Health Science (HSCI)

HSCI 1106. Safety, First Aid, and CPR. 1 Hour.

This course is an introduction to the current standards and techniques for first aid and provides information on the prevention of accidents, functional first aid knowledge, and the skills to care for basic emergencies, obstructed airways, rescue breathing, and CPR. Students will have the option of American Red Cross certification in adult or child CPR, responding to Emergencies First Aid, and/or Automated External Defibrillation.

HSCI 1323. Nutrition and Health. 3 Hours.

This course will emphasize the role of nutrition in health promotion and maintenance. Sources and roles of nutrients and the processes of ingestion, digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients provide the foundation of the course. The student will perform a nutritional assessment and apply nutritional guidelines and food safety to self and others and analyze nutritional facts and myths. Cultural, religious and ethnic differences, age-related nutritional needs, and an examination of nutrition myths will be integrated. The course will include an introduction to clinical nutrition.

HSCI 189. Independent Study in HSCI. 1-6 Hours.

HSCI 300. Epidemiology. 3 Hours.

Introduces students to the essential principles of epidemiology within the context of healthcare administration. Focusing on the study of disease patterns and health determinants, students will learn how to apply epidemiological methods to address population health challenges. The course covers foundational topics such as disease distribution, study design, and data analysis, while emphasizing public health concepts like health promotion and risk assessment.

HSCI 301. Healthcare for a Diverse Population. 3 Hours.

Prepares students to examine the complex healthcare needs of diverse populations, with a focus on enhancing culturally competent care and reducing health disparities. Students will explore the impact of social, cultural, and economic factors on health outcomes and access to healthcare.

HSCI 302. Healthcare Administration History, Culture, and Language. 3 Hours.

Provides an overview of the historical development, cultural influences, and language dynamics within healthcare administration. Students will explore how these elements shape healthcare policies, patient-provider interactions, and organizational practices.

HSCI 303. Health Information Systems. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of health information systems (HIS) and their critical role in supporting healthcare operations and patient care. Students will explore topics such as electronic health records (EHRs), health data management, and system interoperability, with an emphasis on data security and privacy.

HSCI 346. Wellness and Holistic Health Practices. 3 Hours.

This fully online course is an introduction to the practice of holistic health practices as they relate to one's own state of wellness. Health and harmony of the body, mind, and spirit to obtain a richer state of health balance will be emphasized. This class will explore how complementary and alternative therapies can be used to create and support a state of balance within yourself and with your environment. Local, regional, and state complementary and alternative medicine resources will be discovered and identified. Cross listed with HSCI 546.

HSCI 347. Foundations of Health Care Ethics. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of healthcare ethics and their application in contemporary health sciences. Students will explore the philosophical roots of ethics, examine major ethical frameworks, and analyze common dilemmas faced in healthcare delivery. Topics include end-of-life decisions, hospice care, abortion, patient rights, refusal of treatment, and the medical use of marijuana for pain management. Legal documents and precedents relevant to healthcare practice will also be reviewed to help students understand the intersection of ethics, law, and patient care.

HSCI 348. Introduction to Health Policy. 3 Hours.

This course will provide experiential learning to explore a health care advocacy or policy project at the local, regional, or national level. This project-based learning will enable the student to work policy makers and interdisciplinary providers to solve a healthcare issue.

HSCI 406. Quality Control Management in Healthcare. 3 Hours.

Introduces students to the fundamentals of quality control in healthcare settings, focusing on the principles, practices, and systems designed to ensure the provision of high-quality care. The course emphasizes the role of healthcare administrators in leading quality improvement initiatives, monitoring performance metrics, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement within healthcare organizations.

HSCI 407. Healthcare, Human Resources, and Employment Law. 3 Hours.

This course examines the intersection of human resources management and employment law within healthcare organizations. Students will explore HR functions such as recruitment, staffing, and employee relations, with a focus on legal issues like ADA, HIPAA, and labor laws. Emphasis will be placed on strategies for ensuring legal compliance and promoting a healthy work environment in healthcare settings.

HSCI 408. Healthcare Strategic Management. 3 Hours.

This course provides an overview of strategic management principles applied to healthcare organizations. Students will explore strategic planning processes, SWOT analysis, and decision-making models, with a focus on the healthcare environment. The course emphasizes developing strategies for improving organizational performance and patient outcomes in response to industry challenges, including policy changes, market dynamics, and healthcare regulations.

HSCI 409. Disaster & Emergency Preparedness Management. 3 Hours.

Prepares students to examine the principles of disaster and emergency preparedness within healthcare settings. Students will explore the key elements of creating, implementing, and evaluating emergency preparedness plans for healthcare organizations. Topics include risk assessment, crisis communication, response coordination, resource management, and recovery strategies in the face of natural, man-made, or technological disasters. The course also emphasizes the role of healthcare leaders in ensuring resilience and continuity of care during emergencies.

HSCI 410. Healthcare Reimbursement. 3 Hours.

This course explores healthcare reimbursement systems, focusing on payment models, insurance programs, coding, billing, and revenue cycle management. Students will learn how reimbursement structures, including Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, impact healthcare organizations and patient care.

HSCI 434. Healthy Aging. 3 Hours.

This course will provide an overview of issues related to public health and aging and will explore in-depth information regarding the health issues of aging individuals, including physical health, psychological health, legal and ethical issues of health, and Medicare/Medicaid. The course will continue to cover the concept of successful aging, the implications of chronic illness and disability for public health, health promotion for older adults, and other topics central to public health in an aging society.

HSCI 546. Wellness and Holistic Health Practices. 3 Hours.

HSCI 547. Foundations of Health Care Ethics. 3 Hours.

This course introduces undergraduate students to healthcare ethics. It includes the philosophical underpinnings of healthcare ethics, examples of healthcare dilemmas, and examples of legal documents that are important during healthcare delivery. Some of the topics discussed include, but are not limited to, euthanasia (active and passive), hospice, abortion, patient rights, the refusal of chemotherapy, and medical use of marijuana for adjunctive cancer pain treatment.

HSCI 548. Health Policy. 3 Hours.

This course will provide experiential learning to design, develop, and implement a health care advocacy or policy project at the local, regional, or national level. This project-based learning will enable the student to work with policy makers and interdisciplinary healthcare providers to solve a healthcare issue.