Health Science (HS)

Courses

HS A210 Introduction to Environmental Health 3 Credits

Introduces the field of environmental health, including environmental epidemiology, policy, justice and the health effects of global climate change. Reviews diseases and injuries related to environmental conditions, occupational health and associated public health applications.

HS A220 Introduction to Population Health Sciences 3 Credits

Introduces students to the public health profession and population health approach in the United States and Alaska. Examines principles of population health, the framework for thinking about underlying problems that lead to death or disability and explores public health institutions and health-care systems.

HS A230 Introduction to Global Health 3 Credits

Introduces the field of global health with a focus on exploring the links between health, economic and social factors involved in development. Reviews socioeconomic and environmental determinants of health, along with disparities in the global burden of disease, global health priorities, efforts and initiatives.

HS A305 Public Health for an Aging Society 3 Credits

An overview of issues related to public health and aging, including demography, epidemiology, theories of aging, the implications of chronic illness and disability for public health, health promotion for older adults, and how older adulthood is viewed in society today.

HS A320 Death, Dying, and End-of-Life Care 3 Credits

Surveys the psycho-sociocultural and biomedical aspects of death, dying, and practical implications for end-of-life care planning, including in-depth exploration of grief and preparation for death, end-of-life care options, care and treatment of terminally ill patients, assisted euthanasia, and legal and policy implications for the future healthcare professional.
Registration Restrictions: Instructor permission may substitute for listed prerequisites.

Prerequisites: PSY A150 with a minimum grade of C or HS A220 with a minimum grade of C.

HS A326 Introduction to Epidemiology 3 Credits

Introduces basic principles and methods of epidemiology, with emphasis on critical thinking, analytic skills, and application to population health practice and research. Includes outcome measures, methods, interpretation of analysis, surveillance, and sources of data. Provides tools for critically evaluating literature and epidemiological applications for science-based health planning and service disciplines.

Prerequisites: HS A220 with a minimum grade of C and (PSY A260 with a minimum grade of C or STAT A200 with a minimum grade of C or STAT A253 with a minimum grade of C).

HS A345 Planning and Management of Health Programs 3 Credits

Explores the major components of health promotion program planning, conducting needs assessments, and developing appropriate interventions including an introduction to managing health promotion programs.

Prerequisites: HS A220 with a minimum grade of C and (WRTG A211 with a minimum grade of C or WRTG A212 with a minimum grade of C or WRTG A213 with a minimum grade of C or WRTG A214 with a minimum grade of C).

HS A370 Social and Cultural Determinants of Health 3 Credits

Provides a historical and contemporary overview of selected social, political, and economic factors that influence the provision of health and healthcare in America. Focuses on the relationship between health care and race, sex, gender, social stratification, and social location. Lays out brief comparisons of international alternatives for-profit and not-for-profit national health care systems.

Prerequisites: HS A220 with a minimum grade of C or HS A230 with a minimum grade of C or SOC A101 with a minimum grade of C.

HS A420 Program Evaluation 3 Credits

Describes the theories and practices of program evaluation for applied health and social services settings.
Registration Restrictions: Junior or senior standing and department approval.

Prerequisites: HS A326 with a minimum grade of C.

HS A433 Health Education: Theory and Practice 3 Credits

Provides the theoretical foundation for health education and health promotion. Develops students' abilities to design and deliver health education materials and programs.
Registration Restrictions: Instructor approval
Crosslisted With: NS A433

Prerequisites: HS A345 with a minimum grade of C or NS A332 with a minimum grade of C.

HS A485 Professional Preparation in Health Sciences 3 Credits

Provides a foundation to help students prepare for practicums and careers including exploring professional competencies and goals, applying practical human relations skills and professional behaviors.
Special Note: Students will engage in 8 hours of field work.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to the College of Health, admission to the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, and junior or senior standing

Prerequisites: HS A345 with a minimum grade of C and (HS A433 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment or NS A433 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment).

HS A490 Selected Topics in the Health Sciences 1-4 Credits

Focuses on emerging, current or other special topics in the health sciences.
Special Note: May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits with a change of subtitle.
Registration Restrictions: Junior or senior standing
May Be Stacked With: HS A690

Prerequisites: WRTG A211 with a minimum grade of C or WRTG A212 with a minimum grade of C or WRTG A213 with a minimum grade of C or WRTG A214 with a minimum grade of C or WRTG A2W with a minimum grade of C.

HS A492 Senior Seminar: Contemporary Health Policy 3 Credits

Focuses on contemporary health policy issues with an emphasis on population-level public policies and health equity.
Registration Restrictions: Senior standing and completion of GER Tier 1 (basic college-level skills) courses

Prerequisites: HS A220 with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: UAA Integrative Capstone GER.

HS A495 Health Sciences Practicum 3 Credits

Integrates acquired theoretical knowledge with practical application and applies health science competencies in a supervised community health practice setting. Designed to enhance students' professional experience through a minimum of 120 hours of work with a community organization.
Special Note: May be repeated once for a total of 6 credits.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and senior standing.

Prerequisites: HS A485 with a minimum grade of C.

HS A498 Senior Project in Health Sciences 3 Credits

Under the supervision of a faculty member, students will either a) assist with carrying out a research project initiated by a faculty member or b) design and carry out an empirical research project or other approved health sciences project.
Special Note: May be repeated once for a total of 6 credits.
Registration Restrictions: Senior standing and approval by the faculty member acting as project advisor

Prerequisites: HS A220 with a minimum grade of C and HS A345 with a minimum grade of C and (HS A420 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment or HUMS A420 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment).

HS A499 Senior Thesis in Health Sciences 3 Credits

Under faculty mentorship, students will be guided through the thesis writing process for undergraduate research that meets professional publication standards. Students will orally defend the thesis through a presentation or poster presentation.
Registration Restrictions: Senior standing and approval of the faculty member acting as thesis advisor

Prerequisites: HS A498 with a minimum grade of C or PSY A261 with a minimum grade of C or SOC A361 with a minimum grade of C.

HS A605 Public Health and Society 3 Credits

Incorporates behavioral and social science concepts in analyzing a variety of public health issues nationally, in Alaska and the circumpolar north. Presents how socioeconomic status, culture, race/ethnicity, age, and gender relate to health and disease outcomes and quality of life. Provides knowledge on health promotion and disease prevention interventions.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to MPH program or faculty permission.

HS A610 Environmental and Occupational Health 3 Credits

Provides an in-depth understanding of environmental factors, including biological, physical, chemical and occupational factors that affect the health of a community. Combines an overall ecological concern with specific elements related to individual and community health, emphasizing the interrelatedness of the two.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to MPH program or faculty permission.

HS A615 Health Services Administration 3 Credits

Provides students with knowledge and tools to understand the planning, organization, administration, management, evaluation and policies of public health programs in the U.S. and particularly Alaska. Applies an epidemiological model for health services delivery, strategic planning, health care quality management, performance standards, interagency cooperation, human resource management and ethics.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to MPH program or faculty permission.

HS A624 Circumpolar Health Issues 3 Credits

Provides a critical analysis of key circumpolar health issues, with a particular emphasis on the application of current research to professional practice, programs and policy. Aims to develop and demonstrate, among the students, a level of professionally sophisticated critical analysis skills, problem-solving abilities, and expertise in public health issues most relevant to Alaska and other circumpolar regions. Provides opportunity for students to explore these issues within an Alaskan context in their assignments.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to MPH program or faculty permission.

HS A625 Biostatistics for Health Professionals 3 Credits

Reviews principles of statistical reasoning and quantitative skills for analyzing health data. Illustrates descriptive and inferential statistics. Addresses multivariate parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. Compares methodological techniques and the choice of appropriate statistical methods to answer health research questions. Emphasizes interpretation of statistical results in public health research and practice.
Registration Restrictions: Graduate standing or instructor permission, and a grade of C or better in undergraduate statistics course

HS A626 Principles of Epidemiology 3 Credits

Presents the study of patterns of disease and injury in human populations and the application of this study to the control of health problems. Introduces students to the basic principles and study designs of epidemiology. Covers the application of epidemiologic methods to the understanding of the occurrence and control of conditions such as infectious and chronic diseases, psychological and behavioral disorders, community and environmental health hazards, accidents, and genetic conditions.
Registration Restrictions: Graduate standing or instructor permission.

HS A628 Program Evaluation 3 Credits

Explores the principles and methods of conducting evaluation of health-related programs. Discusses topics such as conducting community needs assessment, program development, evaluation types and models, evaluation designs, politics and ethics of conducting evaluation in community-based settings, and how to effectively communicate the process involved in evaluation and the findings to stakeholders.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to MPH or MSW program or faculty approval; MSW students must have successfully completed the MSW foundation requirements.
Crosslisted With: SWK A628

HS A629 Public Health Research Tools and Methods 4 Credits

Introduces basic principles and methods of health-related research from its conception to analysis and evaluation. Provides an overview of quantitative and qualitative research methods and issues related to their reliability and validity. Provides hands-on training of quantitative and/or qualitative analytical software and completion of CITI Human Subjects Research Education course in lab.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to MPH program or faculty permission.

Prerequisites: HS A625 with a minimum grade of B and HS A626 with a minimum grade of B.

HS A630 Public Health Emergencies and Disasters 3 Credits

Explores public health issues concerning natural and human-generated disasters and emergencies that occur in Alaska, the U.S., and different parts of the world. Covers topics on geophysical and weather-related problems, infectious diseases, war, and related concerns. Addresses prevention, mitigation and public health interventions, which include planning, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies, as well as socio-economic, political, legal and ethical challenges.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to MPH program or faculty permission.

HS A635 Geographic Information Systems for One Health 3 Credits

Develops fundamentals of spatial analysis necessary to address One Health problems. Introduces fundamental concepts, conventions and capabilities of geographic information systems (GIS) from a broad and practical perspective. Imbeds learning how to use GIS software in the context of carrying out projects for mapping, visualizing, and analyzing human, animal and plant health data.
Special Note: Students will receive a free software license for GIS software. Students must have access to a computer capable of running ArcGIS software.
Registration Restrictions: Graduate standing or instructor permission.

HS A640 Health Communication in the Popular Media 3 Credits

Discusses theory, research, and practice related to how popular media influences health and how health professionals can use or influence popular media to make populations who use it healthier. Students apply what they learned by developing a health communication project.
Registration Restrictions: Graduate standing

HS A648 Motivational Interviewing 3 Credits

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an empirically-supported, person-centered, goal-oriented approach for facilitating change by exploring & resolving ambivalence. With background lectures on the theoretical and empirical bases of MI, class sessions emphasize demonstration and practice of MI skills and strategies for diverse behavioral applications (e.g., addictions, health promotion, chronic disease management).
Registration Restrictions: Graduate standing.
Crosslisted With: PSY A648 and SWK A648

HS A654 Cross-Cultural Health Issues 3 Credits

Explores concepts of culture, cultural values, ethnocentrism, and topics related to health, illness, and healthcare delivery. Focuses on cultural competency: how to better understand health behaviors influenced by culture, cross-cultural communications, perceptions of illness and disease, as well as challenges and barriers that are encountered.
Registration Restrictions: Graduate standing and instructor approval

HS A655 Global Health and Development 3 Credits

Overview of global health issues and determinants of health, primarily in lesser developed countries. Covers maternal and child health, reproductive health, nutrition, infectious diseases, and environmental health issues. Explores intervention strategies and the impact of social, cultural, political, and economic factors.
Registration Restrictions: Graduate standing and instructor approval

HS A683 Innovative Practices in Telehealth 3 Credits

Provides an overview of telehealth with an emphasis on telebehavioral health in Alaska. Includes topics on the history of telehealth and current legal, technical and logistical considerations to prepare leaders in the expanding field of telehealth. Includes hands-on experience with telehealth technology and clinical exercises.
Registration Restrictions: Graduate standing or instructor permission
Crosslisted With: SWK A683

HS A690 Selected Topics in the Health Sciences 1-4 Credits

Focuses on special, emerging, current, local, and other topics in public health.
Special Note: May be repeated for credit with different subtitles.
Registration Restrictions: MPH Program approval
May Be Stacked With: HS A490

HS A695 Applied Practice Experience 3 Credits

Focuses on the development and implementation of a student-initiated practicum with a public-health-related community partner. Requires students to demonstrate their advanced scholarship, professional competence, and public health skills in an applied setting.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to the Masters of Public Health (MPH), advisor approval, completion of at least 12 hours toward the MPH degree, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the MPH program.

HS A696 Integrative Learning Experience 2 Credits

Requires students to complete their Master of Public Health program ePortfolio, orally present highlights of their Applied Practice Experience in a group setting, and complete a written capstone deliverable that integrates both foundational public health and generalist track-specific competencies identified by the students, in consultation with their academic advisor.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to the College of Health.

Prerequisites: HS A695 with a minimum grade of B.

HS A699 MPH Practicum-Thesis 1-5 Credits

Focuses on the development and implementation of a student-initiated practicum and thesis with a public-health-related community partner and thesis committee for the culminating experience for the MPH Program. Guides and provides resources as a basis for the thesis. Requires students to demonstrate their advanced scholarship, professional competence and skills through proposal and report writing, subject matter expertise of their thesis, and public presentation.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to MPH program, academic advisor approval and an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher in the MPH Program