BS in Health Sciences
The bachelor of science in health sciences curriculum reflects the different educational goals and breadth of needs of the students enrolled in the program. The bachelor of science in health sciences can also be a baccalaureate completion program for associate's degree allied health graduates. As health care shifts to outpatient and community settings, and more health promotion and health education, these graduates with their expanded professional role capability will be able to provide more effective care to the community. The curriculum includes completion of the USM Core curriculum requirements, the health sciences core requirements, and one track of study: wellness, pre-professional, health care administration, or the occupational therapy "jumpstart" program.
Change of Major
Students enrolled in other USM programs of study desiring to enroll in the Health Science major through the change of major process must have a 2.50 USM GPA to do so.
Retention and Progression Requirements
While enrolled in Health Sciences, students must:
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
- Earn a minimum grade of C- in all required courses. Where applicable, students receiving a grade lower than C- in a required course will not be allowed to sequence into post-requisite coursework until the prerequisite deficiency has been rectified.
Probation
Students with less than 60 accumulated credits will be placed on academic probation for failure to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. Students failing to rectify the GPA deficiency within a one-year probation period will be removed from their declared major and from their status as a student within the Department. Upon rectifying the GPA deficiency, students can reapply for admission into a Departmental major.
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Graduation Requirements
Students will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in health sciences when the following are satisfied:
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
- Completion of all University Core curriculum requirements.
- Completion of all health sciences core required coursework with a minimum grade of C-.
- Completion of coursework within one track of study with a minimum grade of C-.
- Completion of 120 credit hours.
Degree Requirements
The bachelors of science in health sciences consists of 120 credit hours, which includes the University's Core curriculum.
| University Core Courses | Cr (43-46) |
| EYE Experience | 3 |
| ^College Writing | 3 or 4 |
| ^Quantitative Reasoning (MAT 120 or PSY 105) | 3 or 4 |
| ^Science Exploration (PHY 101/102 or PHY 111/114) | 4 or 5 |
| Creative Expression | 3 |
| Cultural Interpretation | 3 |
| ^Socio-cultural Analysis (HRD/SBS 200) | 3 |
| Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility and Citizenship | 3 |
| Thematic Cluster | 3 |
| Thematic Cluster | 3 |
| Thematic Cluster | 3 |
| Capstone (SPM 419) | 3 |
| International | 3 |
| Diversity | 3 |
| Health Sciences Required Core Courses | Cr (33) |
| PSY 101 General Psychology I | 3 |
| PSY 102 General Psychology II | 3 |
| ^BIO 111 Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 |
| ^BIO 112 Practical Human Anatomy and Phys I | 1.5 |
| ^BIO 211 Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 |
| ^BIO 212 Practical Human Anatomy and Phys II | 1.5 |
| CHY 101 Introduction to Chemistry | 3-4 |
| or CHY 110 Chemistry, Life and the Environment or | |
| CHY 113 Principles of Chemistry | |
| PHY 101, 102 Introduction to Physics and Lab | (4-5) |
| or PHY 111, 114 Elements of Physics I and Lab (credits included in Core Science Exploration requirement) | |
| MAT 120 Intro to Statistics | (3 or 4) |
| or PSY 105 Stats in Psychology (credits included in Core Quantitative Reasoning requirement) | |
| HRD/SBS 200 Multicultural Human Development(credits included in Socio-cultural Analysis Core requirement) | (3) |
| CON 314 Wellness Education and Counseling | 3 |
| or SPM 350 Health Promotion Program | |
| CON 321 Health Related Research | 3 |
| CON 252 Human Nutrition | 3 |
| CON 356 Concepts of Community Health | 3 |
| SPM 100 Introduction to Exercise, Health and Sport Sciences | 3 |
| SPM 419 Health Sciences Capstone | (3) |
^ Indicates Pre Requisite Courses for entrance into USM's Occupational Therapy Program through the Jumpstart Program. Minimum Grade of 3.0 ("B") required for each course.
Track of Study (30 credits)
Students must complete a track of study as part of the health sciences major. Students who have a two-year Health Related Associates Degree do not have to complete a track of study (i.e. 30 credits of the AA degree will be applied to the Track requirement) except for those interested in pursuing the Occupational Therapy Jumpstart track. The wellness, pre-professional and health care administration tracks present the option for a minor though the completion of a minor is not required.
Wellness Track (30 Credits)
Holistic and Integrative Health (HIH) Minor:
Along with completing CON 252 (part of the Health Sciences Core), students who complete CON 280, CON 281, two other '+' and (CON 219, CON 270, or 3 credits of RHF-prefix courses), courses as part of this track satisfy the requirement for a minor in HIH. Consult with the School of Nursing to declare the HIH minor.
CON 219 Lifetime Physical Fitness and Wellness
+CON 280 Holistic Health I
+CON 281 Holistic Health II
+CON 283 Healing and Spirituality
+CON 284 Botanical Therapies
+CON 285 Perspectives on Animal-Assisted Therapy
CON 270 Holistic Approach to Reproductive Health
+CON 288 Reiki: Energy Medicine
+CON 311 Psychosocial Intervention for Older Adults
+CON 490 Therapeutic Touch
CON 270 Holistic Approach to Reproductive Health
CON 435 Death and Dying: Contemporary Issues
CON 497 Substance Use and Abuse: Issues and Policies
SPM 460 EKG Interpretation
PSY 340 Behavior Modification
PSY 366 Drugs, Mind and Behavior
PSY 368 Health Psychology
PSY 390 Health Psychology Institute
RHF prefix courses (any 2-1.5 credit courses)
Pre-Professional Track (30 credits)
Biology Minor:
Along with completing BIO 111, 112, 211, 212 (as part of the Health Sciences Core), students who complete an additional 9 credits by taking courses denoted by an '#' satisfy the requirement for a minor in Biology. A grade of C- or higher is required for all courses in the minor. Consult with the Department of Biology to declare a Biology minor.
Biochemistry Minor
Along with completing CHY 113 (part of the Health Sciences Core), students must complete the following CHY courses: 114, 115, 116, 251, 252, 253, 254, 461, and either 462 or 463. Consult with the Department of Chemistry to declare a Biochemistry minor.
Chemistry Minor
Along with completing CHY 113 (part of the Health Sciences Core), students must complete CHY 114, 115, 116 and either of the following two groups of courses: 231, 232, 251,252 or 371, 372, 373, 421. Consult with the Department of Chemistry to declare a chemistry minor.
# Biology Minor Course
% Biochemistry Minor Course
@ Chemistry Minor Course
BIO 105 Biological Principles I: Cellular Bio
BIO 106 Laboratory Biology
BIO 107 Biological Principles II: Evolution, Biodiversity, and Ecology
BIO 109 Biological Principles III: Functional Bio
#BIO 201 Genetics
#BIO 205 Comparative Vertebrae Anatomy
#BIO 281 Microbiology and Human Disease
#BIO 282 Microbiology and Human Disease Lab
#BIO 311 Microbiology
#BIO 312 Microbiology Lab
#BIO 321 Neurobiology
#BIO 322 Neurobiology Lab
#BIO 345 Pathophysiology
#BIO 401 General Physiology
#BIO 402 General Physiology Lab
#BIO 403 Comparative Animal Physiology
#BIO 404 Comparative Animal Physiology Lab
#BIO 408 Experimental Genetics
#BIO 409 Cell and Molecular Biology
#BIO 410 Cell and Molecular Biology Lab
#BIO 431 Principles of Immunology
% @ CHY 114 Laboratory Techniques I
% @ CHY 115 Principles of Chemistry II
% @ CHY 116 Laboratory Techniques II
@CHY 231 Analytical Chemistry
@CHY 232 Analytical Chemistry Lab
% @ CHY 251 Organic Chemistry I
% @ CHY 252 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
%CHY 253 Organic Chemistry II
%CHY 254 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
@CHY 371 Physical Chemistry
@CHY 372 Physical Chemistry Laboratory I
@CHY 373 Physical Chemistry II
@CHY 421 Inorganic Chemistry
%CHY 461 Biochemistry
%CHY 462 Biochemistry Laboratory
%CHY 463 Biochemistry II
PHY 112 Elements of Physics II
PHY 116 Introductory Physics Lab II
PHY 121 General Physics I
PHY 123 General Physics II
MAT 140 Pre Calculus Mathematics
MAT 152 Calculus A
MAT 220 Statistics for the Biological Sciences
Health Care Administration Track (30 credits)
Business Administration Minor:
Students completing 21 credit hours of Business Administration courses may be eligible to receive a Business Administration minor through the School of Business. Consult with the School of Business to declare the Business Administration minor.
Business Administration Courses (choose 21 credits)
ACC 110 Financial Accounting Information for Decision Making
ACC 211 Managerial Accounting Information for Decision Making
BUS 101 Getting Down to Business
BUS 190 Personal Finance
BUS 200 Introduction to Business
BUS 260 Marketing
BUS 280 Legal Environment of Business
BUS 340 Managing Organizational Behavior
BUS 345 Information Technology/Management Information Systems
ECO 101 Introduction to Macroeconomics
ECO 102 Introduction to Microeconomics
RMI 220 Introduction to Risk Management and Insurance
Choose 9 credits from the following:
ITS 300 Ergonomics/Time Study
ITS 320 Occupational Safety and Health
ITS 321 Workplace Design Ergonomics
ITP 210 Technical Writing
ITP 230 Project Management
ITP 350 Team Building and Facilitation
ITP 381 Human Resource Development in Industry
ITP 490 Cost Analysis and Control
CON 497 Substance Use and Abuse: Issues and Policies
Occupational Therapy "Jumpstart" Track (34 credits)
This track is for students interested in pursuing USM's Masters in Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree. Entrance into this program is competitive and includes the completion of a formal application process. For more information about USM's MOT please contact the Coordinator of Graduate programs at USM's Lewiston-Auburn College.
Note: courses listed here represent the student's last year of study in Health Sciences major and first year of study in the MOT, and can only be taken by students who have been formally accepted into USM's MOT program.
OTH 501 OT Foundations
OTH 502 Introduction to OT
OTH 503 Reflective Practitioner
OTH 513 Applied Concepts of Movement
OTH 514 Human Anatomy
OTH 504 Applied Research
OTH 505 Impact of Mental Health on Occupational Performance
OTH 507 Ethics and Social Justice
OTH 509 MH Level I Fieldwork
OTH 517 Occupational Well-Being
General Electives
The total number of general electives needed to meet 120 credits for a student's program of study is dependent on the credits within the student's track and on the CORE credits completed.
In addition to completing other identified pre-requisite coursework, students interested in apply for entrance into USM's MOT program must also take the following courses:
- ^SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
- ^PSY 233 Psychopathology
- ^MAT 108 College Algebra
- ^Medical Terminology 1-3 credits (this course is not offered at USM. Thus, students must take this course at another institution)
^ Indicates Pre Requisite Courses for entrance into USM's Occupational Therapy Program through the Jumpstart Program. Minimum Grade of 3.0 ("B") required for each course.
Faculty Research
In this video highlighting faculty research at USM, Dr. Christopher Scott discusses his research regarding consumption of oxygen during exercise.
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