Academic Catalog

The university awards the Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences upon successful completion of the curriculum listed below. The curriculum is designed to offer advanced educational preparation to health care professionals who have completed Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degrees in health related disciplines, have credentials to practice in their respective fields, and have validated work experience as a health care provider. Students without an Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degree must select one of the following concentrations: Specialized Practice-Cytotechnology, Sports Science, Health and Wellness, or Athletic Training Science.

Students must select a concentration area in Professional Practice, Supervision and Management, Specialized Practice-Cytotechnology, Sports Science, Health and Wellness, or Athletic Training Science.

Professional Practice Concentration is composed of advanced, upper level course work in the allied health sciences leading to advanced multi-skilling and credentialing options.

Supervision and Management Concentration prepares students to assume middle management, supervisory, or coordinator positions in a health care agency.

Specialized Practice-Cytotechnology Concentration is an academic partnership between Nicholls State University and Terrebonne General Medical Center and is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education programs under recommendation of the American Society of Cytopathology. The curriculum prepares students to assist pathologists in diagnosing cellular samples under the microscope for early detection of infectious, pre-cancerous, and cancerous diseases. Admission to the clinical phase of the program during the senior year is highly selective and is limited to four students per year as mandated by the national accrediting agency. The program of study is designed to produce educationally sound and clinically competent cytotechnologist employable in rural and urban health care centers, private laboratories, and research facilities. Graduates will be eligible to complete the National Registry Examination for Cytotechnologists administered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

Students who apply for admission into senior-level clinical cytotechnology courses must submit an application to the Department no later than April 15th. Acceptance into the clinical phase of the program is based on:

Sports Science Concentration prepares students for credentialing as Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, the American College of Sports Medicine certifying examinations for Health and Fitness Instructor and Exercise Leader, and formal graduate study.

Health and Wellness Concentration prepares students for credentialing in Ergonomics, Emergency Medical Services, Exercise Specialist, and formal graduate study. Employment opportunities in Sports Science and Health and Wellness include cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, industrial medicine, industrial health and wellness, fitness instruction, and sports medicine.

Athletic Training Science Concentration prepares students to become highly qualified allied health professionals. The student will be educated and experienced in multidisciplinary areas dealing with the health care problems of athletes as well as emergency medical services. The program of study includes academic, laboratory and clinical experiences in professional, intercollegiate, and interscholastic sport teams, and clinical affiliate settings. Upon completion of the curriculum, the student is eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) Examination. Graduates are also eligible for state licensing in Athletic Training by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Employment opportunities include interscholastic athletic programs, intercollegiate athletic programs, professional athletic teams, corporate health programs, sports medicine clinics, health clubs, emergency medical services, and clinical and industrial health care programs. Minimum requirements for entry into ATSC 201 are completion of required first 33 hours of the Health Sciences curriculum. A student may enroll at anytime in the pre-professional phase of the curriculum.

Students wishing to register for the professional/clinical phase of the curriculum must submit an application to the Department no later than November 1st. Acceptance into the professional/clinical phase is based on:

For students accepted into the professional/clinical phase, a minimum grade of C is required in all courses for that semester to progress in the curriculum sequence. Also, students must submit proof (or waiver) of hepatitis B vaccination, negative tuberculosis test or chest x-ray, and proof of malpractice liability insurance coverage.

Students seeking transfer or re-entry into the program must have a transcript of prior credits on file in the Office of Records and Registration and must be evaluated by said office before a request for admission to courses titled Athletic Training Science. Those applicants not accepted into the professional clinical courses will receive, at their option, counseling regarding alternative career plans. This curriculum is subject to change as deemed necessary by the faculty and administration to ensure an effective program of study that is reflective of the breadth, depth and scope-of-practice of the athletic training discipline.

Advanced standing may be granted to credentialed and/or licensed health care professionals enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences. The advanced standing pathway is designed to validate and award credit for existing knowledge while remaining consistent with the individuals' current scope-of-practice. Upon completion of AHSC 440, 442, and 450, credentialed and/or licensed health care professionals who have completed an accredited program recognized by a national or state health professions regulatory body, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), or an AMA approved Joint Review Committee for Allied Health Education Accreditation may be awarded up to 30 semester credits.

 CLR – Computer Literacy Requirement

 GER – General Education Requirement

 OCR – Oral Communication Requirement

 UR – University Requirement

 FRESHMAN YEAR

 Sem.Hrs.

 SOPHOMORE YEAR

 Sem.Hrs.

 BIOL 114-115, 116-117 (GER)

 8

 Computer Literacy Elective (CLR)

 3

 CHEM 101, 105, or 208 (GER)

 3

 ECON 255 (GER)

 3

 ENGL 101, 102 (GER)

 6

 ENGL 255 or 256 (GER)

 3

 Freshman Seminar Course (UR)

 1

 H&PE Elective

 2

 HIST 101, 102 (GER)

 6

 SPCH 101 (OCR)

 3

 MATH 101, 102 or 105 (GER)

 6

 Concentration Courses

 12-19

 PSYC 101 (GER)

 3

 (See footnotes 1-6 below)

 26-33

 Concentration Courses

 0-7

 (See footnotes 1-6 below)

 33-40

 JUNIOR YEAR

 Sem.Hrs.

 SENIOR YEAR

 Sem.Hrs.

 ENGL 368 (GER)

 3

 Concentration Courses

 25-40

 Concentration Courses

 23-34

 (See footnotes 1-6 below)

 25-40

 (See footnotes 1-6 below)

 26-37

 Total Hours Required for Degree (all concentrations)³:  

 125

Courses in major should be taken in sequential order. Student should obtain curriculum sheet from department.

 AHSC 440 (4)

 Electives (300-level or above, 4 sem. hrs.)

 AHSC 442 (4)

 FNAR Elective (GER)

 AHSC 450 (3)

 HUMA 350 (GER) (3)

 Concentration Electives (24 sem. hrs.;
 300-level or above from the following
 areas:  AHSC, BIOL, COMD, CYTO,
 FACS, H&PE, MNGT, NURS, RSPT, SATC).

 Professional Credential/License (30 sem. hrs.)

 AHSC 440 (4)

 HUMA 350 (GER) (3)

 AHSC 442 (4)

 MACO 330 (3)

 AHSC 450 (3)

 MKGT 300 (3)

 BSAD 310 (3)

 MKGT 470 (3)

 FNAR Elective (GER)

 MNGT 301 (3)

 Electives (200 or above, 3 sem. hrs.)

 MNGT 370 (3)

 Electives (300 or above, 4 sem. hrs.)

 MNGT 445 (3)

 Professional Credential/License (30 sem. hrs.)

 AHSC 220 (3)

 CYTO 410 (6)

 Arts Elective (3 sem. hrs.) (GER)

 CYTO 412 (3)

 BIOL 203 (3)

 CYTO 414 (3)

 BIOL 204 (1)

 CYTO 416 (1)

 BIOL 304 (5)

 CYTO 420 (1)

 BIOL Elective (3 sem. hrs.)

 CYTO 421 (1)

 CHEM 106 (3)

 CYTO 422 (1)

 CHEM 110 (2)

 CYTO 430 (1)

 CHEM 221 (3)

 CYTO 440 (6)

 CYTO 400 (1)

 CYTO 450 (1)

 CYTO 401 (3)

 HUMA Elective (3 sem. hrs.) (GER)

 CYTO 402 (6)

 MNGT 301 (3)

 CYTO 404 (3)

 PSYC 208 (3)

 CYTO 408 (3)

 AHSC 301 (3)

 H&PE 280 (3) or 285 (3)

 AHSC 302 (3)

 H&PE 252 (3)

 AHSC 306 (3)

 H&PE 270 (2)

 AHSC 408 (3)

 H&PE 360 (3)

 AHSC 410 (3)

 H&PE 375 (3)

 AHSC 412 (3)

 H&PE 411 (3)

 AHSC 438 (3)

 H&PE 492 (3)

 AHSC 450 (3)

 H&PE Elective (300-level or above, 3 sem. hrs.)

 ATSC 222

 HUMA Elective (3 sem. hrs.) (GER)

 Arts Elective (3 sem. hrs.) (GER)

 MNGT 301 (3)

 Electives (12 sem. hrs.)

 NURS 311 (1)

 H&PE 141 (3)

 AHSC 301 (3)

 ATSC 222

 AHSC 302 (3)

 Arts Elective (3 sem. hrs.) (GER)

 AHSC 306 (3)

 Electives (15 sem. hrs.)

 AHSC 308 (3)

 EMSP 101 (3)

 AHSC 410 (3)

 EMSP 102 (1)

 AHSC 412 (3)

 EMSP 103 (3)

 AHSC 424 (3)

 H&PE 360 (3)

 AHSC 432 (3)

 H&PE 375 (3)

 AHSC 436 (4)

 HUMA Elective (3 sem. hrs.) (GER)

 AHSC 438 (3)

 MNGT 301 (3)

 AHSC 450 (3)

 NURS 311 (1)

 AHSC 408 (3)

 ATSC 480 (3)

 AHSC 410 (3)

 ATSC 490 (6)

 AHSC 412 (3)

 Arts Elective (3 sem. Hrs.) (GER)

 AHSC 450 (3)

 EMSP 101 (3)

 ATSC 201 (1)

 EMSP 102 (1)

 ATSC 222 (3)

 EMSP 103 (3)

 ATSC 301 (2)

 DIET 200 (3)

 ATSC 304 (3)

 H&PE 360 (3)

 ATSC 318 (2)

 H&PE 375 (3)

 ATSC 319 (2)

 HUMA Elective (3 sem. hrs.) (GER)

 ATSC 320 (2)

 MNGT 301 (3)

 ATSC 321 (2)

 Electives (6 sem. hrs.)

 ATSC 423 (3)

 PSYC 208 (statistics) (3)