School of Health Science and Wellness

Chair: Rhonda Beemer

The School of Health Science and Wellness is comprised of seven primary discipline areas including: Applied Health Science, Foods and Nutrition, Health and Physical Education, Nursing, Public Health, Recreation, and Behavioral Sciences. All programs and courses are developed and delivered by fully qualified faculty and staff. Within each of these disciplines, multiple options, majors, emphasis areas, certifications, and minors exist.

Statement of Vision and Mission

Vision

The School of Health Science and Wellness will be the top choice for students seeking cutting edge educational opportunities in the pre-professional and professional fields in Health Science and Wellness

Mission

The mission of the School of Health Science and Wellness is to collaboratively educate diverse health and wellness professionals through excellence in student focused education and profession-based experiences centered on the science of lifespan health and active living.

Division of Health Sciences

Assistant Chair: TBD

Faculty: Kristina Adanin, Jessica Anderson, Michelle Bateman, Rhonda Beemer, Kelly Claycomb, Damon Leiss, Jodie Leiss, Terry Long, Joel McCormick, Gina McNeese, Susan Myllykangas, Kyle Ryan, Tanmay Sharma, Machelle Skinner, Cristina Suits, Kelli Wilmes

The vision of the Division of Health Science is “lifespan health and active living.” This vision is to be achieved through our mission, which is “to prepare and develop professionals to become leaders in the facilitation of healthy active lifestyles throughout society and across the lifespan”.

Nursing Completion Degree Program / 01

The curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing allows registered nurses to complete a B.S.N. degree. As a liberal arts degree, the program includes the Northwest Core and Institutional Requirements, as well as upper division nursing courses. Successful completion of the program results in the conferral of the B.S.N. degree. This program is online only.

Applied Health Science / 22

Advanced Standing Requirements: A student may apply for advanced standing after completing 40 semester hours. The 40 hours must be completed with a minimum grade point average. The student must also complete the following courses with grades of C or better and a minimum grade point average of 3.00: HPER 22220 Lifetimes Activities and Dance, 3 hours; HPER 22333 First Aid, CPR, and Care of Sports Injuries, 3 hours; HPER 22239 Foundations of Physical Education, 3 hours; and HPER 22254 Anatomy and Physiology, 3 hours. Please reference the Professional Education Handbook for minimum GPA requirements. To be in good standing (advanced standing), students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher within all major courses (Applied Health Science core and emphasis area) and must have a grade of C or better in all Applied Heath Science (core) courses. Students must petition the School Chair to gain permission to retake any Applied Health Science core class a third time.

Physical Education / 22

Professional Education Admission: Physical Education majors must also be admitted into the Professional Education Program. This process is initiated at the Teacher Education Student Service Office (TESS). Refer to current guidelines for admission requirements.

Physical Education Certification: Students desiring to be certified to teach in Missouri must complete the Physical Education major coursework and all professional education coursework as listed for the B.S. Education programs as required by the School of Education and the Professional Education Program.

To be certified to teach Physical education in Missouri requires pass the Missouri Content Assessment.

Physical Education Upper-level Gated Courses:

The Physical Education major must be admitted to the Professional Education Program before admittance into specified upper-level physical education courses. There may be additional gated courses in the Professional Education Program not specified in the physical education major. The following upper-level physical education courses are “closed” or “gated” courses. Majors must be admitted to the Professional Education Program before taking any of the following courses: HPER 22445 Literacy and Application in Physical Education; HPER 22512 Socio-Psychological Aspects of Human Performance; HPER 22523 Motor-Development; HPER 22537 Assessment in Physical Education; HPER 22580 Methods in Secondary Physical Education.

Recreation Programs / 45

Vision

• We make a difference locally, nationally, and internationally.
• We graduate students who are prepared and qualified to design, manage, and lead traditional recreation programs that are accessible to all peoples in both urban and rural areas.
• We prepare passionate students for the profession who can think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, lead with assurance, and contribute to the continuation of the field and their communities.
• We are a model of pedagogy for the School and University.
• We believe in the philosophy of holistic health through the provision of recreation. We will prepare our students to design, implement, manage, and evaluate programs and services in all recognized areas of the profession (i.e., cultural, aquatic, athletic, outdoor, commercial, public and private sector events and/or resource management, wellness, and therapeutic, with each age and/or need-based appropriate levels for groups or individuals throughout the lifespan–children, youth, adults, seniors).

Mission

The mission of the Recreation Program is the preparation of future Parks, Recreation and Leisure Service professionals. Professionals, who possess the knowledge, technical and human relations’ skills needed to facilitate lifelong learning in a world of change; to confront the challenges of tomorrow; and the ability to help others in the development and pursuit of productive and healthy leisure lifestyles.

Values

• TOLERANCE for diverse peoples and situations.
• QUALITY OF LIFE by taking responsibility for our own health and promoting positive healthy behaviors to others.
• EXCELLENCE through our efforts to do the best quality work at all times.
• STEWARDSHIP through responsible social and environmental actions.
• ADVOCACY for access to services for everyone who wishes to participate.
• CARING for each other; both personally and professionally.
• HONESTY with each other to work together for the betterment of the program and success of our students.
• RESPECT for the historic foundations of the profession.
• EXPERIENCE for our students and selves through hands-on applications, coursework, and projects.

Advanced Standing Requirement: Recreation

To be in good standing (advanced standing), students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25 or higher within all major courses (recreation core and emphasis area) and must have a grade of C or better in all recreation (core) courses. Students must petition the School Chairperson to gain permission to retake any recreation core class a third time.

Foods and Nutrition Program / 47

In accordance with the vision and mission of Northwest Missouri State University, the philosophy of the Foods and Nutrition program is to provide quality education experiences, which are student-centered, and maintain commitment to continuous improvement. The mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics is to instill in dietetics graduates a desire to be lifelong learners, leaders, to prepare them for dietetics internships and to deliver food and nutrition services throughout society and across the lifespan to sustain or enhance their quality of life.

Requirement

Entrance into the Didactic program in Dietetics requires completion of an application. Contact Program Director for more information.

School Subject Areas 

Nursing / 01, Health and Physical Education / 22,  Recreation / 45, Foods and Nutrition / 47,  Public Health / 59

Division of Behavioral Sciences

Assistant Chair: Chase O’Gwin

Faculty: Amy Barton, Keely Cline, Elizabeth Dimmitt, Alisha Francis, Giselle Greenidge, Sarah Hayes, Shelly Hiatt, Amy Hillard, Cris Jacobson, Jackie Kibler, Lauren Leach-Steffens, Jason McCain, Chase O’Gwin, Kyoung-Ho Shin, Rebecca Tachie, Jacob Tengelsen, Michele Veasey

Mission

The Division of Behavioral Sciences focuses on Student Success in Career, Academics and Personal Development.

Vision

We will facilitate comprehensive professional student-centered and challenging learning within the university environment.

Values

The Division of Behavioral Sciences values:

• Critical thinking and scientific mentality
• Professionalism and professional ethics
• Student organizations and student research
• Personal responsibility
• Collegiality and professional networks

Degree Programs

This division’s majors cultivate essential skills in research, writing, problem-solving, and higher-order thinking, and evaluation of information.  Graduates from our Psychology, Human Services, Sociology, and Biology/Psychology programs embark on diverse career paths in fields such as administrative support, public affairs, education, business, sales, helping professions, service industries, health, the biological sciences, and computer programming.  Many alumni find roles as employment counselors, corrections counselor trainees, interviewers, personnel analysts, probation officers, and writers.  Furthermore, a significant number of our majors pursue advanced training in graduate school at both the master’s and doctoral levels, in fields such as Counseling, MBA, Art Therapy, School Counseling, Neuropsychology, Medicine, and Clinical Psychology.

School Subject Areas

Psychology / 08, Sociology / 35

Programs

• Applied Health Science Major, 60-70 hours: B.S.-No Minor Required
• Biology/Psychology Comprehensive Major (PSYC), 86-93 hours: B.S.-No Minor Required
• Foods and Nutrition Comprehensive Major; 74 hours: B.S.-No Minor Required
• Human Services Major, 45 hours: B.S.-Minor Required
• Physical Education Major, 45 hours: B.S.Ed. (Certifies Grades K-12)
• Psychology Major, 45 hours: B.A.-Minor Required
• Psychology Major, 45 hours: B.S.-Minor Required
• Public Health Major, 63-67 hours: B.S.-No Minor Required
• Recreation, Parks, Sport, and Tourism Major, 69-77 hours: B.S.-No Minor Required
• Sociology Major, 42 hours: B.S.-Minor Required

• Adapted and Recreational Gardening Minor (REC), 24-25 hours
• Child and Family Studies Minor, 24 hours
• Coaching Minor, 24 hours
• Food Service Minor, 25 hours: B.S.
• Health & Information Systems Minor (HPER), 24 hours
• Health Communication Minor (HPER), 24 hours
• Health Education Minor, 30 hours: B.S.Ed., Secondary Program (Certifies Grades 9-12)
• Interdisciplinary Minor in Aging Studies, 24 hours
• Nutrition Minor, 23-24 hours: B.S.
• Psychology Minor, 24 hours
• Recreation Minor, 24 hours
• Sociology Minor, 24 hours
• Sport Management Interdisciplinary Minor (REC), 24 hours
• Sport Psychology Interdisciplinary Minor, 24 hours
• Therapeutic Recreation Minor, 33 hours
• Trauma-Informed Studies Minor, 18 hours

• Adapted and Recreational Gardening Certificate, 16 hours

• Nursing Completion Degree Program, 73 hours: B.S.N.-No Minor Required

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program