Allied Health Studies

Principles of Public Health

This course will explore the evolution, scope, and practice of Public Health. While the Public Health system in the United States will be the focus, Global Health issues will also be addressed. Theories of disease causation, epidemiologic, nutritional, and population transitions will be discussed to contextualize modern public health issues and needs. Existing social inequalities in health status related to race, social class, and gender; and the critical intersection between social and behavioral risk factors, and public health interventions will also be covered. Prerequisites: Junior or senior status. Offered every spring.

Internship in Allied Health

This experience-based course enables students to gain hands-on knowledge in the field of allied health to connect and apply academic learning to real-world environments, confirm career choice, and identify the type of work environment in which they wish to work. A minimum of 140 hours is expected on site, with an additional 40 hours accumulated by identifying an appropriate internship, journaling throughout the experience, and writing up and presenting a final report (paper and presentation), for a total of 180 hours for 4 semester hours. Students must coordinate their internship placement with the supervising faculty member at least two months prior to placement. Pass/fail grading. Prerequisites: junior or senior status, GPA of at least 2.5 overall, a major or minor in Allied Health Studies, and consent. May repeat course for up to 8 credit hours. Offered each semester.

Microbiology for the Health Sciences

This course is intended for those students enrolled in the joint Nursing Program with the Sentara College of Health Sciences and is an introduction to the science of the biology of microorganisms as applied to health care settings. $50 lab fee. Prerequisite: CHEM 120 or CHEM 130. Offered intermittently.

Human Nutrition

This course is designed to introduce processes by which the human body obtains nutrients from food to maintain structural and functional integrity. We explore dietary sources, intake levels and the requirement of major nutrients, role of nutrition in growth and human health, and the role of diet in chronic diseases. Prerequisite: BIO 221 or BIO 222 (recommended). Offered in summer or January term.

Human Anatomy and Physiology I

An integrated lecture/laboratory experience that examines the anatomy and physiology of humans, focusing on the integumentary, muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems. Students will gain skills in using terminology, technical skills, and clinical problem-solving. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours weekly. $50 lab fee. Offered each fall.

Human Anatomy and Physiology II

An integrated lecture/laboratory experience that examines the anatomy and physiology of humans, focusing on endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. Students will gain skills in using terminology, technical skills, and clinical problem solving. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours weekly. $50 lab fee. Offered each spring.

Introductory Chemistry

An introduction to chemical principles, including atomic and molecular structure, states of matter, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, thermodynamics, and chemical equilibria. Most of the work is quantitative in nature. Emphasizes development of problem-solving skills. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours each week. Prerequisites: CHEM PL or PHSC 100 and math placement H, A or B, or MATH 104 with a grade of C- or higher. $50 lab fee. Offered every semester.

Chemistry for Health Sciences

Integrated lecture and laboratory course that relates basic inorganic and organic chemical processes to those of biochemistry. Explores the nature of atoms and molecules in terms of simple structures and reactions, and the more complex structures of biochemical molecules and their interactions with living systems. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours each week. Prerequisites: Math placement H, A, or B, or MATH 104 with a grade of C- or higher. $50 lab fee. Offered every fall.

Introductory Statistics

Introduces students to learning from data. Topics include the basics of data production, data analysis, probability, Central Limit Theorem, and statistical inference. Statistical software is used for data management, calculation, and visualization. No previous knowledge of statistics is required. Students cannot receive credit for both MATH 210 and PSY 210. Prerequisites: sophomore status or higher, and placement level H, A, or B, or MATH 104 with a grade of C- or higher. Not appropriate for first-year students. Students must have a TI-83 or TI-84 graphing calculator. Offered every semester.

Medical Sociology

Designed to provide students an introduction to sociological perspectives on the study of health, illness, and health care. Topics include epidemiology, the structures and organization of health care systems and medical encounters, bioethical issues, and current issues shaping the future of health, illness, and health care. Offered each spring.

Clinical Psychology

Invites students to explore the field of clinical psychology by examining the roles of clinicians and critically exploring various therapeutic techniques in use today. Students engage in readings, discussions, role-plays, viewing videos of therapy, and writing to explore the multi-faceted world of psychotherapy. Prerequisites: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher, PSY 101 or 102 and junior/senior status. Offered spring of even-numbered years.

Theories of Personality

A survey of the major theoretical descriptions of personality structure, beginning with Freud's psychodynamic model and tracing developments thereafter through exposure to significant alternative viewpoints. Prerequisites: PSY 101 or 102. Offered fall of even-numbered years.

Psychology of Eating Disorders

Explores the psychology of eating disorders through readings, discussion, lectures, student research and presentations, and visits by clinicians. Students examine the pathology of eating disorders, as well as risk and protective factors for these disorders. Issues investigated include comorbidity with other disorders, etiology, neurobiology, and treatment and prevention. Prerequisites: PSY 101 or 102 and junior/senior status, or consent. Offered January Terms of even-numbered years.

Topics in Recreational Therapy

An in-depth study of a Recreation Therapy focused topic, including the study and investigation of related themes of interest. A sophomore-level topics course to provide those students who possess an understanding of the foundations of recreational therapy an opportunity to delve into more diverse and related themes of interest. Prerequisites: Sophomore/Junior/Senior Status. Course may be repeated as topics change. Offered intermittently.

Physical & Neurological Conditions

Introduces students to various physical and neurological conditions that typically receive recreational therapy services. Adaptive, corrective and progressive recreational therapy techniques are explored for various chronic conditions. The course focuses on treatment interventions and life skills as they relate to specific disorders and the habilitative or rehabilitative goals for each. Offered every spring. Prerequisite: RT 210.

Recreational Therapy: Mental Health Conditions

Introduces students to the various disabling conditions that typically receive recreational therapy services. Explores adaptive, corrective and progressive recreational therapy techniques for a variety of disabling conditions. Emphasizes treatment interventions and leisure skills as they relate to specific disorders and habilitative or rehabilitative goals. Offered every spring. Prerequisite: RT 210.

Death, Dying, Loss, and Grief

Explores contemporary and historical societal influences, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs surrounding the experience of death. Students examine religious rituals related to the preparation of the body, the burial and the mourning process and examine the ethics surrounding end of life decisions and how death is determined from a medical and legal perspective. Other topics include current legal issues and instruments such as advance directives, wills, and powers of attorney; current ethical controversies around life sustaining measures, physician-assisted death, and organ transplantation; the impact of loss throughout the life cycle as a result of normal developmental transitions and as a result of suicide, violence, and disaster; and the needs of those identified as disenfranchised grievers such as partners of AIDS patients, families of suicide victims, women who have miscarried, and young widows/widowers. Prerequisites: Junior/senior status or consent. Offered fall of odd-numbered years.

Lifespan Development and Behavior

Designed for students who want to develop a strong foundation in human growth and development. Biological, social, and psychological theories of growth and development are examined from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Students learn about normal development from conception to aged death as well as certain pathological processes. Prerequisite: junior status or consent. Offered every fall.

Drugs of Abuse

An introduction to the complex issues surrounding both licit and illicit drugs. The most widely used/abused drugs are studied in some depth to include an overview of their pharmacology and the neurophysiology of the brain. The major classifications of drugs of abuse, their addictive potential and the continuum of use, misuse, abuse and addiction are addressed. The short and long-term consequences of drug use are studied in addition to the dangers of drug interactions. Offered most fall semesters.

Substance Abuse & Chemical Dependency

Examines the effects of drugs of abuse on our society. Topics include defining the drug problem and its effects on the abuser, family, economy, legal system, and health care, and the issues and impact of treatment and 12-step support groups. Offered most spring semesters.