Full Course Description List:

HLTH 1000 - 4999 Level Courses

5 credits

Initiatives to prevent illness and promote healthy lifestyles are often more effective and cost efficient than efforts to intervene or treat disease, which is why health promotion is an increasingly popular trend in the field of healthcare. In this course, students formulate a definition of health and discuss the many influences that shape our individual and collective perceptions of health. Students consider the health-wellness continuum, including a number of factors, such as behavioral, demographic, psychological, and social forces. They also examine evidence-based methodologies for interventions to promote health and enhance wellness, and they evaluate health information found online to determine credibility and accuracy. Additionally, students reflect on ways to shape their future career in health and to promote positive change.

5 credits

Students in this course describe the causes and consequences of historical events on health and medical care in the United States. They explain barriers related to cost, quality, and access to health and medical care. Students examine unique and complex aspects of subsystems and classify vertical and horizontal integrated healthcare delivery systems. They compare characteristics of healthcare in the U.S. with healthcare systems in other countries. Students also identify current and future issues, trends, and forces in healthcare reform.

5 credits

Many factors influence the health behavior and wellness of individuals and populations. Understanding these factors helps healthcare professionals reduce health disparities and address healthcare access issues for vulnerable populations. Students in this course examine the cultural and behavioral factors and issues that influence the management and delivery of healthcare services. Students develop a framework for assessing the effect of culture and behavior in a variety of settings and situations. They identify health disparities attributable to diverse cultural and behavioral factors and discuss their implications for healthcare policy. Students also engage in application-based writing assignments to further examine the goals and objectives of addressing health disparities as well as obstacles for confronting vulnerable populations.

BS in Health Studies

Prerequisites

• HLTH 2500

BS in Public Health

Prerequisites

• HLTH 2500

All Other Programs

Prerequisites

• None

5 credits

In this course, students experience an overview of the effects of aging on health and development across the entire human lifespan. Students examine the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive milestones in childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age, with a particular emphasis on the significant changes that occur toward the end of life. Students engage in weekly discussions on various scenarios related to socioemotional development, as well as on topics such as attitudes on aging, environmental risk factors, and cognitive development. Demonstrating knowledge and synthesizing course concepts, students critically analyze a specific socioemotional issue and explain how it manifests in the various developmental stages.

5 credits

The focus of this course is on the application and use of information technology to support clinical and managerial decision making in healthcare. Emphasis is placed on information technology that supports the delivery of services, including the collection, storage, retrieval, and communication of data; information systems safeguards; ethical and legal issues; and information management to promote patient safety and quality of care. Information literacy and basic hardware and software concepts are addressed. Fundamental software applications, including spreadsheets and healthcare databases, are considered.

5 credits

Students in this course are introduced to established and emerging health behavior, health education, and health promotion theories and models. Students can develop the knowledge and skills necessary to apply various theoretical frameworks and models related to psychosocial, cultural, and environmental factors influencing health behavior and behavior change. Throughout this course, students will focus on the role of theories and models in planning, implementing, and evaluating health interventions in a variety of settings.

5 credits

The nature of health services, such as personal evaluations, clinical research, invasive surgeries, and end of life care, facilitates a host of ethical and legal considerations of which professionals must be aware. In this course, students examine the legal and ethical issues that are fundamental to the practice of healthcare and the conduct of health-related research. They explore a historical overview of events and milestones that have shaped the contemporary regulatory landscape. They also investigate and assess issues of privacy and confidentiality, informed consent, licensing, and malpractice, among others. Additionally, students consider ethical, decision-making models for assuring the quality, safety, and appropriateness of healthcare and services. They also apply ethical principles and legal considerations to real-world scenarios.

5 credits

Students in this course are introduced to a patient-centered interprofessional model for healthcare delivery in which individual practitioners collaborate as members of a team. Students examine the benefits of this interprofessional approach for patients and providers, focusing on how it can lead to improved outcomes. They also explore and discuss professional challenges and institutional barriers, such as delineation of responsibilities, reimbursement, and licensing. Students have the opportunity to gain practical experience with the patient-centered model through the analysis of a patient case study, a hypothetical interprofessional healthcare team, and an appropriate treatment plan. They also consider the benefits of such a model on the future of healthcare.

5 credits

Students in this course are introduced to a patient-centered interprofessional model for healthcare delivery in which individual practitioners collaborate as members of a team. Students examine the benefits of this interprofessional approach for patients and providers, focusing on how it can lead to improved outcomes. They also explore and discuss professional challenges and institutional barriers, such as delineation of responsibilities, reimbursement, and licensing. Students have the opportunity to gain practical experience with the patient-centered model through the analysis of a patient case study, a hypothetical interprofessional healthcare team, and an appropriate treatment plan. They also consider the benefits of such a model on the future of healthcare.

Note: This version of HLTH 3105 is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.

5 credits

Many factors, such as access, affordability, insurance, quality, safety, and technology, affect the delivery of healthcare and the development of policies. In this course, students examine the nature of healthcare facilities, major factors influencing the quality of care, and the impact of policy initiatives on all stakeholders, including providers and consumers. They explore the major issues in acute and long-term healthcare policy and practice from the perspective of the patient and the provider. Students devote special attention to the social, institutional, economic, and regulatory contexts in which providers deliver services. Using concepts and issues addressed in the course, students complete a variety of application-based activities, such as a comparison of healthcare facilities in their region and an analysis of the practical role of policy.

5 credits

Through this course, students widen their perspectives of promoting health and preventing disease as they examine health issues that transcend national borders, class, race, ethnicity, and culture. Students discuss the role of the healthcare provider in preserving and promoting health among diverse populations as well as their role in illness prevention and health promotion, protection, and maintenance of targeted populations. They explore principles of epidemiology and the influencing sociopolitical factors that impact health and well-being of humankind. Students also engage in assignments designed to provide practical application of content on topical issues, such as infant mortality rates in the United States and abroad, infectious or communicable disease, and implications of global climate change on health, among others.

5 credits

Students in this course will examine the history of third-party reimbursement, the culture of patient expectations for healthcare, and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement funding and management. Students will consider how healthcare policy, insurance, and reimbursement impact quality and population health.

5 credits

In this course, students examine management concepts and theories designed to influence and improve the performance of healthcare organizations. They identify and examine the external and internal environments of organizations as well as key management functions, roles, and responsibilities. Exploring essential aspects of healthcare management, students engage in a variety of conceptual and practical activities, such as profiling a healthcare manger, assessing the value of leadership in decision making, and comparing strategic plans. Students delve deeper into content through weekly discussions on a variety of topics, such as emotional intelligence, applications of financial management, issues of quality and safety, the purpose of strategic planning, and challenges in human resources.

5 credits

Natural and human-caused catastrophes, including acts of terrorism, continue to abound in the United States, necessitating professionals who are skilled in building disaster-resilient communities as well as leading response and recovery efforts. This course provides an introduction to the historical development and evolution of disaster and emergency management. Students address the roles and responsibilities of local, regional, and national agencies as well as interagency coordination and collaboration. Through application-based writing exercises, students examine and apply phases of disaster and emergency management, including planning, preparedness, response, and recovery. They also discuss the public health system's role in critical events, such as outbreaks of infectious disease, natural disasters, industrial emergencies, and terrorist and bioterrorist attacks.

5 credits

The individual and group behaviors within healthcare organizations often have a direct impact on organizational success and the ability to deliver quality care. In this course, students examine the theories of behavior of healthcare organizations at the macro (organization-wide) level and micro (individual and team performance) level. Students explore factors that influence an organization's behavior and performance, including the role of culture, group processes, and interactions. Sharpening analytic skills, students apply theories of motivation to assess a hypothetical situation. They also investigate famous leaders to analyze leadership traits, including the ability to implement and lead others through change.

Prerequisites

• HLTH 4000

5 credits

An unstable economy and inflating cost of healthcare affects nearly everyone, from individuals to entire hospitals, making sound financial management increasingly important. This course provides students with a foundation for economic evaluation and financial management in delivery of healthcare services, including principles of supply and demand. Students explore the financial, political, and economic aspects of universal healthcare, and they learn the purpose and methods of financial reporting, such as using financial statements and balance sheets. They also examine financial risk and insurance principles and mechanisms for healthcare reimbursement, including Medicare, Medicaid, and other payor programs. Through written applications and other practical exercises, students gain foundational skills in fiscal evaluation and financial management, which they can apply to personal or professional financial decision making.

Prerequisites

• HLTH 4000
• MATH 1030 or ACCT 1003 or STAT 3001

5 credits

A lack of quality service in healthcare, including medical errors, unnecessary surgery, and neglect, accounts for preventable deaths and a continual increase in the cost of delivery. Students in this course explore major quality and safety issues within healthcare organizations. They also examine methods of assessing quality and techniques to improve quality as well as opportunities to prevent adverse and never events, devoting special attention to the 5 Million Lives Campaign. Students examine current requirements for reporting indicators of quality and pay-for-performance initiatives to reward quality. They analyze weekly topics and share perspectives through discussions and case studies on critical issues, such as medical error, the patient perspective, quality and safety measurement, and improvement approaches, among others.

Prerequisites

• HLTH 4000

5 credits

Key concepts related to strategic planning, including the relationship of the plan to the organization's mission, values, and vision, are presented in this course. Students examine and apply assessment techniques and methodologies for evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) of a healthcare organization. They also explore the relationship between strategic planning, marketing, and organizational performance. Through a review of mixed-media resources and interactive discussions, students assess a variety of topics, such as values, vision, and mission statements; the differences between goals and objectives; and applications of healthcare promotion and social change.

Prerequisites

• HLTH 4000

5 credits

Healthcare organizations are able to provide quality care to patients only when their workforce is productive, satisfied, organized, and well-trained. Organizations rely on the human resource (HR) department to provide employees with support, while focusing on the needs and goals of the organization. Students in this course explore and discuss the role of HR in healthcare organizations as related to the recruitment, retention, and management of the healthcare workforce. They examine workforce development models, employee benefits, and compensation strategies. Students also explore methods used by HR professionals to develop goals and expectations for evaluating employee performance and promoting effective employee relations, and they investigate HR problem-solving strategies, such as conflict resolution, collective bargaining, and arbitration methods. Through application-based activities, students analyze effective development of position descriptions; assess practices of hiring based on organizational fit; gain real-world insight on strategies of successful organizations; and develop plans for attaining long-term professional goals.

Prerequisites

• HLTH 4000

5 credits

Healthcare organizations are able to provide quality care to patients only when their workforce is productive, satisfied, organized, and well-trained. Organizations rely on the human resource (HR) department to provide employees with support, while focusing on the needs and goals of the organization. Students in this course explore and discuss the role of HR in healthcare organizations as related to the recruitment, retention, and management of the healthcare workforce. They examine workforce development models, employee benefits, and compensation strategies. Students also explore methods used by HR professionals to develop goals and expectations for evaluating employee performance and promoting effective employee relations, and they investigate HR problem-solving strategies, such as conflict resolution, collective bargaining, and arbitration methods. Through application-based activities, students analyze effective development of position descriptions; assess practices of hiring based on organizational fit; gain real-world insight on strategies of successful organizations; and develop plans for attaining long-term professional goals.

Prerequisites

• HMNT 1001
• HLTH 4000

5 credits

Students in this course focus on the principles governing the study and practice of epidemiology. Consideration is given to the various methods available to health professionals for selecting and measuring factors of interest, describing their distribution, detecting associations, and identifying populations at risk. The features, advantages, and limitations of common epidemiologic research designs are addressed.

Prerequisites

• MATH 1002/1030 or MATH 1040 or STAT 3001

Note: Students who wish to pursue graduate school should consider taking STAT 3001 in addition to MATH 1002.

5 credits

In this course, students examine the basic components required for the conduct of health-related research and provides students with the analytic tools needed to understand and assess research methods described in the scientific literature. Basic research methods are described, including surveys, observational studies, experimental and quasi-experimental design, use of primary and secondary data, and statistical techniques for analyzing and interpreting data.

BS in Healthcare Management

Prerequisites

• HLTH 4000

All Other Programs

Prerequisites

• None

5 credits

This course is an introduction for students to the essential factors that promote or challenge the development of personal health and healthy lifestyles, including nutrition, physical fitness, stress management, mental and emotional health, sexuality and relationships, violence and injury, and substance abuse. Students examine how cultural and socioeconomic factors influence people's perception of their health as well as their health behavior. Students review tools for assessing health and risk and have the opportunity to assess their own health and behavior using a health risk appraisal.

5 credits

Human nutritional requirements change over the course of the lifespan. Students in this course examine the fundamentals of nutrition and the variation of nutritional needs at different life stages, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Students discuss issues such as obesity and eating disorders as well as the link between diet and disease. Students conduct a personal dietary assessment and analyze the relationship between food choices and health status in their own lives.

5 credits

Physical fitness is an important component of overall health and quality of life. In this course, students focus on the fundamental concepts and principles of physical fitness, including flexibility, cardiovascular health, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and body composition as well as the physiological and psychological processes through which exercise influences health. Students create a personalized fitness program and explore the health advantages of a physically active lifestyle, including the mental, social, and psychological benefits. They also examine the harmful effects of a sedentary lifestyle, particularly with regard to the risk of chronic disease.

5 credits

Students in this course learn about a holistic approach to stress management. They address the emotional and physical dimensions of stress as well as scientific foundations and physiological pathways. Students explore the mind-body connection, and they study fundamental principles, theories, and relaxation techniques—including cognitive and physical behavior change interventions—that can help people effectively manage personal stress.

5 credits

The principles and theories of health communication and their application to health promotion and behavior change are the foci of this course. Students examine how to design and deliver health messages to various audiences while remaining sensitive to cultural, socioeconomic, and educational factors influencing the audience. Students evaluate important dimensions of intercultural and intracultural communication and study how to make scholarly writing accessible to the general population. They also explore the use of emerging technologies and social media in marketing and communications.

5 credits

Students engage in the foundations for financial management in delivery of healthcare services. Students in this course can learn about the purpose and methods of financial reporting, such as financial statements, balance sheets, and operational and capital budgets, in addition to financial risk, variances, and an overview of insurance principles. Students also explore the financial, political, and economic aspects of universal healthcare.

Prerequisites

• HLTH 4000
• MATH 1030 or MATH 1040 or STAT 3001

5 credits

Students are provided with the foundation for economic evaluation from a population health approach. Students can develop an understanding of healthcare as a market, compare supply-and-demand principles in healthcare versus a typical business, discuss how economic losses or gains impact healthcare policy changes, sectors of the population, physician staffing, nursing staffing, and stability. Students in the course also explore epidemiological, social, global, and future economic impact of healthcare.

Prerequisites

• HLTH 4000
• MATH 1030 or MATH 1040 or STAT 3001

5 credits

This capstone course provides students with the opportunity to synthesize knowledge and skills acquired throughout their program into a practical, integrative literature review of a selected topic specific to their area of concentration and personal interest. Through this project, students gain experience in refining their résumé, locating and assessing professional literature, and presenting arguments and findings. Students also engage in weekly discussions on networking, professional organizations, and the promotion of positive social change. They also reflect on their learning experience throughout the program and consider how they can use these experiences to enrich future professional endeavors.

Prerequisites

• All prior health core and concentration courses completed. This course must be taken in the student's final quarter.