Health Sciences

Health Sciences

Details

The Health Sciences program offers courses delivered by a variety of academic departments, including natural sciences, mathematics, social sciences, and philosophy. Students also have the chance to take part in significant, cutting-edge research into relevant health-related issues affecting our community.

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About the Program

Health sciences in the 21st century are more complex and interconnected than ever before.

Solutions are needed to overcome the health challenges facing our nation and the world, so it’s crucial that we reshape our thinking and take a multi-disciplinary approach to health challenges. By integrating a variety of traditional academic fields, we’re able to develop nimble thinking and creative problem-solving to serve the health needs of an increasingly diverse population.

Recently two students completed projects that investigated an arsenic contaminated watershed, while another researched the effects of indoor tanning on the risk of developing skin cancer.

Graduates of the Health Sciences program are prepared for careers in a field that’s projected to undergo significant growth.

One of the key benefits our alumni experience in the professional world is a broad array of professional possibilities and graduate school opportunities, including in physical therapy, physician’s assistant, dentistry, optometry, occupational therapy, pharmacy, public health, and veterinary medicine. These careers typically lead them to organizations and institutions that focus on improving health, including government health departments, non-profit agencies, hospitals, clinics, and laboratories.

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Carroll’s liberal arts focus offers a well-rounded and deep education that prepares students for the industry of their choice. Our small class sizes guarantee individualized attention and a unique educational partnership with professors. We are passionate about the work we do and will work tirelessly to help you achieve your goals with a public health degree.

Health Sciences students

Volunteering

The PH 321 Gardening and Community Health helped Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church put in drip irrigation for their Food Share garden, grown to donate to Helena Food Share to distribute in Helena. 

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Unlimited Possibilities

Why Health Sciences or Public Health at Carroll?

The Health Sciences Dept includes pre-professional training for a wide variety of healthcare fields that include physical therapist, occupational therapist, physician’s assistant, chiropractor, athletic trainer, health educator, healthcare manager, dietitian, environmental hygiene specialist, etc. These areas of study focus on treating and supporting patients beyond the scope of a doctor or nurse.

These programs give a great foundation if you're interested in a career that involves human health. Because of the multi-disciplinary nature of these programs, many of the courses fulfill the requirements for entry into competitive graduate and professional programs. Some of our grads apply and are accepted into these programs, while others seek work experience after graduation.

Your future in Health Sciences

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 1.8 million new jobs annual between 2022-2032 in healthcare occupations.    

A Carroll College degree in the health sciences opens the door to a range of career opportunities, including graduate or professional school, as well as positions in state or county health departments and laboratories.

Highlights

Sports Medicine Partnership

The Health Sciences program has partnered with the Carroll athletic trainers to offer three different opportunities for field experience within Sports Medicine.

Civic Engagement

HS/PH major Heidi Hohmann was awarded the George M. Dennison Civic Engagement Scholarship by the Montana Campus Compact for her tireless investment in community service through her work with Special Olympics, animal welfare, and children.

NASPA Presentation

This winter, five Carroll Health Sciences and Public Health students traveled to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to attend and present at the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) General Assembly. This is a conference of over 300 college students sharing ideas on how to make campuses healthier and more supportive for students.

Awards Galore

Health Sciences Departmental Award recognizes juniors and seniors majoring in Health Sciences or Public Health who have demonstrated excellent scholarship a Carroll and in their required major courses.

Through a curated blending of courses in natural science, mathematics, social science and philosophy, our health sciences majors will be ready to:

  • Pursue their chosen health profession after obtaining the specialized classroom and practical learning skills needed to better understand and advocate for healthier outcomes locally, nationally, and globally.
  • Demonstrate the relationship-building skills needed to successfully work among a diverse population from youth programs to eldercare while establishing credibility and trust with other health professionals, social workers, community groups, and lawmakers.
  • Master the communication of healthcare data and findings in an organized, clear, and compelling manner through a variety of media channels.

To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Public Health major, a student must earn a grade of “C-“ or better in all required courses. A lesser grade in any of these courses must be replaced before the Bachelor of Arts degree and a major in Public Health will be granted. In addition, lesser grades in any of these courses preclude taking subsequent courses for which the deficient courses are prerequisites.

Professional Educational Outcomes

The professional educational objectives of the public health degree program are to produce graduates who have:

  • The specialized knowledge, skills, and global perspective necessary to pursue a future in their chosen profession.
  • The practical experience needed to facilitate their entry into the health career of their choice.
  • The evidence-based perspectives necessary for today’s local, national, and global health challenges and solutions.

The Health Sciences major can be a great way to get the courses required by medical schools.  Many pre-med courses are part of the Health Sciences required curriculum:

  • General Biology (BI 121 + lab; BI 131 + lab)
  • General Chemistry (CH 101 + lab; CH 102 + lab)
  • Statistics (MA 207 or MA 315)
  • Psychology (PSY 105)

Other pre-med lab courses (Physics, Organic Chem, Biochem, and Genetics) meet required lab credits for the Health Sciences degree, or can be taken as electives.

In addition, Health Sciences students strengthen their medical school applications in unique ways by taking HS 230 Epidemiology, HS 303 Public Health Nutrition, HS 307 Evidence Based Research in Health Science, and PO 260 Health Politics and Policy. These courses give students a head start in understanding the issues that physicians deal with daily.  One student reported that the med school admissions committee smiled and said "enough!" when he was sharing ideas about how to improve the US health care system. 

Health Sciences majors can also easily add a Public Health minor or even double major, options that are not available at most undergraduate institutions. Public Health allows Pre-med students a chance to step back from a clinical perspective and gain a better understanding of the larger community issues that result in people needing health care in the first place.

When we award a financial aid package it is not just to get you here, it is a four-year commitment to see you graduate and succeed. Every year you will have the opportunity to meet with financial aid, renew your goals, explore opportunities for on-campus work, and make sure you are on track with any borrowing. Find out more

See the cost of attendance information for full-time students.

Students with different financial backgrounds choose to attend Carroll College every year. There are many ways to fund your college experience and invest in your education and future. Find out more

We are happy to answer any questions you may have! Request information or call us at (406) 447-4384.

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