“The healthcare and social assistance industry is projected to create about 28% of all new jobs created in the U.S. economy by 2020. This industry—which includes public and private hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, and individual and family services—is expected to grow by 33% , or 5.7 million new jobs.”
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The health services major is an interdisciplinary course of study designed to prepare students to work in health care. The program analyzes the structure of the health care industry; identifies cultural, legal, and environmental factors that impact health; and provides students with communication and management skills.
Students choose one of two fields:
- Managing Health Services Programs and Projects—gives students key administrative and business skills, with an emphasis on grant and research project management
- Community Health Assessment—provides skills to assess the physical, social, and environmental factors influencing health behaviors
Requirements
A minimum total of 120 credits is required for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in health services. Of this total, the major consists of three credits of prerequisite course work and 33 credits of core and specialization courses. See our General Education program page for the remaining degree requirements.
Prerequisites and Courses
Prerequisites
This major has a computer competency requirement. Choose one of the following courses to fullfill the prerequisite coursework:
| Catalog Number | Title | Credits |
| CS 0004 | Introduction to Computer Programming-Basic | 3 |
| CS 0007 | Introduction to Computer Programming | 3 |
| CS 0008 | Introduction to Computer Programming with Python | 3 |
| INFSCI 0010 | Introduction to Information, Systems, and Society | 3 |
| PUBSRV 0040 | Public Service Technologies | 3 |
Core Courses: (15 credits)
| Catalog Number | Title | Credits |
| NUR 1829 | Contemporary Issues in Cross-cultural Health Care | 3 |
| HRS 1017 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 3 |
| COMMRC 1730 | Special Topics: Health Communication | 3 |
| SOC 0477 | Medical Sociology | 3 |
| PUBSRV 1305 | Health, Law, and Ethics | 3 |
Specialization Fields: (18 credits)
Students take a total of two required courses and four elective courses. Check with an academic advisor for course availability and additional elective options.
1. Managing Health Services Programs and Projects
Required Courses: (6 Credits)
Choose two of the following:
| Catalog Number | Title | Credits |
| BUSERV 1915 | Introduction to Management | 3 |
| *HRS 1009 or BUSORG 1020 or COMMRC 1102 or PSY 1635 | Organizational Theory and Behavior or Organizational Behavior or Organizational Communication or Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| PUBSRV 1315 | Managing Projects and Contracts | 3 |
* If two organizational courses are taken, one will count as an MHSPP elective.
Electives: (12 Credits)
| Catalog Number | Title | Credits |
| AFRCNA 1710 | African American Health Issues | 3 |
| ANTH 1722 | Culture and Politics of Mental Health | 3 |
| ANTH 1726 | Global Pharmaceuticals (effective Fall 2019) | 3 |
| ANTH 1761 | Patients and Healers | 3 |
| COMMRC 1106 | Small Group Communication | 3 |
| ECON 0220 | Introduction to Health Economics | 3 |
| ENGCMP 1400 | Grant Writing | 3 |
| HIM 1455/1465 | Quality Management and Lab | 3 |
| HIST 0709 | History of Global Health | 3 |
| HIST 1090 | History of Medicine and Health Care | 3 |
| HIST 1706 | Global Pharmaceuticals (Drugs in Global History, effective Fall 2019) | 3 |
| HPS 0612 | Mind and Medicine | 3 |
| HRS 1006 | Introduction to Human Nutrition I | 3 |
| NROSCI 0081 | Drugs and Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 1210 | Intro to Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| PUBSRV 1110 | Financial Management in the Public Sector | 3 |
| PUBSRV 1120 | Human Resources Management in the Public Sector | 3 |
| PHIL 1360 | Biomedical Ethics | 3 |
| SOC 0473 | Sociology of Globalization and Health | 3 |
2. Community Health Assessment
Required Courses: (6 Credits)
Choose two of the following:
| Catalog Number | Title | Credits |
| NUR 1765 | Risk Factors and Health | 3 |
| SOC 1450 | Health and Illness | 3 |
| PUBSRV 1310 | Diversity Issues in Public Service | 3 |
Electives: (12 Credits)
| Catalog Number | Title | Credits |
| AFRCNA 1710 | African American Health Issues | 3 |
| ANTH 1722 | Culture and Politics of Mental Health | 3 |
| ANTH 1727 | Health and Environment in Pittsburgh | 3 |
| ANTH 1726 | Global Pharmaceuticals (effective Fall 2019) | 3 |
| COMMRC 0530 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| ECON 0220 | Introduction to Health Economics | 3 |
| HIST 0709 | History of Global Health | 3 |
| HIST 1090 | History of Medicine and Health Care | 3 |
| HIST 1706 | Global Pharmaceuticals (Drugs in Global History, effective Fall 2019) | 3 |
| HPS 0613 | Morality and Medicine | 3 |
| REHSCI 1018 | Survey of Health and Rehabilitation Professions | 3 |
| NROSCI 0081 | Drugs and Behavior | 3 |
| NUR 1634 | International Health Care Field Study | 3 |
| HRS 1006 | Introduction to Human Nutrition 1 | 3 |
| PUBHLT 1001 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| PUBHLT 1002 | Special Topics in Global Health | 3 |
| PUBSRV 1100 | Practices in Public Administration | 3 |
| PUBSRV 1200 | Practices of Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| PSY 1210 | Intro to Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 1215 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 1230 | Psychology of Death and Dying | 3 |
| PSY 1235 | Alcohol Use and Abuse | 3 |
| PSY 1635 | Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| REHSCI 1290 | Practical Issues in Disability | 3 |
| SOC 0473 | Sociology of Globalization and Health | 3 |
Please Note: Requirements are subject to change. Check with an academic advisor before registering.