Health Services (A.A.)

Faculty

Dr. Nicole Betschman, Program Director for the Public Health and Health Services Programs: Assistant Professor of Health Services
Dr. Christopher Howard, Assistant Professor of Public Health

Faculty representing diverse disciplines in the School of Nursing and Health Professions, College of Arts & Sciences and School of Professional Studies collaborate with and contribute to the Health Services program.

Overview

The Associates of Arts in Health Services, at THEARC, is  designed to introduce students to the health needs of the population as the healthcare landscape rapidly changes. The Health Services curriculum prepares the student to become a trusted frontline public health worker who address disparities affecting quality of health and health service delivery. Students will contribute to community health capacity and build members’ health knowledge through a wide range of activities. The Health Services curriculum prepares the student to achieve a Community Health Worker Certificate as they work towards their A.A. degree.

Health Services Student Learning Outcomes

  • Utilize effective written and oral communication when conveying a message about a current or emerging health care issue
  • Apply evidence-based solutions to organizational and client issues within the contemporary health care arena
  • Demonstrate critical thinking as evidenced by ethical and legal decision-making as a member of an inter-professional health care team
  • Demonstrate leadership to meet a health care organization’s or client’s needs

Program Requirements

Associate of Art’s degree programs at THEARC consist of a ‘core curriculum’ and ‘major degree’ classes.

Core Curriculum

The Associate of Arts degree programs at THEARC require students to fulfill a general studies core (11 general education courses).  All students must take courses in each of the following areas:

Skills for Life and Work

  • Writing (3 credits):
    • ENGL 106 Writing for Academic & Profess. Success
  • Communication (6 credits):
    • COM 101 Introduction to Comm. & Public Speaking
    • COM 224 Cross-Cultural Communication
  • Numeracy (3 credits):
    • MATH 111 Applied Mathematical Skills
  • Information Literacy (3 credits)
    • INT 117 Introduction to Information Literacy

Understanding Self, Society, and Nature

  • Arts & Humanities (6 credits chosen):
    • HIS 134 American Civilization
  • Social Sciences (9 credits chosen):
    • PSYC 100 Fundamentals of Psychology
    • SOCY 101 Social Issues
  • Scientific Understanding (3 credits):
    • ENVS 102 Science of the Environment
  • Ethics (6 credits):
    • PHIL 252 Practical Ethics
    • PHIL 101 Logic and Problem Solving

Health Services Degree Core

  • SNHP 101 Intro to Wellness
  • SNHP 102 Intro to Nutrition
  • SNHP 221 Health and Wellness Planning
  • SNHP 200 Political Policies and Process
  • SNHP 208 Client Advocacy
  • SNHP 231 Working in Community Health
  • HPNU 121 Health Comm and Medical Termin
  • SNHP 292 Health Services Capstone

Stackable Degree Programs

This Associate’s of Arts in Health Services Degree program is just one step in Trinity’s complete academic offerings in Public Health, from the certificate level all the way through an advanced degree.

Program Policies

Advanced Placement: Credits earned through AP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the health services major.

CLEP Policy: Credits earned through CLEP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the health services major.

Transfer Policy:  Consult program faculty for information about transferring courses to Trinity.

Grades in Major Courses:  A minimum of a 2.0 (“C”) cumulative GPA average must be earned in the required courses for the major. A grade of C- may be counted toward fulfilling the requirements, at the discretion of the program faculty, if the overall average in the required courses is at least a 2.0. This policy applies to the required Health Service core courses except MATH 110 and PHIL 251.

Pass/No Pass: The pass/no pass grading option is not accepted for courses within the major. Students are required to earn a grade of “C” (2.0) or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major. A grade of C- may be counted toward fulfilling the requirements, at the discretion of the program faculty, if the overall average in the required courses is at least a 2.0. The pass/no pass grading option may apply to other courses that meet the degree requirement including MATH 110 and PHIL 251.

TELL Policy: Students applying for credit in experiential learning should consult with the program faculty.