Health Sciences
(413) 662-5153
www.mcla.edu/hlth
Chairperson: Justin Golub, Ph.D.
Email: J.Golub@mcla.edu
Health Sciences Major
The general Health Sciences degree prepares students to pursue careers and advanced study in a variety of health fields.
Students graduating with a major in Health Sciences will be able to:
- Understand and apply fundamental concepts in the discipline;
- Find and analyze primary literature in the field;
- Design an experiment to test a hypothesis;
- Demonstrate appropriate technical skills in the laboratory;
- Analyze data, with appropriate statistical analysis;
- Communicate the findings of a scientific experiment or information about a pathology.
MCLA - Russell Sage College Applied Nutrition and Nutrition and Dietetics Articulation Programs
Strong students who have met the requirements in the articulation agreement are guaranteed admission to the Master of Science in Applied Nutrition and Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics programs at Russell Sage College in Albany and Troy, NY.
MCLA - Russell Sage College Articulation Program in Pre-Occupational Therapy
Strong students who meet the requirements outlined in the articulation agreement gain preferred admission to the M.S. in Occupational Therapy program at Russell Sage College in Albany and Troy, NY.
MCLA - Russell Sage College Articulation Program in Pre-Physical Therapy
Strong students who meet the requirements outlined in the articulation agreement gain preferred admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Russell Sage College in Albany and Troy, NY.
Health Science Achievement Award
This award recognizes the achievement of a student in their junior year (at least 1 full semester of classwork remaining) of the Health Science, Athletic Training, and Public Health and Community Health Education major(s). Factors for consideration are GPA, course and department involvement (independent research, TA, SI, etc.), and extracurricular activities.
Transfer of Anatomy and Physiology
Biology, Health Science, Radiologic Technology, Public Health and Community Health transfer students who completed Anatomy & Physiology I and II from an institution with a course number less than 300 will be required to take either BIOL 343 Anatomy and Physiology II, or BIOL 404 Research Methods in Human Physiology.
Health Sciences Programs
- Environmental Health Minor
- Health and Society Minor
- Health Sciences - Medical Technology Concentration, B.S.
- Health Sciences - Nutrition Concentration, B.S.
- Health Sciences - Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration, B.S.
- Health Sciences - Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration, B.S.
- Health Sciences - Pre-Physician Assistant Concentration, B.S.
- Health Sciences - Sports Medicine Concentration, B.S.
- Health Sciences, B.S.
- Public Health Minor
Health Courses
Allows the student to learn about a specific health care field through direct observation of clinical practice. The student will work with a faculty sponsor and a clinical supervisor. Students will complete clinical observation and will participate in scheduled discussions about the observation experience. This course is graded on a pass-fail basis and is repeatable to 3 credits. HLTH 100 may be paired with BIOL 500 Independent Study for advanced exploration of the field.
Allows recognition and accurate use of terminology that describes the human body and its pathological processes, conditions and diseases. Terminology related to procedures and clinical tests will also be addressed.
Provides content for a comprehensive survey and introduction to the U.S. health care system. Topics and discussions will include public health, financing of health care, health insurance, politics, health care providers, and delivery of health care. The course will introduce concepts of regulation, legislation, ethics, and elements of health care reform.
Engages students with current ideas for maximizing human health, with an emphasis on separating pseudoscience from evidence-based practices. Questions addressed include: Is there an "optimal" diet? How much physical activity do humans need, and of what type? How is our modern lifestyle impacting our psychological and physical health? Students will apply these concepts towards their own physical and mental well-being. Students will engage in wellness activities incorporating physical activity and mental health.
Introduces the fields of Public Health, Health Education and Health Promotion. Topics will include the history of public health, health status, health care philosophy, health and wellness, chronic and infectious diseases, health-related behavior, health theories and program models. Students will learn to use library databases and write a review of health-related literature. A service learning component will allow students to establish projects and relationships that will benefit the community.
Introduces the fields of Public Health, Health Education and Health Promotion. Topics will include the history of public health, health status, health care philosophy, health and wellness, chronic and infectious diseases, health-related behavior, health theories and program models. Students will learn to use library databases and write a review of health-related literature. A service learning component will allow students to establish projects and relationships that will benefit the community.
Provides students with an opportunity to explore different topics and current issues in health or related fields. This course is designed to focus on health topics or issues at the introductory level.
Introduces students to health promotion programs. Students will develop health education materials and teaching strategies for individuals and groups across the life span and in a variety of settings. Students will explore health behavior design theory, health education needs assessments, instructional strategies, learner characteristics, teaching materials and aids, learning environments, and evaluation methods.
Introduces students to health promotion programs. Students will develop health education materials and teaching strategies for individuals and groups across the life span and in a variety of settings. Students will explore health behavior design theory, health education needs assessments, instructional strategies, learner characteristics, teaching materials and aids, learning environments, and evaluation methods.
Facilitates an understanding of exercise based on the principles related to training basics, energy systems, muscular fitness and biomechanics. Students will learn to develop training programs for better physical performance and health.
Explores the life cycle from conception to death. Biological, sociological and psychological perspectives will be examined and applied to everyday situations and social issues.
Explores the life cycle from conception to death. Biological, sociological, and psychological perspectives will be examined and applied to everyday situations and social issues.
Provides students with an opportunity to explore different topics and current issues in health or related fields. This course is designed to focus on health topics or issues at the high introductory level.
Examines the moral traditions and ethical principles relevant to life, and their application in present-day clinical care and biomedical research. Introduces students to the historical, theoretical, and thematic dimensions of health care ethics. Focuses on main ethical terms and concepts, as well as decision-making procedures that students can use to discern and defend moral courses of action in health care.
Provides a multidisciplinary understanding of the science, practice, laws and policy of environmental health sciences, addressing why risk of disease is modulated by the environment. Topics include types and sources of environmental contaminants, exposure assessment, types of microenvironments, human behavior and time-location-activity patterns, toxicology, the risk assessment paradigm, basics of environmental and occupational epidemiology, and communicating about environmental health sciences.
Explores all aspects of injury evaluation. Injuries to the lower extremity and lumbar spine will be stressed through lecture and lab.
Explores all aspects of injury evaluation. Injuries to the upper extremity and cervical spine will be emphasized through lecture and lab.
Explores the physiology of inflammation and pain in the context of injury. Describes the principles and effects of therapeutic modalities (including thermal, acoustic, electrical, light, and mechanical) and promotes appropriate selection and application of the modalities.
Offers students the opportunity to study the techniques and principles involved in rehabilitation of athletic injuries. It includes all aspects of reconditioning exercise and rehabilitation program development.
Offers students the opportunity to study and practice the techniques and principles involved in rehabilitation of athletic injuries. It includes all aspects of reconditioning exercise and rehabilitation program development.
Examines how communication affects and is intertwined with issues of health, medicine and ethics. Communication will be discussed on a personal, intimate level in the way patients and caregivers interact in the examination and hospital room; at the organizational level, in the way policies and community relations affect how health care is provided and how people feel about providers; and in media campaigns that seek to educate people about health.
Provides students with an opportunity to explore different topics and current issues in health or related fields. This course is designed to focus on health topics or issues at the advanced level.
Provides students with an opportunity to explore different topics and current issues in health or related fields. This course is designed to focus on health topics or issues at the high advanced level.
Open to junior and seniors who wish to read in a given area or to study a topic in depth. Written reports and frequent conferences with the advisor are required.
For health science majors who desire to conduct research on a specific topic in a health science field. The research will be under the direction of the instructor and will require scholarly report.
Provides students with hands-on experience outside of the college in the field of community health and wellness. The student will work with a faculty sponsor and an off-campus supervisor, as appropriate. Repeatable up to 12 credits.
Provides students with hands-on experience in health fields. The student will work with a faculty sponsor and an off-campus supervisor, as appropriate.
Athletic Training Courses
Introduces students to the field of athletic training and sports medicine. Explores fundamental principles of athletic training, which includes terminology, physical conditioning and injury prevention.