Bachelor of Science in Allied Health
Supporting the efforts of physicians, dentists, or primary healthcare specialists is an exacting and critical job. The Bachelor of Science in Allied Health program will prepare you for success in this field. Coursework includes a broad-based foundation in global and national healthcare issues and trends, ethical and legal issues, health promotion and disease prevention, evidence-based practice, allied healthcare research, healthcare systems management, and healthcare-based informatics. You’ll gain the skills, knowledge, and values to advance in the allied health profession and to work in a variety of settings with diverse patients, families, and communities.
As a graduate, you’ll be ready to seek a supervisory, management, or educational position that is key to the identification, evaluation, and prevention of diseases and disorders. You may opt to work in dietary and nutrition services or rehabilitation and health systems management. Whatever vocational road you choose, this degree will ground you in the knowledge needed to perform at the highest level and for the good of colleagues and patients.
Requirements for the Major
HSC 310 Issues & Trends in Healthcare – 4.50
A history of the U.S. health care delivery system will be explored to understand the current issues and trends. The changing roles of the components of the system as well as technical, economic, political, and social forces effecting change will be discussed. Inpatient, outpatient, and long term care will be explored.
BST 322 Intro to Biomedical Statistics – 4.50
An introduction to concepts, procedures and software used in the statistical analysis of data in the health professions.
GER 310 Healthy Aging – 4.50
Focuses on the historical and cross-cultural, physiological, psychological, sociological, economic and political aspects of aging. Retirement patterns, living environments, chronic disease and the role of health care professionals will be explored.
HSC 400 Mgmt for Health Professionals – 4.50
Focuses on planning, organizing, decision-making, staffing, leading or directing, communication and motivating health care personnel. Evolving trends in management, classic management theories, budget preparation and justification, training design and labor union contracts are explored.
HSC 300 Legal/Ethical Issues & Health – 4.50
Focuses on legal and ethical concepts, principles of ethics and law and use in resolving ethical conflicts and dilemmas in health care. Scope of practice, informed consent, employee and patient rights and responsibilities, patient abuse, and the influence of finance and corporate culture will be explored. Sample cases will be analyzed.
HSC 330 Health Education & Promotion – 4.50
Focuses on health education, health promotion and clinical preventive services. Strategies for counseling and education, health education theories and practices, and development of learner-centered instructional strategies will be explored. The cost-effectiveness of clinical preventive services will be discussed.
HSC 410 Informatics for Health Profs – 4.50
Focuses on the role of informatics in contemporary health care. Wireless and mobile computing, maintaining data integrity, information security and confidentiality and HIPAA, telehealth, and electronic health records (EHR) will be explored.
HSC 420 Healthcare Research – 4.50
Focuses on reading and conducting research in health and human performance. Research approaches and procedures will be explored. Examples of various research methods and techniques will be discussed. A research proposal will be developed.
HSC 430 Case and Outcomes Management – 4.50
Focuses on case and outcomes management application to clinical practice. The case management and outcomes management processes, barriers, utilization review, legal and financial aspects of each and evidence-based healthcare will be explored.
HSC 440 Allied Health Capstone Project – 4.50
Prerequisite: Completion of the major requirements
This two-month capstone project undertaken by allied health students when they have completed the core courses in the program provides an opportunity for the student to complete the outcomes management project proposal developed in HSC 430. Results will be reported orally and in written form. Students will also design and participate in a collaborative service learning experience in a community, ambulatory, home or health care setting. Students will complete the portfolio of their work from core courses and revise as needed to create an impressive final portfolio that can be used. Grading is H, S, or U only.
Upper-Division Electives
HTM 520 Health Information Exchange – 4.50
Health data standards, sources, representation, terminologies, vocabularies and ontologies to support interoperability of information within and between health care organizations. Health information security practices, privacy, confidentiality, and management of patient rights. Clinical data and process modeling for medical decision making. Policy development and documentation for exchange of health information.
HTM 552 EHR Meaningful Use – 4.50
Introduces electronic health record (EHR) and communication systems including the application of Meaningful Use criteria to optimize quality and effectiveness of patient care and improve care coordination. Explore care delivery innovations across multiple care settings and specialties using a patient-centric model.
HTM 460 Health IT Virtual Simulation – 4.50
Prerequisite: HSC 410 with a minimum grade of C.
Laboratory-based course where administrative and clinical health information systems and technologies are introduced and practiced. Students will gain experience with simulated health information systems or real systems with simulated data.
COH 320 Chronic & Communicable Disease – 4.50
Prerequisite: ILR 260
Introduction to concepts of pathological process from a public health viewpoint. Consideration of historical and contemporary disease patterns based on an understanding of pathogenic, behavioral, and environmental dimensions.
COH 310 Culture and Health – 4.50
Prerequisite: ILR 260
Focus is on the influence of culture on illness, health, and rehabilitation. The relationship that culture plays in the health and wellness of both individuals and the community in which they live will be explored.
COH 321 Health Behavior – 4.50
Prerequisite: ILR 260
Considers the significant influence that individual and collective behavior exerts on health status. Relationships of behavior and social variables are examined, including natural and built environments, economics, and public policy.
BIO 305 Genetics – 4.50
Prerequisite: BIO 163; BIO 169A; CHE 143; CHE 149A
Principles of genetics and heredity. Topics include linkage and pedigree analysis, DNA replication and repair, gene expression and regulation, inheritance of traits, genetic engineering, relationship of genetics to human health, and application of genetics to understanding the evolution of species.
HTM 310 Health Informatics – 4.50
Innovative and best practice technology applications to support human health by individuals, professionals, care delivery organizations, and communities. Internet-based health resources, smart phone/mHealth applications, telehealth, and health-related social networks. Systems, standards, and policies to connect people and technologies securely across healthcare ecosystems.
HCA 402 Intro to HA QA Management – 4.50
Prerequisite: Completion of all Coursework in Preparation for the Major.
Introduction to continuous quality improvement in healthcare. Includes evaluation and risk management methods. Introduces outcome measurement and case management fundamentals. Introduces team development, analytical statistics, and process knowledge themes.
CIS 301 Mgmt Information Systems – 4.50
Overview of core concepts related to the emerging interconnections between technology, the organization, and information management.
Degree and Course Requirements
To receive a Bachelor of Science degree with a Major in Allied Health, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as articulated below, 45 of which must be completed in residence at Berkshire, 76.5 of which must be completed at the upper-division level, and a minimum 69 units of the University General Education requirements. In the absence of transfer credit, additional general electives may be necessary to satisfy total units for the degree. The following courses are specific degree requirements. Refer to the section on undergraduate admission procedures for specific information regarding admission and evaluation. All students receiving an undergraduate degree in Nevada are required by State Law to complete a course in Nevada Constitution.
Program Learning Outcomes
Assess the relative health effects of environment, socioeconomic conditions, behavior, health services, and biology.
Explain how a team approach that is coordinated, comprehensive, and continuous facilitates successful treatment outcomes.
Explain the process of active participation in healthcare from a provider, patient, family, and community perspective.
Assess the impact of effective and ineffective applications of technology in health services.
Analyze health services from social, workforce, financial, regulatory, technological, and organizational viewpoints.
Utilize culturally competent strategies and practices that respect the cultural, social, religious, racial, and ethnic diversity of the patient and family regarding disease and their health.
Admissions
Enrolling in a university is a big decision. That’s why our dedicated admissions team is here to guide you through the admissions process and help you find the right program for you and your career goals.
To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.
Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.