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The Integrated Health Science (IHS) major provides an interdisciplinary curriculum that establishes a strong core knowledge of health and disease prevention, along with quality delivery and oversight of health services. This new interdisciplinary degree program represents an inventive strategy that increases student access to courses in their area of interest while allowing the student to tailor the program to their healthcare career goals.
The Integrated Health Science major prepares students to become:
- informed and engaged health professionals
- able to think critically about health-related issues
- work as part of a healthcare team to develop innovative solutions to current and future healthcare issues
The programcontainscourse material thatwillprepare students to become healthcare professionals that can work collaboratively to solve complex issues impacting healthcare and the health of the nation.The material will also provide abroad understanding of human health, strategic planning, healthcare delivery systems, and ethics, as well as key skills such as effective communication, cultural sensitivity, critical thinking, digital technology and teamwork. Themajor emphasizesan interprofessionaland innovativeapproach that is designed to impart the knowledge, skills and attitudes vital to many healthcare services and related health occupations.
Upon declaration of the Integrated Health Science Major through Owl Express, please schedule a formal advising appointment with the Wellstar Collegeâ¯Advising Center.
Health Science Job Market
Healthcare is Georgiaâs growth engine. Georgia is projected to have the second highest growth in jobs in the healthcare industry in the nation. By 2026, one-fifth of all new jobs created in Georgia will be in healthcare. Healthcare is one of the few occupational categories that is anticipated to see annual openings due to new job growth exceed those needed to replace workers. The proposedIntegrated Health Science will position graduates well to take advantage of these expanding opportunities.
What can you do with a health science degree?
Integrated health science graduates can pursue non-clinical careers that require an in-depth understanding of the healthcare industry such as:
- medical and health services management
- patient/client navigation
- infection control manager
- insurance reviewer
- medical equipment & pharmaceutical sales
- health care lobbying
In addition, students earning the IHS degree would be strong candidates for graduate level training in numerous areas of health care (e.g., health care administration, bioinformatics, occupational therapy, physician assistant, prosthetics-orthotics, social work, athletic training, nutrition, communication disorders).
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Admissions And Course Information
Integrated Health Science - Undergraduate Admissions
The Integrated Health Sciencemajoris an âopen-degreeâwhichmeans that studentsareable to declare the degreeonce admitted tothe university. There are no program admission requirements above those established by KSU for admission to the University.
IHS majors will need to maintain a âCâ or better in the upper-division core courses and those courses that serve as prerequisitesto other classes.Integrated Health ScienceCourse & Curriculum Requirements
The Integrated Health Science (IHS) major curriculum provides essential health knowledge necessary for healthcare services and related health occupations. The curriculum will emphasize an interprofessional approach that is designed to develop proficient skills sought by healthcare employers, such as critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, health literacy, cultural competency, teamwork, communication, and ethics. In order to broaden studentsâ understanding of factors that both positively and negatively impact the health care system, patients, and practitioners, IHS majors will take relevant coursework in various colleges and departments across KSU.
General Education Requirements (42 Credit Hours)
Lower Division Major Requirements (Area F) (18 Credit Hours)
- HS 2300: Intersectional Approaches to Cultural Competence (3)
- IHS 2100: Introduction to Health Scienceand Professions(3)
- WELL 2000: Foundations of Health and Wellness (3)
- Area F Options (9 hours)
o Any 1000 or 2000 level courses with BIOL, COM, ES, FL, HS, PHE,
PSYC or SOCI prefixes.
Upper Division Major Requirements (30 Credit Hours) -IHS Core Classes (27 hrs.)
- COM 3320: Health Communication (3)
- ECON 3478: Economics of Healthcare (3)
- HPE 3300: Contemporary Health Issues (3)
- IHS 3240: Fundamentals of Behavioral Healthcare (3)
- IHS 4545: Healthcare Innovation (3)
- IPE 4413: Interprofessional Care and Collaboration (3)
- IT 3503: Foundations of Health Information Technology (3)
- PHE/NURS 3330: Health Systems and Health Policy (3)
- SOCI 3380: Society, Community and Health (3)
Integrated Health Science Capstone (3 hrs.)
- IHS 4760: Integrated Health Science Capstone (3)
Electives - Upper division major electives (18 hrs.)
- Any 3000 or 4000 level courses with the following prefixes: COM,
ES, HPE. HS, LDRS, NURS, PHE, PSYC, SM, SOCI
Free electives (12 hrs.)
Note: IHS majors are encouraged to consider a minor or certificateprogram to fulfill elective requirements.
120 Total Credit HoursFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR:
Mia Oberlton, Ed.D.
Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education
p: 470-578-6991
e:moberlto@kennesaw.edu
For more information on the Integrated Health Science major at KSU:
