PROPOSAL OUTLINE

 

Introduction

The College of Health and Nursing Sciences was formed in 1997 with the merger of two colleges – the College of Nursing, including the departments of Nursing and Medical Technology, and the College of Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation - and the addition of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics from the College of Human Resources.  This merger created a college with four departments, each focused on specific areas related to health service, leadership, research and education. 

 

The Physical Education Studies major (PES) within the Department of Health and Exercise Sciences was designed for students who wanted to combine the study of health and exercise sciences with other academic areas, such as nutrition, psychology, and coaching science.  The Department of Health and Exercise Sciences has recently restructured some curricula and is no longer admitting students to the PES major. However, the Physical Education Studies major provides the ideal structure for a new interdisciplinary major, the Health Studies degree program, which has a much broader appeal to all students in the college, allowing them to have an academic major in the health field while giving them the flexibility to integrate another academic area.

 

The goal of this new undergraduate Health Studies major program is to provide students, interested in a broad range of health and fitness careers, with an education and a degree which will enable them to make wise health care decisions, to communicate with health care providers and, if they so choose, to continue their education in a health-care field.  This major will provide a general studies option for students in the College of Health and Nursing Sciences. Graduates may seek employment as members of the administrative and support staff in a variety of health care settings: medical offices, health clinics, health maintenance organizations, non-profit health agencies, and community health programs, to name a few.

 

Students who complete the Health Studies Degree program will participate in educational experiences to better prepare them to:

·        Communicate in a professional manner, using written and oral methods.

·        Describe the normal structure of the body systems.

·        Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of ethical aspects of health care and decision-making.

·        Critically analyze health/fitness related research and interpret research findings.

·        Discuss the current societal, governmental, ethical, scientific or business issues concerning their selected area of study in Health Studies.

 

Program Description

The proposed Health Studies undergraduate degree program is designed for students interested in a health-related major but who do not want one of the specific, existing majors. The Health Studies major will combine a foundation in sciences, humanities, and social sciences with a breadth of courses within one or more departments from the College of Health and Nursing Sciences.  In addition to the core requirements and the primary interest area, which represent the health focus of the college, students will select a secondary interest area or an existing University minor outside the college that will build on students’ personal and career objectives and interests in the health and fitness area. This major is designed for students who have a broad interest in working in the health field in a variety of settings. 

 

The curriculum requires 120 credit hours comprised of the following:

40-42 credits of General Studies requirements

45 credits of College major requirements

15 credits of a concentration area or UD minor offered outside the college

6 credits of a Capstone/Service Learning experience

12-14 credits of free electives

 

Rationale and Demand

 

Mission Compatibility

The College of Health and Nursing Sciences is an interdisciplinary, professional, service-oriented college, emphasizing leadership, education, service and research in a variety of health fields.  The college provides high quality undergraduate education to University of Delaware students through traditional classroom and applied experiences.  The proposed offering as an interdisciplinary curriculum is consistent with the college goals. The addition of the service/learning capstone course helps to bridge the link between college study and employment. 

 

Planning Process

In the planning of this proposed major, we consulted extensively with a broad array of University faculty from diverse disciplines and have incorporated many of their suggestions in designing the degree program.  (Letters of support are appended.)

Impact on Other Programs

There is little likelihood that the Health Studies major will compete with existing degree programs at the University.  The program parallels the development of another interdisciplinary major, Human Services, Education and Public Policy in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy, and provides an alternative to students who have an interest in the health field.  There is a growing demand in the health care industry for educated professionals to fill a variety of positions.

 

Utilization of Existing Resources

Faculty with expertise and interest in health science instruction currently teach in the College of Health and Nursing Sciences.  The core requirements and the primary interest area for the proposed major are comprised of existing courses and therefore, no new faculty should be needed at this time.  Professionals in the Dean’s Office will provide academic advisement to students enrolled in this program.

 

Student Demand

Enrollment Projections

We anticipate the program will begin with a small number of students, no more than 15.  Within three years, we expect the total number of students enrolled in the Health Studies major to range between 50-60, the majority of whom would be full-time students.  The Exercise and Sports Studies concentration in the Department of Health and Exercise Sciences is being disestablished; at least some of those students are likely to choose the Health Studies major since it is a broad-based flexible program similar to the one being eliminated. 

 

Specific Student Clienteles

The proposed Health Studies major is designed to serve several different populations of students.

 

A.     General Studies Option

    1. Many students want a major that allows them a broad range of health-related courses.  Combining courses in the college with course work outside the college allows these students to accomplish this goal while preparing them for a career in a health field.

 

    1. Students who know they want a career in a health-related area but are not sure which existing major would be best for them would be well served by the Health Studies major.  This would give students the option to explore all majors in the college without having to focus on a single major as a freshman.

 

    1. Students who want to earn a graduate or professional degree in a health-related area could use this degree as their undergraduate preparation for graduate school

 

 

 

Transferability

Currently, no institutions in Delaware offer a bachelor’s degree in Health Studies or any degree that is similar to this degree.  However, there are several associate degrees from Delaware Technical and Community College that would provide transfer courses into this undergraduate degree program.  For example, the requirements for many of Delaware Technical and Community College’s Allied Health Associate degrees, including Exercise Science Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Bioscience Technology, Chemistry Technology and the Associate degree in Nursing, provide an excellent entry into the Interdisciplinary Health Studies undergraduate degree program.  Students may enter this program as freshmen or as internal or external transfer students.

 

Demand and Employment Factors

With expanding opportunities in the area of health care employment, this degree provides an attractive opportunity for students whose interests in health and fitness are broad-based. Job growth in the health care area is projected to continue for many years.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1990 “health services is one of the largest industries in the country, with about 11.3 million jobs.  About 14 percent of all wage and salary jobs created between 1998 and 2008 will be in health services”  (http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs035.htm).

 

Advertised job openings represent many different facets of health care.  “Most jobs in health services provide clinical services, but there also are many in occupations with other functions as well. Numerous workers in executive, administrative, and managerial occupations and marketing and administrative support jobs keep organizations running smoothly. Although many health services managers have a background in a clinical specialty or training in health services administration, many enter these jobs with a general (undergraduate) education.” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1990)

 

The job outlook for health care professionals is excellent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,  “Employment in the health services industry is projected to increase 26 percent through 2008, compared to an average of 15 percent for all industries.  Employment growth is expected to add about 2.8 million new jobs—14 percent of all wage and salary jobs added to the economy over the 1998-2008 period.”  In addition the Bureau finds, “Employment in health services will continue to grow for a number of reasons. The elderly population, a group with much greater than average health care needs, will grow faster than the total population between 1998 and 2008. …  Advances in medical technology will continue to improve the survival rate of …  patients, new technologies will lower the cost of treatment and diagnosis while enabling identification and treatment of conditions not previously treatable. In addition, medical group practices and health networks will become larger and more complex, and will need more managerial and support workers” (http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs035.htm).

 

 

Regional, State and National Factors

There are no comparable undergraduate programs in the state that offer study in sciences, humanities and social sciences with a health discipline focus.  A few institutions in the region have undergraduate majors that are similar to the Health Studies major but without the primary and secondary focus areas contained in this proposed program.  The University of Maryland at Baltimore offers a degree in Health Education in their Department of Public and Community Health, the University of Sciences in Philadelphia has a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Program, and Towson University offers a degree in Health Science. 

 

Accrediting and Licensing Requirements

There are no national, regional or local accrediting agencies that govern this major.

 

Enrollment, Admissions, and Financial Aid

Enrollment and Admission Requirements

Students who meet the criteria for admission to the University of Delaware as undergraduates will be eligible for admission to the Health Studies major.  They will be required to follow the application procedures outlined in the University of Delaware’s catalogue.  The program will begin in fall of 2002.

 

Student Expenses and Financial Aid

There will be no required student expenses beyond the traditional book and supply costs.  Qualified students will be eligible for scholarships as other undergraduate students are. 

 

Curriculum Specifics

Degree Awarded

Students who graduate from this program will receive a Bachelor of Science

(See specific curriculum in the catalog entry at the end of the proposal.)


 

 

 

RESOURCES AVAILABLE

 

Learning Resources

The University of Delaware Library affirms it is well able to support the proposed degree.

 

Faculty and Administrative Resources

At this time, additional faculty or administrative support for this major is not required.  Professionals in the Dean’s Office will provide advisement for the proposed major.

 

External Funding

There is no external funding needed or available at this time. However, enrollment is not contingent upon external funding.

 

Resources Required

Learning Resource Required

No additional learning resources are required at this time.

 

Personnel Resources

No additional administrative support staff is required to start this program.

 

Budgetary Needs

No additional budget support is necessary at this time.

 

Implementation and Evaluation

Implementation Plan

The Health Studies undergraduate major proposal will be submitted to the Health and Nursing Sciences Curriculum Committee for review and approval. The proposal then will be submitted to the Education Committee of the Faculty Senate for approval.

 

Evaluation Plan

In anticipation of the review by the Faculty Senate for permanent approval, the College of Health and Nursing Sciences will establish a committee to conduct a self-study. 

 

On –going assessments will be conducted to measure the quality of the program.  These measures include, but are not limited to, exit interviews of graduating students, course evaluations, capstone evaluations, and graduation rates.   

 


University of Delaware Undergraduate Catalog Entry

 

DEGREE: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

MAJOR: HEALTH STUDIES

 

CURRICULUM         CREDITS

UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS

ENGL 110 Critical Reading and Writing (minimum grade C-)............... 3

Three credits in an approved course or courses stressing...... 3

            multicultural, ethnic, and/or gender-related content

 

COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

Second Writing Course          3

An approved course (listed as "Section satisfies A&S writing requirement" in the registration booklet) taken after completion of 45 credit hours.

Communication or Foreign Language Course 3

 

BREADTH REQUIREMENTS

Group A: Understanding and appreciation of the creative arts and humanities 6

Includes all Arts and Science Group A courses as well as art courses and foreign language courses not used in the Communication/Foreign Language requirement)

Social Sciences (4 of the following 6 choices)..... 12

PSYC201, ECON100 or ECON151, SOCI201, IFST201, BUAD309,

Social Science/History Elective (as listed for Arts & Science Group B or C)

Sciences (4 of the following 5 choices; must include a biology course with lab). 13-15

BISC104 or 207, CHEM101 or CHEM103 or CHEM105, BISC106 or BISC276 or

BISC306 or HESC220, STAT200, 100-level or higher MATH

 

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (minimum grade of C- in each course)

NURS100            New Student Connections            1

HESC 155            Personal Health Management            3

      or

HESC 214            Wellness: A Way of Life            3

NTDT 200            Nutrition Concepts            3

HESC 210            Safety, First Aid and Emergency Care     3

MEDT 210            Information Technologies and Communication Skills    2

      or

HESC 276            Personal Computers in Health, Physical Education and Recreation            2

NURS 362            Research Concepts in Health Care            3

      or

HESC 400            Research Methods            3

 

HESC, MEDT, NTDT, or NURS courses not part of the concentration area      30

 

Concentration AREA REQUIREMENTS (minimum grade of C- in each course. No more than 9 credits of 100-200 level courses)

Minor outside College of Health and Nursing Sciences            minimum 15

      or

Area of Concentration (from below)            minimum 15

Family and Personal Health: (COMM200, FOSC102, HESC335, IFST329, IFST339, IFST401, IFST410, NTDT305, NTDT310, NTDT350, NTDT452, PSYC325, PSYC334, WOMS233)

Health Ethics and Decision-Making: (CNST332, CSCC241, CSCC/HIST382, ECON390, HESC200 or HESC300, HESC329, MEDT461, NTDT255, NTDT452, PHIL/CSCC229, PHIL/CSCC444, POSC/SOCI/CSCC343, SOCI/CSCC311, WOMS/CSCC389)

Science-Based Health Information: (BISC105, BISC110, BISC152, BISC171/300, CHEM102 or CHEM104 or CHEM106, CHEM213, CHEM214 & 216, HESC220, HESC350, HESC426, HESC430 & HESC431, MEDT390, NTDT201, NURS167, PHYS201, PHYS202, PSYC314)

 

HESC495 Health Studies Practicum. Student will complete a Service Learning Experience            6

 

ELECTIVES

After required courses are completed, sufficient elective credit must be taken to meet the minimum credits required for the degree.

 

CREDITS TO TOTAL A MINIMUM OF            120


Revision of the Existing Major of Physical Education Studies to

Health Studies Major in the College of Health and Nursing Sciences

 

 

 

WHEREAS                there is currently a documented nationwide shortage of adequately

                                    educated health care professionals, and

 

WHEREAS                there are undergraduate students at the University of Delaware

                                    interested generally in both an education and career opportunities

                                    in health care services, and

 

WHEREAS                students in one of the existing majors in the College of Health and                                                    Nursing Sciences may be unable or unwilling to continue in their

                                    admitted major but still seek a health-related degree, be it therefore

 

RESOLVED               that the Physical Education Studies major be revised and be offered by the College of Health and Nursing Sciences as the Health Studies major and, be it further

 

RESOLVED               that the new major will be evaluated in a timely manner and revised as necessary.