Health Care Professional Services Major, B.S.

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Department of Health Professions

College of Health and Human Sciences

Available Program Format(s): Online, In-Person, Hybrid

About the Program

The Bachelor of Science in Health Care Professional Services is a degree program designed for professionals on the front lines of health care delivery wishing to have baccalaureate level training to maintain professional certification such as in the allied health professions. Allied health professionals are involved with the delivery of health or related services pertaining to the identification, evaluation, and prevention of diseases and disorders; dietary and nutrition services; rehabilitation; and health systems management. The Bachelor of Science in Health Care Professional Services degree program provides a broad-based foundation in: 1) global and national healthcare issues, disparities, and trends, 2) ethical and legal issues, 3) health promotion and disease prevention, 4) evidence-based practice, 5) health care research, 6) health care systems management, 7) health care quality, 8) holistic health, and 9) public health. The program is designed to articulate with Associate of Arts allied health related degree programs at community colleges or student’s new to the health field.

Student Outcomes

Acquire the skills employers demand in critical areas such as: health disparities, health care systems, health care operations management, health care jurisprudence, health care quality, health care ethics, health care leadership and public health;
Gain knowledge on current industry insights and the latest trends in health care professional services;
Meet societal and health care delivery demands;
Assume supervisory, management, and/or educational positions;
Pursue graduate education in the health care field;
Work in a variety of settings with diverse patients, families, and communities;
Change careers within the industry to work for insurance companies, government agencies, or non-profit associations; and contribute to the field as diverse professionals assisting in diminishing health disparities and creating a healthier nation.

General Degree Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

Program Requirements

A total of 120 semester hours are required for graduation.
A grade of C- or better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.
Students can contact the Department of Health Professions at 303-615-1200 for advising.
New or transfer students interested in the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Professional Services can also seek advising through the College of Health and Human Sciences Advising Office at 303-615-1099.

Prior Learning Assessment Information

A Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is available for HCM 3600 Health Care Information Systems and ITP 1700 Medical Terminology. The Center for Individualized Learning will work with students to understand and navigate the process. Once students have obtained permission to take the exam from the Assistant Registrar, Prior Learning Assessment, PLA@msudenver.edu, the Application for Credit by Examination form will need to be completed. The student will take the form to the Bursar’s Office to pay. After paying, the student will return with the receipt to the Center for Individualized Learning and then the student will need to set up an appointment with the MSU Denver Assessment and Testing Center. They will verify the student’s identification, provide a secure, quiet space to take the exam and at a mutually acceptable time.

The test will be timed and you cannot use any materials (books, notes, Internet) while taking the exam. The test will be returned to the Department for grading. A faculty member in the Program or the Department will determine if you have passed the examination with a grade sufficient to obtain credit. Signatures are needed from the faculty member, Chair, and Dean, so that the form can be sent to the registrar to enter credit on the student’s transcript. The student may take the examination a maximum of two times.

The cost of the credits is half the tuition for the course and must be paid whether or not the examination is passed. You will receive 3 credits on a pass/fail basis. These credits are treated as non-resident (transfer) credits and will not count towards the 30 minimum resident credits required for a Bachelor’s degree at MSU Denver.

General Studies Requirements: 33 credits

Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.

Written Communication (6 credits)
Oral Communication (3 credits)
Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)
Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
Historical (3 credits)
Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**)

** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences.

Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits

Students should consult the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement for a list of courses that fulfill the ESSJ Requirement for degree completion.
Many programs include courses that meet this requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to determine what program courses may fulfill this requirement.

Pick One: 3 credits

ITP 1600 - Herbal Medicine Credits: 3
or
ITP 2500 - Complementary Medicine Credits: 3
or
ITP 3810 - Men Across Cultures Credits: 3
or
ITP 2950 - Wellness Coaching I Credits: 3

Health Care Professional Services Required Courses: 32 credits

HCM 2010 - Global Health Systems Credits: 3
HCM 2500 - Health Care Management Foundations, Professionalism, and Applications Credits: 3
HCM 3150 - Health Care Organization and Management Credits: 3
HCM 3700 - Health Disparities in the U.S. Credits: 3 (to meet the ESSJ requirement)
AGE 3800 - Long-Term Care: Managing Across the Continuum Credits: 3
PUB 2000 - Community Health Worker Fundamentals Credits: 3
HCPS 4000 - Health Care Operations Credits: 3
HCPS 4010 - Evidence Based Health Care Delivery Credits: 3
ITP 1700 - Medical Terminology Credits: 3 **
ITP 2700 - Holistic Dimensions of Wellness Credits: 3
ITP 3200 - Ethics in Health Care Credits: 3 * (Pre-reqs Completion of General Studies requirements in Written Communication, Oral Communication)

Electives: 3 credits

Choose one of the following:

ANT 3480 - Cultural Diversity in Health and Illness Credits: 3
HCM 3030 - Health Care Jurisprudence Credits: 3
HCM 3100 - Entrepreneurship in Health Credits: 1
HCM 3200 - Managing Quality in Health Care Credits: 2
HCM 3400 - Human Resources Management in Health Care Credits: 3
HCM 3500 - Health Care Research Methods Credits: 3 * (Pre-req MTH 1210 or PSY 2310)
HCM 3550 - Leadership in Health Care Credits: 1
HCM 3600 - Health Information Systems Credits: 3
PUB 3010 - Community Health Survey, Assessment and Health Improvement Planning Credits: 3
PUB 3020 - Introduction to Epidemiology in Public Health Credits: 3
PUB 3030 - Essentials of Environmental Health in Public Health Practices Credits: 3
HCM 3750 - Professional Practice Management Credits: 1
HSP 3460 - Addiction, Immunity, and Infectious Diseases Credits: 2
ITP 3700 - Physiology of Aging Credits: 3 * (Pre-reqs BIO 2310 and BIO 2320)
ITP 3800 - Stress and Sleep: Impact on Health and Disease Credits: 3 * (Pre-reqs BIO 1080/1090, BIO 2310 and ITP 3200)
ITP 4100 - Women’s Holistic Health Credits: 3 * (Pre-reqs BIO 2320 and ITP 3200)
ITP 4400 - Wellness Coaching II Credits: 3 * (Pre-req ITP 2950 or HPS 2700; ITP 3850)
PSY 3270 - Adulthood and Aging Credits: 3 * (Pre-req PSY 1001)
SOC 3800 - Health and Healers Credits: 3 * (Pre-req SOC 1010)

Senior Experience: 3 credits

HCM 4610 - Health Professions Internship Credits: 3

Notes

* Indicates pre-requisite requirement. Check with academic advisor regarding pre-requisite requirement(s).
** Has a Prior Learning Assessment

Summary of Requirements

General Studies Requirements	33 credits
ESSJ Requirements	0-3 credits
Selected Course	3 credits
Required Courses	33 credits
Required Elective Courses	3 credits
Senior Experience	3 credits
Unrestricted Electives	42-48 credits
Total for the Health Care Professional Services Major, B.S.	120 credits

Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and ESSJ requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.