Jan 31, 2025

Undergraduate Catalog 2022-23

Undergraduate Catalog 2022-23 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Healthcare Services and Sciences Concentrations (HSSJ, HAUJ, HBLJ, HCPJ, HOTJ, HPAJ)

The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Services and Sciences (BS-HSS) at Western Michigan University prepares students to understand the healthcare world and how to work successfully in it. Through the three required elements of 1) core courses, 2) specialized knowledge (minor or concentration) and 3) a capstone experience (internship), students gain knowledge and experience to take their place as interdisciplinary team members in today’s health services systems. A student in BS-HSS can focus their studies in a number of ways. These include:

a. The general program: This option must be paired with a minor to focus the program more clearly on student goals.

b. The Clinical Practice in Health Concentration: This option is specifically designed for those who have an associate’s degree in a clinical area and are licensed or certified in that discipline following a discipline approved licensing exam.

c. The Physician Assistant Preparation Concentration: A preparatory program that prepares students to apply to Physician Assistant graduate programs including, but not limited to, WMU’s PA program by including required prerequisites.

d. The Audiology Preparation Concentration*: A preparatory program that prepares students to apply to Audiology doctoral programs including, but not limited to, WMU’s Audiology doctoral program by including required prerequisites. (THIS CONCENTRATION IS NOT CURRENTLY ALLOWING ADMISSION.)

e. The Blindness and Low Vision Studies Preparation Concentration*: A preparatory program that prepares students to apply to two of WMU’s Blindness and Low Vision Studies programs, Orientation and Mobility for Adults or Vision Rehabilitation, by including required prerequisites (these prerequisites are similar to other programs but not identical).

f. The Occupational Therapy Preparation Concentration: A preparatory program that prepares students to apply to Occupational Therapy graduate programs including, but not limited to, WMU’s OT program by including required prerequisites.

*The Pre-Audiology Preparation Concentration and the Blindness and Low Vision Preparation Concentration can lead a student to accelerated graduate programs in those areas. These programs are collaborations between the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs and the respective graduate department. Within these programs, some courses are utilized for both a BS-HSS degree and a graduate degree. Students must be accepted into the accelerated degree (for Audiology and Blindness and Low Vision Studies programs) through the respective program before taking the courses that apply to both degrees.

For more information about the graduate level concentrations see the links under “Admission” below. Acceptance into these advanced programs is not automatic and if students are not accepted into the graduate program as undergraduates they must meet with their advisor to pursue a minor in their junior year.

BS-HSS Mission Statement

The Healthcare Services and Sciences program mission is to help students to understand the healthcare world and how to work successfully in it.

The BS-HSS major has three required elements: (wmich.edu/healthservices/academics)

The HSS Core is comprised of the two sets of courses: the HSS Core Major requirements and the HSS Core Cognate requirements. These courses provide an introduction of core competencies that are needed across health services disciplines including delivering patient and family centered care, working in interdisciplinary teams, evidence-based practice, health literacy practices, quality improvement, informatics, and ethical decision making. In addition, the HSS Core provides a more in-depth study of the organization and delivery of health services, safety practices, health disparities, diversity in delivering services, and health policy.
Specialized knowledge obtained through a Concentration or Minor.
A capstone experience (usually an intership) that pulls together skills obtained throughout the program and applies them to an internship placement, a professional project, or a research project. (Students who are accepted into the Audiology accelerated degree program take courses that serve as a capstone in those programs. Clinical Practice in Health students may transfer in an equivalent coursework as well.) Please see more information at “Capstone Experience”.

Admission

Admission to the General, Clinical Practice, or any of the Preparatory programs occurs when students, who have previously been admitted to WMU, select Healthcare Services and Sciences as their major as long as the student has a 2.0 GPA and is not on academic probation. However, all students must raise their GPAs to 2.5 before taking the required capstone course.

Continuance and Graduation Policy

Student must obtain at least a “C” in all HSS required core courses with the Health Services (HSV) designation. Students may repeat courses to obtain the required grade of “C”. Only two repeated HSV courses will count toward degree requirements. These two repeated courses may be the same course repeated twice or two separate courses repeated once each.

Students must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA when applying for the required capstone course. Those who do not have a 2.5 cumulative GPA in the semester before their capstone course may take one additional semester to raise their cumulative GPA to a 2.5 or better. If after this additional semester they do not meet the 2.5 cumulative GPA requirement they will be dismissed from the program.

Audiology and Orientation & Mobility and Vision Rehabilitation Accelerated Degree Admission

Admittance to any BS-HSS accelerated degree program requires acceptance into that graduate program. This usually occurs during the junior year. All of the accelerated degree programs have some courses that count toward both the undergraduate degree and the graduate degree. Students must consult information from the graduate departments for more information. Please see the links below.

Graduate Accelerated Degree Programs (all of the programs below require a separate application and are competitive)

Audiology wmich.edu/speech-audiology/academics/grad/accelerated
Orientation and Mobility (Blindness and Low Vision Studies) wmich.edu/visionstudies/academics/accelerated
Visual Rehabilitation (Blindness and Low Vision Studies) wmich.edu/visionstudies/academics/accelerated

Academic Advising

The College of Health and Human Services provides advising to all students who wish to enroll in and who are admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Services and Sciences program. Students should contact an advisor as early as possible. Advisors will assist students in program planning, and in the selection of a concentration, or academic minor. Failure to meet with an advisor on a regular basis may result in difficulty in completing the program in a timely manner.

Specific program requirements to follow.

BS-Healthcare Services and Sciences Major (HSSJ)

Students must successfully complete 1) WMU Essential Studies requirements; 2) core major and core cognate courses; 3) concentration or minor courses; 4) capstone experiences, usually an internship.

HSS Core Major Courses

Students must complete all the HSS Core major courses.

HSV 2250 - Lifespan Development Credits: 3 hours
HSV 2650 - Information Literacy in the Health Sciences Credits: 3 hours
(or pass a Proficiency examination wmich.edu/healthservices/academics/proficiency-exam)
HSV 3000 - Research in Health Services Credits: 3 hours
HSV 3700 - The Health System and Its Environment Credits: 3 hours
HSV 3900 - Core Competencies and Contemporary Issues in Healthcare Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4100 - Legal Issues in Healthcare Services Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4400 - Diversity and Inclusion in Health and Human Services Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4780 - U.S. Health Policy Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4800 - Healthcare Management Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4860 - Health Literacy Practices Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4880 - Psychosocial Aspects of Health and Healthcare Credits: 3 hours

HSS Core Cognate Courses

Students must complete all the HSS Core cognate courses.

BIOS 2110 - Human Anatomy Credits: 4 hours
(required for audiology, occupational therapy and physician assistant concentrations)
OR
BIOS 1980 - Human Form and Function Credits: 4 hours
MDSC 2010 - Medical Terminology Credits: 1 hour
PHIL 2010 - Contemporary Problems in Ethics Credits: 4 hours
OR
PHIL 3340 - Biomedical Ethics Credits: 4 hours
OR
NUR 3220 - Health Care Ethics Credits: 3 hours
HOL 4700 - Relationship-Centered Skills Credits: 3 hours

Healthcare Services and Sciences Concentrations/Minors

Students choosing the Healthcare Services and Sciences major will also need to select a concentration or minor. Each concentration will consist of courses that guide the student toward a specific health career. The following concentrations are offered in the Healthcare Services and Sciences degree:

Clinical Practice in Health Concentration;
Audiology Preparation Concentration (Admission to the WMU Doctorate of Audiology Program is currently suspended through Fall 2023.);
Blindness and Low Vision Studies Preparation Concentration;
Occupational Therapy Preparation Concentration;
Physician Assistant Preparation Concentration

Academic Minors

A variety of minors are available to students. A minor is required for those pursuing the general Healthcare Services and Sciences degree and is optional for those completing an HSS concentration. Some examples of complementary minors are listed below. Please choose carefully based on your plans for the future. Healthcare Services and Sciences faculty suggest students consider the following minors, depending on their career interests.

Addiction Studies (leads to a national certification)
Biology
Chemistry
Communications
Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness
Leadership and Business Strategy
Management
Nonprofit Leadership (leads to a national certification)
Peace Corps Health Prep Minor
Psychology
Spanish
Speech and Hearing Processes

Audiology Preparation Concentration (HAUJ) Admission to the WMU Doctorate of Audiology Program is currently suspended through Fall 2023

Students pursuing the BS-HSS who are interested in applying to the Doctorate of Audiology may take a set of courses through the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in preparation for that program. Once they have completed the BS-HSS Core courses in their junior year they can apply for the accelerated degree program. If accepted into the graduate program through the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, their final 12 credits of the BS-HSS will also be applied to the Doctorate of Audiology graduate degree. If not accepted, students must meet with their advisor to plan for completion of the BS-HSS degree including a capstone experience.

Admission to the undergraduate degree concentration does not guarantee admission to the doctorate program either as an accelerated degree student or as a regular graduate student. Other audiology graduate programs have similar but not necessarily identical prerequisites, students should check with the graduate program of their choice while pursuing their undergraduate degree.

Audiology Preparation Concentration Cognate Courses

BIOS 1120 - Principles of Biology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 2400 - Human Physiology Credits: 4 hours
SIGN 1010 - American Sign Language I Credits: 3 hours
ENGL 1050 - Foundations in Written Communication: Strategies, Behaviors, Success Credits: 3 hours
LANG 2500 - The Nature of Language Credits: 3 hours
PHYS 1070 - Elementary Physics Credits: 4 hours
PHYS 1080 - Elementary Physics Laboratory Credits: 1 hour
PSY 1000 - General Psychology Credits: 3 hours
STAT 1600 - Discovery with Data Credits: 3 hours
SLHS 2000 - Communication Disorders and Sciences Credits: 3 hours
SLHS 2030 - Normal Language Acquisition Credits: 3 hours
SLHS 2060 - Hearing Science Credits: 3 hours
SLHS 2080 - Introduction to Audiology Credits: 3 hours
SLHS 4000 - Practicum in Speech Pathology and Audiology I Credits: 2 hours
SLHS 4010 - Practicum in Speech Pathology and Audiology II Credits: 2 hours
SLHS 4560 - Rehabilitative Audiology Credits: 3 hours
SLHS 5800 - Psychoacoustics Credits: 3 hours

Accelerated Degree - Doctorate of Audiology - (Admission to the WMU Doctorate of Audiology Program is currently suspended through Fall 2023.)

A student who has been admitted into the Accelerated Degree - Doctorate of Audiology will take the following 12 credits during their senior year and apply the credits to both their undergraduate and graduate programs.

SLHS 5801 - Pediatric Audiology Credits: 3 hours
SPPA 6030 - Anatomy of Audition and Balance Credits: 2 hours
SPPA 6210 - Diagnostic Audiology I Credits 4 hours
SPPA 6220 - Hearing Aids Credits: 3 hours

Blindness and Low Vision Studies Preparation Concentration (HBLJ)

Students pursuing the BS-HSS who are interested in applying to the Master of Arts in Orientation and Mobility for Adults or Master of Arts in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy may take a set of courses in preparation for those programs. Once they have completed the BS-HSS Core courses in their junior year, they can apply for the accelerated degree program of their choice. If accepted into the graduate program through the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies their final 12 credits of the BS-HSS will also be applied to the respective program, otherwise students will take an additional 12 credit hours toward a minor or advisor approved concentration.

Although the classes below are the same, the Master of Arts in Orientation and Mobility Services and the Master of Arts in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy are two different master’s degrees. Please refer to the individual programs for specific information.

Blindness and Low Vision Studies Preparation Concentration Cognate Courses

BIOS 1120 - Principles of Biology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 2400 - Human Physiology Credits: 4 hours
BLS 3050 - Introduction to Adults with Disabilities Credits: 3 hours

Accelerated Degree - Blindness and Low Vision Studies

Specific information on the requirements of the Blindness and Low Vision Accelerated graduate degree program can be found in the Western Michigan University Graduate Catalog.

Clinical Practice in Health Concentration (HCPJ)

The specialized knowledge of the Clinical Practice in Health Concentration optimizes the clinical training that students who are licensed, certified, or registered in an allied health profession have previously received. Graduates of an accredited allied health associate’s degree program who hold a current professional license, certification, or registration (after having successfully passed a state and/or nationally recognized examination) are eligible for the BS-HSS Clinical Practice in Health Concentration. Students choosing this option will be awarded transfer credit in accordance with the University policies for prior general education, sciences, and electives. Clinical Practice in Health Concentration students may be able to transfer clinical placement experience to serve as their capstone experience. However, if they are unable to transfer in a clinical placement with comparable requirements they will have to complete a capstone experience. In addition, a prior learning assessment will determine the student’s eligibility to receive up to 30 hours of upper division credit for the following two courses:

HSV 3100 - Professional and Interpersonal Skills for Patient Centered Care Credits: 15 hours
HSV 3200 - Clinical Practice in U.S. Healthcare Delivery Credits: 15 hours

Clinical Practice in Health Specialized Cognates

HSV 3100 - Professional and Interpersonal Skills for Patient Centered Care Credits: 15 hours
HSV 3200 - Clinical Practice in U.S. Healthcare Delivery Credits: 15 hours

Occupational Therapy Preparation Concentration (HOTJ)

In addition to the HSS core major and core cognate courses, student will take the following Occupational Therapy Preparation Concentration cognate courses and complete the capstone experience (usually an internship).

Students pursuing the BS-HSS who are interested in applying to the graduate program in Occupational Therapy may take a set of courses in preparation for that program. This plan must include a capstone experience. Other occupational therapy graduate programs have similar but not necessarily identical prerequisites, students should check the requirements of their preferred graduate program while pursuing their undergraduate degree.

Occupational Therapy Preparation Concentration Cognate Courses

BIOS 1120 - Principles of Biology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 2400 - Human Physiology Credits: 4 hours
PSY 1000 - General Psychology Credits: 3 hours
PSY 2500 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3 hours
STAT 3660 - Data Analysis for Biosciences Credits: 4 hours
OR
STAT 1600 - Discovery with Data Credits: 3 hours

Physician Assistant Preparation Concentration (HPAJ)

The Western Michigan University Department of Physician Assistant recommends the following courses in the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Services and Sciences to prepare students to apply to the Physician Assistant program. However, completion of this concentration does not guarantee admission to the Physician Assistant Graduate program. Other physician assistant graduate programs have similar but not necessarily identical prerequisites, students should check the requirements of their preferred graduate program while pursuing their undergraduate degree.

Physician Assistant Preparation Concentration Cognate Courses

BIOS 1600 - Biological Form and Function Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 1610 - Molecular and Cellular Biology Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 1620 - Ecology and Evolution Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 2320 - Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Credits: 4 hours
OR
BIOS 3120 - Microbiology Credits: 5 hours
BIOS 2500 - Genetics Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 3500 - Human Physiology for Majors Credits: 5 hours
CHEM 1100 - General Chemistry I Credits: 3 hours
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: 1 hour
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II Credits: 3 hours
CHEM 1130 - General Chemistry Laboratory II Credits: 1 hour
CHEM 3550 - Introductory Biochemistry Credits: 3 hours
CHEM 3560 - Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory Credits: 1 hour
CHEM 3700 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry Credits: 3 hours
CHEM 3710 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry Lab Credits: 1 hour
MDSC 4390 - Pharmacology for Health Professionals Credits: 3 hours
MDSC 4450 - Pathophysiology for the Health Professional Credits: 3 hours
STAT 3660 - Data Analysis for Biosciences Credits: 4 hours

Capstone Experience

To graduate, students must complete a capstone experience (or transfer in an equivalent): either an internship, capstone project or individual research. A capstone experience is one that integrates special studies with the HSS major and extends, critiques, and applies knowledge gained throughout the program. Students typically complete the capstone experience in the final semester before graduation. They will do this by also completing HSV 4900, HSV 4895 or HSV 4890.

Most students will complete an internship as their capstone experience.
Students who have at least one year of paid experience in healthcare or in a health-related organization may opt to complete a capstone project instead of an internship.
Occasionally a student with extensive healthcare experience may decide that their future goals are best supported by completing an individual research project.
For students who are accepted into the Audiology accelerated degree program the clinical placements in that program serves as their capstone experience.
For students who are accepted into the Clinical practice in Health Concentration, they may be able to transfer clinical placement experience to serve as their capstone experience. However, if they are unable to transfer in a clinical placement with comparable requirements they will have to complete a capstone experience.

Internship in Healthcare Services (HSV 4900) - Appropriate for most students
wmich.edu/healthservices/academics/internships

Students completing an HSS internship integrate and apply their knowledge and abilities, as well as hone skills in preparation for employment or graduate study in a healthcare or health-related organization.

In the semester prior to the internship, students meet with the internship coordinator to establish an appropriate, supervised placement that will further their education and professional objectives. A minimum of 200 clock hours is required for internships (some internships require more). A classroom seminar accompanies the internship placement (HSV 4900).

When students first enter the program they should read the guidelines in the HSS Student Handbook found on the program web page https://wmich.edu/healthservices/academics. This will help them consider what type of internship would be the most helpful to them in their future careers and to familiarize themselves with related background check information.

The requirements of the internship are:

Completion of all prerequisites prior to enrollment in any of the capstone courses.

Application to the internship program. Application includes the application form, the student’s resume and unofficial transcripts. All applications must be submitted via the Intern Placement Tracking (IPT) system found on the program website at www.wmich.edu/healthservices/academics/internships. Application must be made by the deadline for the semester in which a student wishes to begin the internship. See below for deadlines.

Capstone Experience HSV 4890, HSV 4895 or HSV 4900	Application Deadline
Summer	December 1 (the previous year)
Fall	March 1 (of the same year)
Spring	June 1 (the previous year)

Students should review the listing of internship sites on the BS-HSS website wmich.edu/healthservices/academics/internships/descriptions and mention any placements that they are interested in on their application.
After the application is received, the student will meet with the internship coordinator to establish an appropriate, supervised placement that will further their education and professional objectives.
Students must enroll in HSV 4900 and attend the internship seminar.
Students engaged in an internship must give evidence of having health insurance at the time of course enrollment.
Liability insurance coverage will be provided by the University through a fee assessed at the time of enrollment in HSV 4900.
Students must have the minimum of a 2.5 GPA to enroll in HSV 4900 and to complete an internship. If a student misses the minimum GPA the student will be given one semester to achieve the 2.5 before taking the course. If a student is unable to achieve the 2.5 GPA in one semester the student will be dismissed from the program barring hardship circumstances. If hardship circumstances are present the Internship Coordinator, the Program Coordinator and the Director of the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs will review the case.

Students who are registered, certified, or licensed healthcare professionals may pursue a clinical experience providing it exposes the student to the development of new skills, or is in a situation outside their usual employment.

Capstone Project (HSV 4895)

The capstone project provides students an opportunity to design and complete a project in health services. Only students who have completed at least one year of employment at a healthcare or health-related organization and have successfully applied for this option may select it. Students must complete a capstone experience application following the date guidelines for all capstone experiences. Students complete the project over one semester, typically the student’s final semester of his/her undergraduate career.

The capstone project requires students to conceive, plan, and implement a special project in an area within the scope of healthcare services and sciences. This is generally at their place of employment, but not always. Capstone projects may take many different forms. Some examples are: patient satisfaction surveys in an applied setting, a written health literacy project, analysis of a health informatics system, clinical review of a therapeutic intervention, implementation of a quality improvement project, development of a patient manual or an educational program.

Students will work under the supervision of an HSS onsite capstone project instructor. Enrollment in the capstone project course requires departmental approval from the HSS internship coordinator. If you have at least one year of healthcare experience and desire to take the capstone project course, contact the HSS internship coordinator for more information.

Students must have the minimum of a 2.5 GPA to enroll in HSV 4895 to complete a capstone project. If a student misses the minimum GPA the student will be given one semester to achieve the 2.5 GPA before taking the course. If the student is unable to achieve the 2.5 GPA in one semester the student will be dismissed from the program barring hardship circumstances. If hardship circumstances are present, the Program Coordinator and the Director of the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs will review the case.

Health and Human Services Independent Research (HSV 4890)

Restricted to certified, licensed, or registered health providers, this course requires the completion of a student created research project related to a current issue in health and human services.

If a healthcare provider chooses HSV 4890: Independent Research (3 hours), the project must conform to the following standards:

The student must select a research committee consisting of a faculty mentor knowledgeable in the field of inquiry and a reader who will also act as a resource person (the resource person may work outside of the University).

HSV 4890 - Health and Human Services Independent Research Credits: 3 hours
(restricted to certified or licensed health professionals)
HSV 4895 - Capstone Project Credits: 3 hours
(restricted to students working in health care)
HSV 4900 - Internship in Healthcare Services Credits: 4 hours
(appropriate for most students)
(A patient contact paid internship is recommended for any student pursuing the PA Prep concentration who has not acquired at least 1000 hours of patient care that is needed for application to the PA program).