Undergraduate Program Options & Courses

School Health

The School Health Education Option is designed for individuals who desire to pursue a professional preparation program leading to qualification as a health education teacher in middle, junior, and high schools. Graduates may also pursue other administrative careers within a school district such as health education curriculum coordinator, or a substance abuse prevention coordinator. In addition to core requirements, students seeking this option must also be admitted to the College of Education's Single Subject Credential Program. Students must successfully complete all required coursework and teaching assignments leading to a California Single Subject Teacher Credential.

School Health Program Planners (Requirement Worksheets):

Community Health Education

The Community Health Education Option is designed for individuals interested in the links among lifestyle, social and physical environments, and good health. The occupational objective of those selecting this option is to serve as a community health educator in public or private health care agencies, voluntary organizations, medical clinics or corporate settings. Health educators use a variety of communication strategies, policy implementations, teaching methods and creative learning experiences to promote voluntary actions, and informed decisions conducive to health. Health educators are specifically trained to:

  • Assess health education needs.
  • Provide communication regarding the distribution and determinants of disease and injury.
  • Plan, develop, implement, manage and evaluate health education programs
  • Participate in social planning, advocacy, and coalition building.
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Health Science Tracks

Community Health Program Planners (Requirement Worksheets):

Minor in Health Science

Minor in Health Science (Requirement Worksheets):

  • 150. Medical Terminology (1)
    • Development of medical vocabulary emphasizing the building of terms utilizing prefixes, combining forms and suffixes. Includes medical terms for application in the interpretation of medical records. (Lecture-discussion 1 hour) Letter grade only (A-F).
  • 210. Contemporary Health Issues (3)
    • Prerequisite: Course that fulfills the A2 GE requirement. 
    • Develop a scientific understanding of contemporary health issues enabling one to examine, interpret, evaluate and apply to individual personal health; includes health related issues experienced throughout the life cycle and an identification of community health resources.
  • 227. Drugs and Health (3)
    • Prerequisite: Completion of the G.E. Category A.
    • Study of psychoactive drugs with primary attention to alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, cannabis, hallucinogens, narcotics and other drugs; examination of trends, philosophical issues and behavioral practices associated with drug use and dependence. Includes physiological psycho-social, legal, historical, philosophical and political aspects; treatment-rehabilitation activities and programs; and drug abuse prevention education.
    • Not open for credit to students with credit in H SC 327 or H SC 427.
  • 250. Public Health Aspects of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (3) (Available in Fall 2018)
    • Prerequisite: BIOL 205 or BIOL 207
    • Introduction to communicable and non-communicable diseases including their epidemiology, global disease burden, pathophysiology, treatment and prevention strategies. 
    • Letter grade only (A-F). (3 hours lecture)

  • 301. Orientation to Health Science(3)
    • Prerequisite: Open to Health Science majors and minors only.
    • Overview of philosophy of Health Science Department Orientation to degree requirements, career opportunities, and theoretical and practical issues of health education as a profession. Letter grade only (A-F).
  • 333. Latino Nutrition, Health and Chronic Disease Prevention (3)
    • Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements, one or more Exploration courses and Upper-division standing.
    • Explores nutrition-related and contextual factors associated with the high rates of chronic disease among diverse Latino-specific subpopulations and provide culturally-relevant strategies for prevention. Letter grade only (A-F). Same course as NUTR 333. Not open for credit to students with credit in NUTR 333.
  • 400. Principles of Epidemiology (3)
    • Prerequisite: H SC 403.
    • Application of epidemiologic procedures to the understanding of the occurrence and control of infectious and chronic diseases, mental illness, environmental health hazards, accidents, and geriatric problems.  Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hours)
  • 401. Community Health Education (3)
    • Prerequisite: H SC 301.
    • Concepts of community health education with emphasis on community organization; application of these concepts to health education activities of official, voluntary and professional health agencies. Letter grade only (A-F).
  • 402. Applied Concepts of Community Health Education (3)
    • Prerequisites: H SC 301, H SC 401 and H SC 421
    • Identification and application of concepts unique to community health education; includes examination of theoretical foundations, marketing and promotion techniques, and application of health education strategies. Letter grade only (A-F).
  • 403. Community Health Statistics (3)
    • Prerequisites: GE Math and SOC 250 or PSY 210 (PSY 100 prereq) or STAT 108
    • Representative topics are descriptive statistics, sample designs, central tendency, and variability. Statistical tools for inferential analyses include hypothesis testing and parameter estimation. Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 2 hours, Activity 2 hours)
  • 405. Health Education Program Evaluation and Measurement (3)
    • Prerequisites: H SC 403 and H SC 421
    • Research designs, standardized measurements, data collection, analysis, and reporting are used to develop evaluation skills to assess program outcomes. Program activities promoting behavior change in communities, organizations, groups, and individuals are evaluated. Letter grade only (A-F). (Discussion 3 hours)
  • 407. Health Equity and Health Disparities Research in the US (3)
    • Prerequisite: GE Foundation, one or more Exploration courses, and upper-division standing.'
    • Explores socioeconomic, biologic, environmental, and institutional factors associated with health issues and disease. Students will learn about research and interventions to affect positive health outcomes and access for underserved, underrepresented diverse populations. Letter grade only (A-F).
  • 411A. Health Science for Elementary Teachers (3)
    • Prerequisite: Upper-division standing. Corequisite: Current CPR Certification required. 
    • Contemporary teaching of health education in elementary schools; emphasizes coordinated school health, drugs, sexuality, nutrition, child abuse, violence, community and human ecology. Based upon California Health Framework, it meets state credential requirements. Not open for credit to health Science majors or minors.
  • 411B. Health Science for Secondary Teachers (3)
    • Prerequisite: Upper-division standing. Corequisite: Current CPR Certification required. 
    • Contemporary teaching of health education in secondary schools; emphasizes coordinated school health, integrating health content and instruction into other subjects, drugs, sexuality, nutrition, child abuse, violence, community, and human ecology. Based upon the California Health Framework, meets state credential requirements. Not open for credit to health Science majors or minors.
  • 420. Global Health (3)
    • Prerequisite: GE Foundation, one or more Exploration courses, and upper-division standing. 
    • Analysis of current health problems in the world; examination of contributing social, psychological, physical, legal and cultural factors; international programs for the improvement of world health; structure and functions of world health agencies and organizations.
  • 421. Health Behavior (3)
    • Prerequisites: Upper-division standing
    • Survey of contemporary research on the health effects of human behavior. Special emphasis is given to current issues of health behavior, decision-making in contemporary society, values clarification and contemporary theories of behavior change (e.g., health belief model). Letter grade only (A-F).
  • 422. Environmental Health (3)
    • Prerequisite: Upper-division standing
    • Examination of the reciprocal relationship existing between man and his environment, with the emphasis directed toward the health related consequences of man's actions in the environment. Letter grade only (A-F).
  • 423. Consumer Health (3)
    • Prerequisite: Upper-division standing
    • Effective selection of health information, products and services; medical quackery and fraudulent health practices; laws and agencies protecting the consumer; health care delivery systems; and influences of corporate control on the consumer movement in contemporary society. Letter grade only (A-F).
  • 425. Human Sexuality and Sex Education (3)
    • Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation, one or more Exploration courses, and upper-division standing. Recommended: PSY 100. 
    • Biomedical, sociological, and psychological aspects of human sexuality, the communication of sexual information, the implementation, content and evaluation of family life and sex education in the schools.
  • 430. School Health Program (3)
    • Prerequisite: HSC 301. 
    • Intensive analysis of the philosophy, organization and legal aspects of the school health program. Includes school and community coordination for a team approach to health education for the school age individual. Letter grade only (A-F).
  • 435./535. Health Promotion and Risk Reduction (3)
    • Prerequisite: H SC 421.
    • Health promotion/risk reduction program content, development and implementation for use in corporate, hospital and public settings. Intended primarily for Health Science majors. Letter grade only (A-F). (Discussion 3 hours)
  • 440. Applied Concepts of Health Science (3)
    • Prerequisite: A grade of 鈥淐鈥 or better in HSC 430. GWAR portfolio course or score of 11 or higher on the GWAR Placement Exam. Health Science majors and minors only. Upper division standing.
    • Identification and application of the concepts and modes of inquiry unique to the discipline of health science; development of appropriate curriculum based upon an analysis of individual, school and community needs and interests. Letter grade only (A-F).
  • 485. Internship in Community Health Education (3)
    • Prerequisites: H SC 402 and H SC 405
    • Preparation for and introduction to work experience in a community health organization. A minimum of 120 hours work experience in a community health organization under direct supervision of a preceptor. Letter grade only (A-F). (6 hours activity)
  • 486. Internship and Careers in Community Health Education (3)
    • Prerequisite: Open to Health Science majors only. H SC 485 and consent of instructor.
    • Culminating experience in a community health setting. Assess needs, plan and implement health education programs and strategies. Evaluation of work experience in a community health organization where a minimum of 120 hours work experience required under the direct supervision of a preceptor. Letter grade only (A-F). (6 hours activity)
  • 490. Independent Studies in Health Science (1-3)
    • Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. 
    • Students conduct independent library or laboratory research under the supervision of a faculty member and write a report of the investigation. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units.
  • 497. Selected Topics in Health Science (3)
    • Group investigation of selected topics. Letter grade only (A-F). May be repeated for a maximum of 6 units with different topics in different semesters.Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes.