Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences: Professional Development and Advanced Patient Care

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Degree Overview
Course List
Program Location

The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences in Professional Development and Advanced Patient Care is a degree program designed for health care professionals who graduated from accredited certificate and/or associate degree programs and wish to acquire baccalaureate level competencies in health sciences theory and professional health care issues.

Students entering this health science degree program are better positioned to advance in their career. As the health care industry evolves, it is beneficial for all employees to improve their understanding of health care systems, current regulatory requirements, trends in practice, and new standards for quality. The Bachelor of Science in Health Science in Professional Development and Advanced Patient Care prepares health care professionals to meet these demands and opens the doors for them professionally; particularly those seeking middle-management or supervisory positions.

The bachelor of science in health science degree with an emphasis in professional development and advanced patient care examines the following topics: advanced patient care, risk management and health care regulations, pharmacology for health care professionals, applied statistics for health care professionals, and ethics in health care. Transcultural health care is also a focus and involves the exploration of meanings and expressions of health, illness, caring, and healing transculturally. Trends and issues in health care are studied, including the impact of numerous professional and societal forces on health care policy and practice.

Students in this program will develop an understanding of the forces shaping the present and future health care delivery system. Other areas of study include understanding and using scientific research in practice, leadership effectiveness, and spirituality in health care.

Course List

Course #	Course Title	Course Description	Credits
HLT-307V	Professional Dynamics and Allied Health Professions	Allied health professionals are involved with all aspects of health care delivery and are integral members of the collaborative health care team. This course considers the role and scope of allied health as well as the interdisciplinary approach to care intended to meet the needs of a complex and changing health care system.	3
HLT-308V	Risk Management and Health Care Regulations	This course addresses the concerns of every health care professional regarding legal responsibility, workplace safety, and the health care facility‛s obligation to provide protection from injury for patients, their families, and staff. The institution must also be protected from accidental injury costs. This is the purpose of a risk management department. Federal, state, county, and city statutes that regulate the administration of safe health care are discussed. At the end of this course, students should be able to explain their part as health care professionals in the ethical and legal responsibilities of risk management.	3
HLT-313V	Safety, Quality, and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Care	This course examines the relationship between health care quality and organizational performance from an interdisciplinary approach to care. The student is introduced to the rationale for performance management and the role of the health care organization in ensuring compliance with the standards of accreditation. The methods for assuring quality in process and outcome through management are addressed along with trends in the provision and reimbursement of health care services. Students are introduced to changing trends in reimbursement of health care services as related to risk management.	3
HLT-362V	Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals	This introductory course on statistical concepts emphasizes applications to health care professions. The course is designed to prepare students to interpret and evaluate statistics and statistical methods used in published research papers and to make decisions about the appropriateness of specific statistical methods in a variety of settings. Areas of emphasis include introduction to analysis of variance, regression, and graphical presentation; experimental design; descriptive statistics; sampling methods; and z, t, and chi-square.	3
HLT-324V	Transcultural Health Care	This course explores meanings and expressions of health, illness, caring, and healing transculturally. Focus is on understanding and developing professional competence in caring for individuals, families, groups, and communities with diverse cultural backgrounds. Culture is examined as a pervasive, determining "blueprint‟ for thought and action throughout the human health experience. Patterns of human interaction that foster health and quality of life are analyzed, and health destroying patterns of interaction (e.g., stereotyping, discrimination, and marginalization) are examined and submitted to moral and ethical reflection.	3
HLT-310V	Spirituality in Health Care	This course explores the concept of spirituality as it relates to the person who is involved in the health care system. Since illness and stress can amplify spiritual concerns and needs, health care professionals are in a unique position to assist the patient/client in meeting those needs. This course explores the relationship between health care professionals and those they serve. Topics include performing spiritual assessment, identifying those experiencing spiritual well-being as well as those experiencing a threat to spiritual well-being, and planning and evaluating care related to spiritual wellness. A spiritual care framework is used to apply these concepts to a variety of populations in diverse clinical settings.	3
HLT-418V	Trends and Issues in Health Care	The course explores the impact of numerous professional and societal forces on health care policy and practice. Content includes an analysis of current studies; nursing care policy and position statements; political, environmental, and cultural issues; and changing nursing roles. The study of these issues examines the impact on health care delivery systems in society.	3
HLT-314V	Health Care Systems	This course is designed to impart an understanding of the forces shaping the present and future health care delivery system.	3
HLT-312V	Ethics for Health Care Professionals	This course, designed for health care professionals (providers, educators, and managers), introduces the student to major ethical theory, principles, and models for the recognition, analysis, and resolution of ethical dilemmas in health care practice. Students learn how to approach ethical dilemmas using theoretical frameworks and decision-making processes. Through the use of case studies, students are introduced to health topics such as patients‛ rights (paternalism, informed consent to therapy, participation in research); dilemmas of life and death (euthanasia, abortion, transplants, gene therapy, care for the dying); allocation of health care resources; and special dilemmas of health care professionals. This course also includes a review of classic cases in health care ethics and how they have shaped health policy. An overview of patient education and ethics and a discussion on the professional codes of ethics and standards are also part of this course.	3
HLT-317V	Communication and Application of Research in Practice	This writing-intensive course introduces students to the purpose of research as applied in health care. Students examine the role of various research methods, including evidence-based practice, in communicating with patients and providers to improve health care. Students identify and develop the skills necessary to communicate effectively in the areas of interpersonal communication, group dynamics, diversity, motivation, team building, and conflict resolution.	3
AMP-450V	Leadership and Vocation	This course emphasizes major behavior patterns that effective leaders use to influence followers, including Ken Blanchard‛s leadership model. Topics include what effective leaders really do and how leaders can diagnose and modify situations to make their leadership a more positive and productive endeavor.	3
HLT-490V	Professional Capstone Project	This writing-intensive course is designed to aid in the development of inquiry and research skills. Learning research skills and conducting research projects benefit the individual and the profession—the individual by learning new knowledge and skills, and the profession by adding to the professional body of knowledge.	3
Required Course Total Credit:			36

General Education Requirements:	34 - 40 credits
Courses:	36 credits
Open Elective Credits:	44 - 50 credits
Total Degree Requirements:	120 credits

This program is offered in the following formats or locations:

Online

An online education allows you the flexibility to fulfill your educational goals without distracting you from your career. Full-time faculty members support our online students while our dynamic tools allow for engaging and challenging discussions with classmates. Classes start every month.

Evening

To meet the demands of today's working adults, this degree is offered through our convenient evening program. Classes meet one evening per week and allow you to interact directly with instructors and peers face-to-face. Locations vary - speak with an enrollment counselor to learn more.

Program Disclosure

Category	Non-Traditional	Traditional
Books & Supplies (Per Program)	$2,600	N/A
Tuition & Fees (Per Program)	$56,350	N/A
Room & Board (Per Semester, If Applicable)	$3,434
On Time Graduation Rate	100%	N/A
Median Private Loan Debt	$0	N/A
Median TIV Loan Debt	$18,083	N/A
Median Institutional Financing Plan Debt	N/A	N/A

Program SOC

Occupations

Medical and Health Services Managers

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

Neurodiagnostic Technologists

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

Radiologic Technicians

Surgical Assistants

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

Home Health Aides

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Pharmacy Technicians

Respiratory Therapy Technicians

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Medical Assistants

Physical Therapist Assistants

Nursing Assistants

Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics

Healthcare Support Workers, All Other

Psychiatric Technicians

Speech-Language Pathology Assistants

Endoscopy Technicians

Midwives

It is the policy of the University to collect and remit sales, use, excise and/or gross receipts taxes in compliance with state and local taxing jurisdiction regulations which require the University to remit tax where applicable. These regulations vary by location. Please note: It is also the policy of the University to require payment of sales, use, excise, and/or gross receipts tax. Payment of tax is ultimately the student's financial responsibility to the University regardless of financing arrangements. Per Hawaii requirements: It is hereby stated that students residing in the State of Hawaii will be charged Hawaii General Excise Tax on all transactions. Students living in the District of Oahu will be charged 4.5%. Students residing in other Hawaii districts will be charged 4.0%.
Book costs are based on an average. Costs may increase or decrease depending on electronic availability or publisher's book costs.
Room and board costs may be higher or lower depending on housing and meal plan choice. This number is based on an average for students on campus.
Some Non-Traditional programs may be offered on the ground campus or on-line.
N/A identifies that a program is not offered in that modality or that fewer than 10 students graduated within the reported timeframe.
Tuition and Fees for each program are based on current rates. Future Tuition and Fee Rates may vary. Tuition was calculated using the number of credit hours in the program times the current tuition rate and includes the Graduation Fee. Full time students enrolled at a program taken at the main campus include a Student Activity Fee, charged every semester. Online programs include a one time Learning Management Fee. Some programs may also include additional fees based on course materials.
On-time graduation rates and median loan debt are based on students who graduated in the 2011-2012 award year.
Not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities.
Program availability is contingent on student enrollment.

Disclosure Information

* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.