Applied Health Sciences

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Chairperson: Dr. Yasenka Peterson
Department Office: Health and Human Services Building, room B-80
Web site: http://www.indstate.edu/ah
E-mail: hs@indstate.edu

The Department of Applied Health Sciences’ programs focus on the prevention of illness and the promotion of healthy families and behaviors. An ongoing demand exists for competent health professionals and specialists in the areas of applied health sciences and research in both the public and private sectors. Course work in the department emphasizes critical thinking and problem solving, and teaches students how to influence the psychosocial, physical, and economic well-being of individuals and families in a changing global community. All majors offer experiential learning through internships and supervised clinical practice. The goal of the department, accordingly, is to provide students with the opportunity to establish a solid foundation in a variety of health professions through education and training in the classroom and the field. Graduates from the programs are well prepared for careers in public and private settings.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Degrees Offered

Students electing any of the majors in the department earn a bachelor of science degree upon successful completion of the University requirement of a minimum of 124 credits. Candidates for these degrees should consult the University requirements for graduation, including Foundational Studies requirements, described elsewhere in this Catalog. Students who may be interested in pursuing graduate work in the department should refer to the Graduate Catalog.

Family and Consumer Sciences

The Family and Consumer Sciences Education Program is accredited by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), Indiana Department of Education Office of Educator Licensing and Development, and the North Central Association for Schools and Colleges (NCA). In addition major content courses, students complete a sequence of professional courses offered in conjunction with the Bayh College of Education. Students gain teaching skills through classroom and field experiences, and through required student teaching experiences. Completion of this major qualifies students to teach family and consumer sciences at the middle, junior high, and high school levels, as well as in non-school settings such as the Cooperative Extension Service, community and family service agencies, government agencies, and wellness programs. In addition, students are qualified to teach and coordinate programs that prepare high school students to enter the workforce in family and consumer sciences-related occupations.

Human Development and Family Studies involves a foundation of study of theories, research, and educational practices which encourage optimal human development within the context of family life. Students gain a life-course perspective by which human development and family behavior is understood and improved.  Classes explore how children, youth, adults, and families develop, change, and face challenges across the life course (infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood). Graduates may find employment in Headstart, social service agencies, family crisis centers, extension services, parent education programs, senior citizen centers, foster care, runaway centers, hospitals, adoption agencies, and family planning organizations.

Food and Nutrition

The Coordinated Program in Dietetics Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education of the American Dietetic Association.  Graduates are eligible to take the national examination to earn registered dietitian credentials, and are qualified for entry-level dietetics positions in acute care facilities, long-term care facilities, community agencies, and food service operations.

Students completing the Food Service Management Program are prepared for managerial positions in food service, industry, health care facilities, restaurants, colleges/universities, fast food chains, schools, correctional facilities, and many others.

Health Sciences

The health sciences major requires a core of health sciences courses plus one of the following concentrations:

The Environmental Health Concentration is for students who wish to become environmental health specialists. Course work includes study in epidemiology; pollution prevention and control; water, air, soil, and food protection; industrial health and safety; toxicology; environmental field sampling and analysis; environmental law; hazardous substances and waste material; health promotion planning and evaluation; research; and statistics—plus an internship in environmental health. Graduates are eligible to take the state examination to become a registered environmental health specialist.

The Health Administration Concentration prepares students to become administrators in health agencies. Course work includes study in epidemiology, environmental health, safety, health promotion planning and evaluation, research, statistics—plus an internship in a health agency. In addition, the program includes courses in business administration and human resource development. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialists Examination, the national credential for health education.   

Students who select the Public Health Concentration wish to become community health specialists. Course work includes study in epidemiology, environmental health, industrial health and safety, health promotion planning and evaluation, research, statistics—plus an internship in community health. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialists Examination, the national credential for health education.   

The School Health Education Concentration option is for students who wish to obtain licensure to teach health in middle school, junior high, and high school. The School Health Education Program is accredited by the  National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, Indiana Department of Education, Office of Educator Licensing and Development, and the North Central Association for Schools and Colleges. Course work includes study in school health education, psychology of childhood and adolescence, education in a multicultural society, and emergency health care. In addition, students complete a sequence of professional courses offered in conjunction with the Bayh College of Education. Students gain teaching skills through classroom and field experiences—and through a required student teaching experience.

Departmental Opportunities

The Department of Applied Health Sciences’ faculty are dedicated to providing experiential learning opportunities through course design, internships, and service learning projects. All programs in the department sponsor active student groups that have close ties to professional organizations in their field. Scholarships are available for students majoring in any of the department’s programs. See the Department Chairperson or an academic advisor for information.

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