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Health Sciences (B.S.) - Pre-Professional Specialization

This undergraduate program, grounded in the university's Liberal Arts Core, provides students resources for developing professional skills in exercise testing, physical activity leadership, health and fitness assessment, exercise programming, wellness coaching, planning health promotion programs, and public health. Graduates are prepared for beginning administrative, supervisory, and leadership positions in commercial and community health and athletic clubs, corporate fitness and wellness programs, public health nonprofit and government agencies, and for undertaking graduate study in health education, exercise science, occupational therapy, athletic training, chiropractic medicine, physical therapy, and public health. In addition, qualified students may apply for an accelerated B.S. to M.S. program in public health education and promotion.

Students will choose from four specialization areas: exercise science/strength and conditioning, public health, pre-physical therapy, or pre-professional.

Students completing the baccalaureate degree in Marymount’s health sciences programs are prepared to apply for exercise physiologist or personal trainer certifications offered by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), strength and conditioning certification offered by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), or Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification. Exercise science/strength and conditioning, pre-physical therapy, and pre-professional tracks are all accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Upon successful completion of the health sciences program, students will be able to

  • demonstrate the knowledge required to function as competent entry-level professionals in the health/fitness industry;
  • demonstrate competence in using equipment, industry tools/inventories, and/or other practical "hands-on" applications typically used in health and wellness settings and/or clinical settings;
  • demonstrate the ability to effectively educate and/or counsel individuals regarding behavior modification for the promotion of health and wellness;
  • apply ethical standards to the conduct of health and wellness programs; and
  • evaluate information to address the health needs/concerns of individuals or groups.

This specialization is intended for those interested in pursuing a general health sciences plan of study or advanced study in a health sciences–related professional field, such as the master's degree in occupational therapy (OT) or athletic training (AT), or the doctorate in chiropractic medicine (DCM). Students will work with an advisor to satisfy the college/university prerequisite coursework needed to apply for advanced academic preparation.

Pre-Occupational Therapy: Suggested prerequisite courses include statistics, anatomy and physiology I and II, human growth and development, abnormal psychology, medical terminology, and general psychology.

Pre-Athletic Training: Suggested prerequisite courses include statistics, anatomy and physiology I and II, biology I and II, exercise science, physics I, college math or statistics, English, social sciences, and nutrition.

Pre-Chiropractic Medicine: Suggested prerequisite materials include a health sciences degree with coursework in English, psychology, social sciences, biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, kinesiology, statistics, and exercise physiology.

Internship Prerequisites: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, a grade of C- or better in HPR 202, HPR 301, and HPR 410, and a minimum of 12 credits earned at Marymount are needed to register for the internship.

Internship Requirements: When other requirements are completed, and minimum grade requirements are met, the student is placed in a 120-hour, three-credit internship.

Minimum Grade Requirements: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a minimum grade of C- in HPR 202, HPR 260, HPR 301, HPR 302, HPR 410, HPR 415, BIO 151, BIO 151L, BIO 152, BIO 152L, BIO 161, BIO 161L, BIO 162, and BIO 162L.

Degree Requirements - Health Sciences Pre-Professional Specialization

This degree requires a total of 120 credits.

Liberal Arts Core Requirements

See the Liberal Arts Core for details.

Major Requirements

To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with an advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core requirements.

Health Sciences Core

A minimum grade of C- is required in HPR 202, HPR 301, and HPR 410.
HPR 201Introduction to Health and Exercise Science

3

HPR 202Exercise Physiology

3

HPR 210CPR & First Aid

1

HPR 225Health Psychology

3

HPR 301Health/Fitness Program Management

3

HPR 340Nutrition for Optimal Health

3

HPR 399Professional Development for Health Sciences

HPR 410Anatomical Kinesiology

3

Biology Requirement

A minimum grade of C- is required for the following courses:

BIO 151General Biology I *

3

BIO 151LGeneral Biology I Lab *

1

BIO 152General Biology II *

3

BIO 152LGeneral Biology II Lab *

1

BIO 161Anatomy and Physiology I *

3

BIO 161LAnatomy and Physiology I Lab *

1

BIO 162Anatomy and Physiology II *

3

BIO 162LAnatomy and Physiology II Lab

1

Psychology

PSY 101General Psychology

3

OR

PSY 110Human Growth and Development *

3

Pre-Professional Core

A minimum grade of C- is required for the following courses:

HPR 260Introduction to Sports Medicine

3

HPR 302Fitness and Health Assessment

3

HPR 415Clinical Concepts and Practice in Cardiovascular Disease

3

Pre-Professional Requirements

HPR 210CPR & First Aid

1

HPR 230Community Health

3

HPR 300SLEssentials of Personal Training

3

HPR 304Developing Physical Training Programs

3

HPR 307Strength and Conditioning of Athletes

3

HPR 308Global Health and Culture

3

HPR 400Senior Internship

3

Pre-Professional Electives

HPR 215Introduction to Public Health

3

OR

HPR 240Principles of Epidemiology

3

 

HPR One (1) health and human performance elective

1

Sample Degree Plans - Health Sciences Pre-Professional Specialization

Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor when making course selections. Total credits may exceed 120, and some summer coursework may be required to meet all degree and pre-professional requirements.

Year One - Fall

BIO 151General Biology I *

3

BIO 151LGeneral Biology I Lab *

1

EN 101Composition I *

3

HPR 201Introduction to Health and Exercise Science

3

 

PSY 101General Psychology

3

OR

PSY 110Human Growth and Development *

3

BIO 151: NS core course

BIO 151L: NS lab core course

EN 101: WR core course

PSY 110 or PSY 101: SS core course

Year One - Spring

BIO 152General Biology II *

3

BIO 152LGeneral Biology II Lab *

1

EN 102Composition II *

3

HPR 202Exercise Physiology

3

MA 132Statistical Analysis *

3

TRS 100Theological Inquiry *

3

BIO 152: NS core course

EN 102: WR core course

TRS 100: TRS core course

Year Two - Fall

BIO 161Anatomy and Physiology I *

3

BIO 161LAnatomy and Physiology I Lab *

1

HPR 225Health Psychology

3

HPR 260Introduction to Sports Medicine

3

Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) core course *

3

Literature (LT) core course *

3

Year Two - Spring

BIO 162Anatomy and Physiology II *

3

BIO 162LAnatomy and Physiology II Lab

1

 

HPR 215Introduction to Public Health

3

OR

HPR 240Principles of Epidemiology

3

 

HPR 230Community Health

3

Philosophy (PH) core course *

3

One (1) elective

3

Year Three - Fall

HPR 301Health/Fitness Program Management

3

HPR 302Fitness and Health Assessment

3

HPR 308Global Health and Culture

3

One (1) health and human performance activity elective

HI History (HI) core course *

3

Year Three - Spring

HPR 300SLEssentials of Personal Training

3

HPR 304Developing Physical Training Programs

3

Depth in Humanities core course

3

Depth in Faith and Reason core course *

3

Year Four - Fall

HPR 210CPR & First Aid

1

HPR 307Strength and Conditioning of Athletes

3

HPR 340Nutrition for Optimal Health

3

HPR 410Anatomical Kinesiology

3

Social Science (SS) core course *

3

Year Four - Spring

HPR 399Professional Development for Health Sciences

HPR 400Senior Internship

3

HPR 406Stress Management

3

HPR 415Clinical Concepts and Practice in Cardiovascular Disease

3

One (1) elective or pre-professional course

One (1) elective

3

HPR 406: DSCI core course