2024-2025 Student Catalog 
    
    Nov 02, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Catalog

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Health Studies, A.S.



Contact Information

Program Requirements

Typical Program

Degree/Certificate:    Associate in Science
HEGIS Code:            5299
SUNY Code:             1731
Major Code:             HED

The Career

“Promoting healthy lifestyles”

Health Studies begins the professional preparation of health educators working in communities, schools and work sites.

What kind of work do they do?

  1. Assess, plan, implement and evaluate the health improvement needs of specific populations (young children, elderly, specific races, gender, geographic region, etc.)
  2. Determine and coordinate services for these individuals on a local, state and federal level
  3. Apply research principles to enhance quality of life

Where do they work?  Communities, schools and work sites.

►  School Health
          ♦  Teach K - 12, staff, wellness coordinator, school guidance

►  Community Health “A defined group of people”
          ♦ 
Assess, plan, implement and evaluate health improvement

►  Public Health “Preserve, promote and protect”
          ♦  Local, state and federal level

►  Work Sites
          ♦  Human resources, risk management, health improvement programs
          ♦  Health and life insurance specialists
          ♦  Patient educators in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics

►  Health Organizations, Foundations and Agencies
          ♦  American Cancer Society
          ♦  American Lung Association
          ♦  Planned Parenthood
          ♦  American Red Cross

The SUNY Niagara Approach

Core topics of substance abuse, nutrition, community, sexuality, leadership and foundations of health education make up the core of the curriculum. Additional emphasis in human biology,  psychology, sociology, math, history and speech complete the liberal arts experience. Professional development activities and career exploration are emphasized early and throughout the Health Studies degree.

In addition to earning an Associate in Science degree in Health Studies, students are positioned to transfer to teacher education (K-12) at SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College. Those individuals wishing to transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in public or community health can do so at Daemen College, Buffalo State College and Brockport.

For individuals who are currently certified in Physical Education and wish to have dual certification in health the program offers 18 credits in health studies and an additional 21 credits in liberal arts (by advisement). In addition, many courses are available through online learning.

Admissions

Students admitted in fall, spring and summer.  The Health Studies, A.S. program is offered as a full-time day program, part-time evening program or online program. Because of the sequencing of courses, it may take more than four semesters of full-time study (15-17 credits per semester) if a student begins this program in a spring or summer semester.

Articulation Agreements

Canisius College
Ithaca College

SUNY Buffalo State University
SUNY College at Brockport
Syracuse University

Dual Admissions

Daemen University B.S. in Health Care Studies. Professional training certification in three areas:

  • Community Health
  • Complementary and Alternative Health Care Practices
  • Health & Fitness Training

Facilities

The Health Studies program is housed in the Athletics Building. A 2,500 square foot fitness center, Olympic-size pool, two gymnasiums, dance studios, racquetball, squash, tennis, Outdoor Adventure Education and extensive Intramural Recreation program provides activity for everyone.

Program Goals and Objectives 

  • To provide individualized advisement that will assist each student with developing specific educational and career goals that will facilitate transfer to the upper-level institution of choice
  • To develop students’ knowledge about the sociological, philosophical, historical and psychological aspects of American health education
  • To assist students in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to develop their own philosophies of health education taking into consideration the influences of the New York State and National Health Education Standards
  • To provide students the necessary knowledge to understand the operation of computer systems and related pedagogical health issues in education
  • To assist students with the acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary to make intelligent decisions that will lead them to certification in health education
  • To develop students’ understanding of those characteristics which define responsible and successful health educators

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Associate of Science Degree in Health Studies, the student will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of computers and their basic functioning
  • Have customized his/her professional education course work to facilitate transfer-articulation to the upper-level school of choice
  • Demonstrate the application of knowledge required to implement a health improvement program following a 4-part plan of assess, plan, implement and evaluate

Program Requirements (HED)


  1. A total of at least 64-credit hours with a minimum curriculum grade-point average of 2.0. Academic Foundations courses do not count toward the degree.
  2. Health Studies: A minimum of 21-credit hours to include:
     *
     *
     *
     *
     +OR
      
     
    REC 250 - Leadership  
  3. Natural Science & Scientific Reasoning (NSCI) - General Education: A minimum of 4-credit hours to be chosen from:
    BIO 109 -  General Biology I  with Lab
    BIO 117 - Human Biology  with Lab
    BIO 213 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I  with Lab
    BIO 214 -  Human Anatomy and Physiology II  with Lab
    BIO 221 -  Microbiology  with Lab
  4. Social Sciences (SOCS) - General Education: A minimum of 6-credit hours to include:
     
     *
  5. Communication - Written (COMW) General Education: A minimum of 6-credit hours to include:
     *
     * OR
    ENG 103 - Writing for STEM  
  6. Communication - Oral (COMO) General Education:  A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    ___  ___ Communication  General Education elective
  7. Humanities (HUMN) - General Education:  A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    ___  ___    Humanities  General Education elective*
  8. Liberal Arts/General Education Electives: A minimum of 12-credit hours to include:
    ___  ___   US History & Civic Engagement  (USCV) OR World History & Global Awareness  (GLBL) General Education elective
    ___  ___   World Language  (WLNG) General Education elective
    ___  ___   General Education  elective
    SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology  
  9. Computer Technology: A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    CIS  ___    Computer elective (CIS 100 or higher)
  10. Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning (MATH) - General Education: A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    MAT ___   Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning  General Education elective
  11. Arts (ARTS) - General Education: A minimum of 3-credit hours by advisement to include:
    ___  ___  The Arts  General Education elective

* These courses are also available as distance learning/online courses.
+ This course is available distance learning/online only.

Note:
For Online Only Students: BIO 109/L, 117/L, 213/L, 214/L and 221/L are not currently offered online at NCCC. You can come to campus to complete the 4 credit requirements or cross register for it through SUNY Online. The following institutions offer some of these courses in the online format and meet our transfer equivalency (Buffalo State, MCC, GCC, & FLCC). You should plan this out with your advisor in the first semester of your program to ensure timely completion of this requirement.

Cross Registration: https://www.niagaracc.suny.edu/registration-records/cross/

SUNY Online Navigator Course Search: https://explore.suny.edu/courses

Typical Program


First Semester


Total Credit Hours: 15


Second Semester


Total Credit Hours: 18


Third Semester


Total Credit Hours: 16


Fourth Semester


Total Credit Hours: 15


Scholarship Opportunities


There are several scholarships available to SUNY Niagara students. Scholarship deadline dates vary each semester.  For more information, please visit the scholarship webpage at www.niagaracc.suny.edu/scholarships. The SUNY Niagara Foundation/Scholarship Office is located within the Foundation Office, A-265 or by phone (716) 614-5910.