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
- Long-Term Care Administration (leads to state certification)
- Management
- Nonprofit Leadership (leads to a national certification)
- Public Health
- Psychology
- Spanish
- Speech and Hearing Processes
Audiology Preparation Concentration (HAUJ) Admission to the WMU Doctorate of Audiology Program is currently suspended through Fall 2024
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
Accelerated Degree - Doctorate of Audiology - (Admission to the WMU Doctorate of Audiology Program is currently suspended through Fall 2024.)
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
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:
Clinical Practice in Health Specialized Cognates
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
Physician Assistant Preparation Concentration (HPAJ)
In addition to the HSS core major and core cognate courses, student will take the following Physician Assistant Preparation Concentration cognate courses and complete the capstone experience (usually an internship).
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
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.
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Capstone Experience
HSV 4890, HSV 4895 or HSV 4900
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Application Deadline
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Summer
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December 1 (the previous year)
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Fall
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March 1 (of the same year)
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Spring
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June 1 (the previous year)
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- 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).
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