Beaver College of Health Sciences

Susan Roggenkamp, Interim Dean
Denise L. Levy, Associate Dean
Gary H. McCullough, Associate Dean

www.healthsciences.appstate.edu

The mission of the Beaver College of Health Sciences is to provide transformative education, conduct collaborative research that advances knowledge and practice in our disciplines, and engage in community service that enhances health and quality of life in our region. To accomplish our mission, the Beaver College of Health Sciences blends diverse health-related disciplines that are committed to:

Meeting the existing and future health-related workforce needs in our region
Improving organizations and systems of health and human services throughout NC
Advancing applied knowledge and practice through research and scholarly activity
Engaging in partnerships with health and human services agencies and organizations
Providing socially responsive clinical and community outreach in Northwestern NC
Implementing collaborative & transformative models of education, research & service

The vision of the Beaver College of Health Sciences is to become the preeminent and most comprehensive academic center for health professions in western North Carolina. We will be recognized nationally for our innovation and collaboration in education, scholarship and service that produces high quality graduates, attracts superior faculty and staff, and transforms health and quality of life for the communities we serve.

Departments

The Beaver College of Health Sciences consists of the following academic units:

Communication Sciences and Disorders
Health and Exercise Science
Nursing
Nutrition and Health Care Management
Recreation Management and Physical Education
Social Work

Degrees Offered

The Beaver College of Health Sciences offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Science (without teacher licensure), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). In cooperation with the Reich College of Education, the Beaver College of Health Sciences also offers the Bachelor of Science degree with teacher licensure in Health and Physical Education (K-12).

Admission to the Beaver College of Health Sciences

To be admitted to the Beaver College of Health Sciences, a student must meet the following requirements to offically declare a major:

Completion of at least 30 semester hours
A grade-point average of at least 2.0 (a GPA of 2.5, with 12 semester hours at Appalachian State University, is required to declare a major in Athletic Training, Exercise Science, and Public Health)
Credit for RC 1000 or an equivalent course and credit for or current enrollment in UCO 1200 or an equivalent course
Admission to one of the majors offered in the College, which may include additional requirements. Please see the description of admission requirements in the section for the specific department housing the major. Please see the departmental sections for additional information about requirements for retention in the major.

Some degree programs in the Beaver College of Health Sciences are competitive with limited numbers of slots available. Students should carefully review the description in the department of their intended program of study for individual major admission requirements.

Changing Majors/Minors

Students who wish to change, add, or delete a major, minor, or certificate program from the official record should complete a Request for Change form from the college of the program to be changed. This form allows students to change majors, minors, or certificates; add additional majors, minors, or certificates; and delete majors, minors, or certificates. The Beaver College of Health Sciences has made this form available online for current and prospective BCHS students early in their studies and consult the appropriate program of study.

Basic Requirements for a Degree

NOTE: Although the requirements for most degree programs at Appalachian can be met within the minimum of 122 semester hours, the student should be aware that certain programs of study require additional hours. Students are advised to check with the department of their intended major early in their studies. Meeting graduation requirements is the student’s responsibility.

Bachelor of Science (without teacher licensure)

To earn the Bachelor of Science degree in the Beaver College of Health Sciences, a student must meet the following requirements:

Completion of at least 122 semester hours with a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0* and a major grade-point average of 2.0. (*Athletic Training requires a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 and a major grade-point average of 2.0.; Public Health requires a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5)
Completion of the general education requirements
Completion of the major requirements from one of the following majors:
Athletic Training (See the Department of Health and Exercise Science .)
Communication Sciences and Disorders (See the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders .)
Exercise Science (See the Department of Health and Exercise Science .)
Health Care Management (See the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management .)
Nutrition and Foods (See the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management .)
Public Health (See the Department of Health and Exercise Science .)
Recreation Management (See the Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education .)
Electives to complete at least 122* semester hours. A minimum of two semester hours of electives must be outside the major discipline. [*The following degrees require more than 122 semester hours for graduation: Athletic Training (123 hours), Health Care Management (124 hours), and Nutrition and Foods (122 hours or 124 hours).]
Completion of residency requirements
Compliance with regulations concerning the settlement of all expense accounts

Meeting graduation requirements is the responsibility of the student.

Bachelor of Science (with teacher licensure)

Refer to the Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education for the Bachelor of Science degree with teacher licensure in Health and Physical Education, K-12 (125 semester hours).

Meeting graduation requirements is the responsibility of the student.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

To earn the Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Beaver College of Health Sciences, the student must meet the following requirements:

Completion of at least 128 semester hours (124 for the RN to BSN program) with a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 and a minimum major grad-point average of 2.5
Completion of general education requirements (or the RN to BSN required core)
Completion of major requirements for the Nursing major (See the Department of Nursing.)
Students must earn at least a 2.0 (“C”) grade in EACH required course in the major
Electives to complete 128 semester hours (124 for the RN to BSN program). A minimum of two semester hours of electives must be outside the major discipline.
Completion of residency requirements for prelicensure students
Compliance with regulations concerning the settlement of all expense accounts

Meeting graduation requirements is the responsibility of the student.

Bachelor of Social Work

To earn the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) in the Beaver College of Health Sciences, the student must meet the following requirements:

Completion of a minimum of 122 semester hours with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.5 and a major grade-point average of at least 2.5
Completion of general education requirements
Completion of major requirements for the social work major (See the Department of Social Work.)
Students must earn at least a 2.0 (“C”) grade in EACH required course in the major
Electives to complete 122 semester hours. A minimum of two semester hours of electives must be outside the major discipline.
Completion of residency requirements
Compliance with regulations concerning the settlement of all expense accounts

Meeting graduation requirements is the responsibility of the student.

Academic Advising

Academic advising for students in the Beaver College of Health Sciences is provided by the Office of Advising and Academic Support, housed in 102 Edwin Duncan Hall. These trained professionals are available to consult with students regarding questions related to academic programs of study or other concerns affecting academic success. Academic advisors partner with departmental faculty, who work as mentors, to create an advising team which serves as a strong resource for students. Students are encouraged to meet with advisors and faculty mentors regularly and consistently throughout their academic career.

Students pursuing a major in another degree granting college who want to change/add a health sciences major will be required to meet with one of our advisors to develop an academic plan. Declared health science majors who want to change/add/delete any major, minor or certificate should visit our office to begin this process.

Advising and Academic Support also works to develop, enhance, and implement supportive academic services to undergraduate Health Sciences majors. Undeclared students and students in other major programs are also provided with academic services related to classes offered within the college. Students should become familiar with the services provided by the office.

In addition to advising services, the Office of Advising & Academic Support in the Beaver College of Health Sciences certifies students for graduation; provides academic audits; assists students with special course approval, dropping and adding classes, overload requests; official additions of minors and majors; and responds to inquiries regarding academic policy.

Through Health Professions Advising, the Beaver College of Health Sciences also serves as a resource to students who wish to explore careers in health professions. Undeclared students may avail themselves of many services including graduate school pre-requisite checks and development of competitive applications. Health Professions advising is available to all students, regardless of undergraduate major.

Although academic advising is provided for all students, the final responsibility for meeting requirements for graduation remains with the student. The Office of Advising and Academic Support automatically sends an audit to students upon eligibility to apply or application for graduation (whichever occurs first) and encourages students to review this document thoroughly.

Grade-Point Average Requirements for Graduation

To graduate, a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 is required (except for teacher licensure, athletic training, public health, social work, and nursing programs, which require 2.5). A minimum grade-point average of 2.0 is also required in the major (2.5 for nursing and social work). Included in the calculation of the major grade-point average are all courses taken in the major department, all courses in the approved program of study/contract/concentration, and all required general education courses. Additional course-level minimum requirements will be listed on programs of study. Teacher licensure programs require a minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA from admission into the teacher education program until graduation, including for admission to student teaching.

Internship and Practicum Programs

The internships and practicums offered in the Beaver College of Health Sciences provide students with opportunities to:

Learn outside of the regular classroom and gain on-the job experience;
Experience professional practice required for licensure or certification, while earning academic credit toward their degrees; and,
Develop personal professional contacts with potential employers.

In the internship or practicum, students work in an appropriate organization related to their course of study. Professionals in the sponsoring organization, in close cooperation with faculty in the student’s major department, provide internship instruction. The student’s career interests should be considered when the student makes choices regarding their internship placement. In many majors in the Beaver College of Health Sciences, an internship, practicum, clinical training or field experience is required in the program of study. If not required, the internship or practicum may be available as an elective. Students seeking further information should contact their major advisor or their departmental chair.

Scholarships

The Beaver College of Health Sciences offers scholarships to incoming freshmen who intend to major in one of the degree programs of the College. These scholarships are awarded based on the student’s SAT, high school performance and leadership, and potential for a career in the health sciences. Additional scholarships are available to upper-division students who have declared one of the majors in the College. These scholarships are awarded by the department in which the scholarship is established based on specific criteria as designated by the scholarship donor or the department. Students receiving scholarships in the Beaver College of Health Sciences must be in good academic standing and make acceptable progress toward completing a degree in the College.

For more information, visit the Beaver College of Health Sciences Scholarship Website at www.healthsciences.appstate.edu/student-services/scholarships, or contact the Dean’s Office, Beaver College of Health Sciences, ASU Box 32170, Boone, North Carolina, 28608.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC Institute for Health and Human Services

Gary H. McCullough, Director

www.ihhs.appstate.edu

The purpose of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Institute for Health and Human Services, within the Beaver College of Health Sciences, is to provide multidisciplinary research opportunities, clinical services, and training programs related to public health. Meeting the needs of students, faculty and the regional community, the Institute strives to create and disseminate knowledge through pragmatic research and complimentary experiential learning opportunities with the overarching goal of improving lives through transformative heathcare advances.

Courses

College of Health Sciences

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