The Bachelor of Science in Health Science

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Degree MAPs page in the University Catalog or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

Upper-Division Writing Requirement:

Writing Across the Curriculum (Executive Memorandum 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog for more details on the four courses.  The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.

The Option in Health Education

The Option in Health Services Administration

1 course selected from:

The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (Executive Order 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

The BS in Health Science signifies readiness for an entry-level career in specific health-related fields. Most courses in each option have been designated as competency courses and are vital to what a professional in this field should know and be able to do. Students who earn below a C- in those courses are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or better for the course to count in the major. For the Option in Health Education, the courses include all HCSV courses in the major. For the Health Services Administration Option, the courses include all required upper-division courses for the major.

Course Requirements for the Major: 63-66 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, depending upon the selected option are outlined following the major core program requirements.

Note: A maximum of 15 units of internship (courses numbered 189, 289, 389, 489) may be applied to a bachelor's degree at CSU, Chico.

Major Core Program: 15 units

4 courses required:

Note: A minimum of 6 units of HCSV 489 is required for all options.

Major Option Course Requirements: 48-51 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.  Use the links below to jump to your chosen option.

• The Option in Health Education
• The Option in Health Services Administration

The Option in Health Education: 49-51 units

14 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BIOL 104	Human Physiology		4.0	FS	GE
Basic functioning of the organ systems of the human body, including the brain and nervous system; vision and hearing; heart and circulation; blood and immunity; respiration, digestion and metabolism; muscles; excretory, endocrine, and reproductive systems. 3 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (001114)
HCSV 211W	Foundations of Health Education (W)		3.0	FS	W
Provides students with the skills and tools necessary to be successful as they pursue their degree and future careers as Health Educators. Topics include personal and career exploration, tools for a successful academic and future professional career, communication, presentation, and networking. This is an approved Writing Course. (021560)
HCSV 265	Human Sexuality		3.0	FS	GE
Overview of human sexuality, including psychosexual development, gender roles, reproductive system, pregnancy and childbirth, contraception, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, relationships, sexual orientation, sex and the law, sexually explicit materials, and sexual dysfunction. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (004384)
HCSV 320	Chronic and Communicable Diseases		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 104 is strongly recommended. Examines the major chronic and communicable diseases, including cause, prevention, and treatment strategies. Behaviors that promote health and reduce premature death and disease are also addressed. 3 hours lecture. (001574)
HCSV 360	Public Health Administration		3.0	FS
Prerequisite: HCSV 211. This course provides a survey of administrative functions within public health and health education programs. Major approaches to motivation, leadership, conflict management, supervision, and budgeting are presented. Concepts of marketing, public policy, administrative law and public health disaster response are addressed. 3 hours lecture. (020438)
HCSV 362S	Environmental Health		3.0	FS
An overview of the relationship of people and nature; the impact of environmental conditions, such as water and air pollution, solid wastes, food contamination, vectors, radiation, noise, light, which cause deleterious effects on people's physical, mental, and social well-being. Individual and collective consumer intervention in environmental health problems. 3 hours discussion. (001606)
HCSV 369S	Health Education Techniques		3.0	FS
This course introduces health education theory, curricula, resources, and marketing techniques for use in school and community settings. Students plan, develop, implement, and evaluate effective health education and promotion programs. Students practice professional health education techniques while working with a local organization to implement a community health education. 3 hours lecture. (001613)
HCSV 370	Drugs in Our Society		3.0	FS	GE
An overview of the use and abuse of alcohol, prescription and street drugs, and their personal and societal consequences on the young adult, the family, and society. Historical perspectives, legal issues, and decision-making skills regarding drug use will also be addressed. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (004435)
HCSV 425W	Research and Evaluation in Health (W)		3.0	FS	GW  W
Prerequisites: Completion of GE Written Communication (A2) requirement, HCSV 211, MATH 105. The course introduces students to research methodology and program evaluation techniques in the health field. Students develop skills for critically reading professional literature and writing a research or program evaluation proposal. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. (001614)
HCSV 463	Epidemiology		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MATH 105; HCSV 211, HCSV 321 for Health Education majors only. Recommended: HCSV 320. Study of the patterns of the major chronic and infectious diseases. Both individual- and population-based approaches to prevention and control will be examined. 3 hours discussion. (001607)
HCSV 467	Mental and Emotional Health		3.0	FS
Examination of nature and factors affecting mental health and positive and negative responses to problems in daily living. Discussion of types of mental disorders and public health strategies to deal with these problems. 3 hours discussion. (001611)
HCSV 471S	Health Education Planning: Theory and Practice		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: HCSV 321, HCSV 369S, or faculty permission. Examines theory and methods to facilitate individual and group behavior change to promote health and reduce risks of premature morbidity and mortality. Concepts in the behavioral sciences affecting health behavior, motivation, decision-making, and risk-taking are explored. Students will develop program planning and evaluation skills. 3 hours discussion. (001615)
HCSV 579W	Grant Writing and Other Fundraising Strategies (W)		3.0	FS	W
Knowledge and skill development in writing grant proposals for health and community services. Skills in researching government, foundation, and corporate funding opportunities. Diversifying nonprofit income through other fundraising strategies. 3 hours seminar. This is an approved Writing Course. (001618)
NFSC 303	Nutrition and Physical Fitness		3.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: One lower-division course in biological sciences. Analyzes and evaluates current practices and theories regarding nutrition and its relationship to athletics, weight control, and physical exercise. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (004288)

2 courses selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
ANTH 435	Medical Anthropology		3.0	SP
Surveys the relationships among disease, curing, culture, and environment. Topics include problems of adapting modern medicines to diverse cultures; explication of the social and cultural correlates of physical and mental health and disease; nutritional implications of culture change; anthropology contributions to health-policy decisions and makers in non-Western countries. 3 hours seminar. (000579)
BIOL 103	Human Anatomy		4.0	SMF	GE
Study of the structure of the human body, to include muscles, bones, heart, brain, ear, eye, and other systems, as well as a short look at development of the fetus. Lab work entails dissection of the cat and study of the human skeleton. 3 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (001110)
BIOL 211	Allied Health Microbiology		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 103, BIOL 104, BIOL 151, or SCED 102; CHEM 107, CHEM 108, or CHEM 111. Introduction to structure/function, metabolism, genetics, ecological interactions and pathogenic mechanisms of microorganisms. In addition, the roles of microorganisms in sanitation and in the food and biotechnology industries will be discussed. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (001132)
BIOL 334	Conservation Ecology		3.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: One biological sciences course. An examination of ecological principles and the impact of increasing population and technology upon the environment. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (001156)
CHEM 108	Organic Chemistry for Applied Sciences		4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111 or equivalent. A survey of organic chemistry emphasizing the structure, properties, and reactions of all major functional groups of organic molecules. Not applicable towards a degree in chemistry or biochemistry. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (001828)
EDTE 450	Health Education for Elementary School Teachers		3.0	FS
Addresses major health issues affecting the child, including, but not limited to, health promotion and disease prevention, nutrition, substance use and abuse, and sexuality. Overview of health instruction framework for California public schools. Fulfills the state health education requirement for a preliminary teaching credential. 3 hours discussion. (004393)
EDTE 451	Health Education for Secondary School Teachers		3.0	FS
Addresses major health issues affecting the adolescent, including, but not limited to, health promotion and disease prevention, nutrition, substance use and abuse, and sexuality. Fulfills the state health education requirement for a preliminary teaching credential. 3 hours discussion. (004394)
HCSV 323	International Health		3.0	FS	GE
Analysis of historical and current health problems in the world: population dynamics, vital statistics, global disease patterns, and variations among nations and cultures. Examination of contributing social, psychological, physical, governmental, and cultural factors affecting disease. Efforts toward health promotion and disease prevention, including international programs. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (004412)
HCSV 331	The Healthcare Delivery System		3.0	FS
Provides an overview of the U.S. healthcare delivery system from historical, organizational, financial, and administrative perspectives. Analyzes current health issues, such as cost, access, and quality of care. 3 hours seminar. (001583)
HCSV 368	Women's Health		3.0	FS	GE
This course is also offered as WMST 368. This course represents an overview of health care issues faced by women throughout the life cycle. The course begins an examination of scientific inquiry and the study of disease in women. Then, using sociological, political, and behavioral sciences, the roles, rights, and responsibilities of women in the health care system are assessed. The course concludes with a biological review of the female body and specific health care problems common to women. This course encompasses a woman-centered philosophy which encourages women's active participation in their health care decisions. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (004381)
HCSV 541	Health in the Later Years		3.0	FA
Exploration of changing health status and needs in later life. Discussion of body system changes, bio-psycho-social influences on elders' health, health enhancement strategies, common health problems, treatment, and prevention. Also addresses drug use and abuse, sexuality, chronic illness, use of health delivery systems, including long-term care. 3 hours lecture. (001569)

The Option in Health Services Administration: 48 units

14 courses required:

1 course selected from:

1 course selected from:

Note: May be used to satisfy this requirement if not used above.

Note: May be used to satisfy this requirement if not used above.

Or any 300 or 400 level course from the College of Business with permission of the Health Services Administration advisor.

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.

Honors in the Major:

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:

1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. All 6 units are honors classes (marked by a suffix of H), and at least 3 of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.