Health Science

Faculty:
Peine, Pippin, Schiska, Scrivner, Strait, Dennis
Health Sciences Building 112 • 417.625.9328

Mission

The mission of the Health Science degree is to provide a comprehensive baccalaureate degree that complements an associate allied health major. The degree is designed to promote critical thinking, leadership, communication and information skills, with a commitment to lifelong learning. Our graduates are academically prepared to pursue opportunities for advancement or graduate school.

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1

To prepare undergraduate students with the knowledge skills and ethics needed to advance the health and quality of life of a diverse public.

Objectives

Collect, store, retrieve, analyze and interpret health data in order to be prepared to design health needs assessments and establish basic health programs and services. (HS 0350 , HS 0380 , HS 0390 , PSC 0320 , GB 0321 , MATH 0310 , SOC 0405 )
Describe the U.S. health profile, including key indicators, determinates, disparities, access to health services, historical and contemporary trends and implications. (HS 0390 , HS 0370 , HS 0380 )
Identify and describe the evolution of the U.S. health services system and the major settings, providers and funding for the delivery of public and private preventive and treatment services. (HS 0390 )
Recognize the importance of honoring diversity, acting with civility, practicing ethically and promoting mutual respect when working with diverse individuals, groups and communities. (HS 0390 , HS 0312 , HS 0305 )
Describe the business and financial implications in the cost of health care. (HS 0390 )
Identify physical, chemical or biological hazards that adversely impact human health. (HS 0380 , HS 0370 )

Goal 2

To prepare students with the fundamental academic skills to be effective communicators, critical thinkers and leaders.

Objectives

Write grammatically and stylistically correct papers that reflect a review of relevant literature and/or integrate health related perspectives and experiences. (HS 0305 , HS 0350 , HS 0402 )
Develop the ability to utilize qualitative and quantitative health care information to arrive at appropriate decisions. (PSY 0320 , HS 0350 , HS 337, HS 354, HS 0380 , HS 0390 )
Integrate clinical practice with health of the community and develop a strong foundation in communication in order to effectively disseminate diverse health issues to community leaders (HS 0390 , HS 0305 ), health practitioners, politicians and the public at large. (Allied Health Science courses, HS 0390 , HS 0380 , HS 0370 )
Understand the role of research in the dissemination of information in health promotion, disease prevention and health sciences. (HS 0390 , HS 0380 , HS 0370 , PSY 0320 or MATH 0310 , Allied Health Courses)
To understand and communicate principles of sound leadership (HS 0350 , MGMT 0354 , MGMT 0352 , MRKT 0321 )

Goal 3

Develop lifelong learning skills necessary to be creative and effective citizens, professionals, and leaders in an ever-changing world.

Objectives

Write grammatically and stylistically correct papers that reflect a review of relevant literature and/or integrate health related perspectives and experiences. (HS 0305 and HS 0350 )
Organize and participate in community events to improve the overall health of the community. (Allied Health courses, HS 0499 )

Health is widely acknowledged as a major growth industry, with employment opportunities forecast to continue their strong upward trends of recent years. Opportunities for advancement will be greatest for people with a baccalaureate degree.

Associate degree-prepared health profession majors and clinicians in the field who desire a baccalaureate degree have limited options to fulfill their educational goals. Graduates and clinicians from the health professions continually inquire about baccalaureate degree options to meet their busy professional lives. The Health Science degree is a specified course of study that would enhance a clinician’s expertise and opportunities for advancement. The design of the Health Science curriculum is to prepare students for career paths in the health sector, including administration, management and health promoters in educational or clinical settings in a school, medical sales, pharmaceutical marketing and distribution, community or public health environments. Graduates from the Bachelor of Health Science program may qualify to enter graduate programs or professional health science areas such as physician assistant, physical therapy and public health.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences is granted to students who complete the required program of study. These requirements include the basic General Education Requirements for all Bachelor of Science degree programs, required science and other supportive courses in the health science area. The degree is designed with two options:

Emphasis One: Allows students who complete an Associate in an allied health field to select a degree that will strengthen and utilize the associate curriculum within the Health Science degree. There are four specific options in this emphasis area. Three are designed for graduates who complete a degree in Dental Hygiene, Radiology or Respiratory with the fourth area being for students who transfer with an Associate Allied Health Degree. Students who completed one of the aforementioned allied health programs may qualify for earned retro-credit.
Emphasis Two: Is available for students who do not have a health profession background but would like to pursue a Bachelor of Health Science degree. As a major in BS Health Science, students will undertake a course of study that blends three areas of emphasis that is comprised not only of the Health Science (18 hours) General Education Requirements but includes courses in Business (21 hours) and the Life/Health Sciences (21-27 hours).

The courses in the curriculum are offered on campus as well as web based. The demand for this degree will be great among current students, past graduates and clinicians currently working in the health industry.

Students must pass all HS core and/or all affiliated dual prefix courses with a ‘C’ or higher to graduate.

Retro Credit Program

Many Allied Health programs grant Associate degrees with 80+ credit hours. These students often desire to complete a Bachelor’s degree to complement their professional career. Retro Credit is available for transfer students who graduated with an Associate degree in Dental Hygiene, Respiratory Therapy, Radiology, Nursing or a Paramedic certificate. The Bachelor of Health Science or Nursing degrees offers these students the ability to apply for Retro Credit to assist in meeting the Bachelor’s degree requirement. In order to qualify for Retro Credit Health Science and Nursing majors must have graduated from an accredited program in dental hygiene, radiology, respiratory therapy, nursing, or paramedic, passed a national written board examination and currently be licensed to practice in at least one state.

The Retro Credit program will benefit students by transcribing up to 33 credit hours of upper division hours depending on the discipline in the semester the student will graduate. A fee is assessed based on the number of credit hours transcribed. This equates into a cost and time savings for students completing a Bachelor’s degree. This program not only benefits transfer students but Missouri Southern alumni who graduated prior to upper division courses being a part of their curriculum.

A Bachelor’s prepared healthcare professional is highly marketable for management/supervisory positions, state and federal sector employment, medical/dental sales, pharmaceutical representative and the ability to teach in the field. Therefore, graduates will have more career options available to them. Courses for these programs are available online so practicing clinicians can complete their Bachelor’s degree at their pace from anywhere in the world.

For more information on Health Sciences, or any of the degrees /courses listed above, contact:
Dr. Tia M. Strait
Dean, School of Health Sciences
Health Sciences Building 112
417.625.3155 • strait-t@mssu.edu

Stacie Scrivner
Chair, Dental Hygiene
Health Sciences Building 136
417.625.9379 • scrivner-s@mssu.edu

Brett Peine
Chair, Emergency Medical Services
Health Sciences Building 325
417-625-3020 • peine-b@mssu.edu

Alan Schiska
Chair, Radiology Technology
Health Sciences Building 325
417.625.3118 • schiska-@mssu.edu

Glenda Pippin
Chair, Respiratory Therapy
Health Sciences Building 325
417-659-4405 • pippin-g@mssu.edu

Dr. Jennifer Dennis
Chair, Biology & Environmental Health
Reynolds Hall 215
417.625.3569 • dennis-j@mssu.edu

Or check out mssu.edu/health-sciences

Programs

Major

Courses

Health Science