

 Advisement

Students are encouraged to seek advisement in the Advising Center regarding general education program and licensure requirements. Enrollment caps may apply. Program of study sheets are available in the College of Health Sciences Advising Center. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain current information relative to departmental policies, program of study, and licensure requirements.

Students interested in School Health Licensure must seek advisement through the College of Education Advising Center to ensure that specific program requirements are met.

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