Applied Health Sciences

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Chairperson: Dr. Eliezer Bermúdez
Department Office: Health and Human Services Building, Arena B-83
Phone: 812-237-3079 or 812-237-3297
Fax: 812-237-8607
Web site: www.indstate.edu/ahs/
E-mail: ahs@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 programs offer experiential learning through internships or supervised clinical practice. The goal of the department for such experiential learning opportunities is to allow students to establish a solid foundation in a variety of health professions through education and training in the classroom and in the field. Graduates from programs in the Department of Applied Health Sciences are well-prepared for careers in public and private settings.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Degrees Offered

Students selecting any of the majors in the department earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree or a Bachelor of Applied Sciences(B.A.S.) degree upon successful completion of the University and programs requirement. Candidates for these degrees should consult the University requirements for graduation, including Foundational Studies requirements, described elsewhere in this Catalog. Students who are interested in pursuing graduate work in the department should refer to the Graduate Catalog.

Human Development and Family Studies

Human Development and Family Studies involves the study of the theories, research, and educational practices that 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 throughout life (infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and late life).Graduates may find employment in Head Start programs, social service agencies, family crisis centers, Cooperative Extension Service, parent education programs, senior activity centers, foster care programs, runaway centers, hospitals, adoption agencies, and family planning organizations.

Food and Nutrition offers two options: Dietetics and Food Service Management

Dietetics Option

The coordinated program in dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Graduates are eligible to take the national examination to earn registered dietitian (RD) credentials and are qualified for entry-level dietetics positions in acute care facilities, long-term care facilities, community agencies, and food service operations among others.

Food Service Management Option

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 majors require a series of core courses, plus coursework in one of the following concentrations: Environmental Health, Health Administration, Health Psychology, and Public Health.

The Environmental Health concentration is for students who wish to become environmental health specialists. Coursework 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; along with an internship in environmental health. Graduates are eligible to take the National Environmental Health Association examination to become a Registered Environmental Health Specialist.

The Health Administration concentration prepares students to become administrators in health agencies. Coursework includes study in epidemiology, environmental health, safety, health promotion planning and evaluation, research, and statistics, along with 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 (CHES) examination, the national credential for health educators. 

The Health Psychology option prepares students who intend to work as health educators in the area of mental health and health behavior modification. Much of what health educators do is work with people to help them modify their behaviors to improve their health. Understanding why individuals engage in unhealthy behavior when they know the behavior is not healthy is essential to helping people adopt healthier lifestyles. Course work includes study in epidemiology, health promotion planning and evaluation, research, statistics, psychology of health behavior, and interviewing along with an internship in a health agency. Graduates are eligible to sit for the CHES examination.

Students who select the Public Health concentration are prepared to become community health specialists. Coursework includes study in epidemiology, environmental health, industrial health and safety, health promotion planning and evaluation, research, and statistics, along with an internship in community health. Graduates are eligible to sit for the CHES examination.

Health Services

The Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in Health Services is an interdisciplinary program that prepares graduates with the knowledge and skills needed for management-oriented leadership positions. Areas of study include, but are not limited to, program planning and evaluation, management, finance and marketing, safety education, public health administration, and health biostatistics. This program is designed specifically for health professionals who hold an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in a health-related field and wish to further their education and careers in the health care system. All courses for this program are offered on-line only.

Certificate offered

Students in any major (including those outside the Department of Applied Health Sciences) may elect to include a certificate in gerontology in their program of study. The 12-credit certificate in gerontology includes a foundation of the biological aspects of aging, an overview of individual and collective experiences of aging in modern society, the study of how to promote health and wellness among older adults, and an internship working with older adults.

A gerontology certificate complements a degree in any field. For example, public health providers and health educators with knowledge of aging will be able to design the best interventions for the group with the most health issues. Interior designers who understand the physical changes associated with aging are better prepared to meet the needs of those designing their retirement home. Psychologists who know what mental changes are normal as we grow older can more easily identify problems that require treatment. Students in any field can increase their marketability by highlighting gerontology as an additional area of expertise.

Driver Education Licensure 

All-grade or secondary content teachers can add this credential to their license with the Indiana Professional Standard Board through the Indiana Department of Education. This program consists of three courses (9 total credit hours) that are typically taken in one 8-week summer session. All three courses meet in a synchronous, interactive online format. Upon completion of the licensure courses, students are certified to teach driver education in the private sector. The program is recognized by the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association.

Departmental Opportunities

Faculty in the Department of Applied Health Sciences 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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