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 behavior
The College of General Studies (CGS) and the College of Business Administration (CBA) have partnered to offer a Business-Health Services double degree program designed for students who are interested in the intersection of health care management and business administration.
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.
Flexible Format
Many CGS programs offer a blend of face-to-face and flexible online class formats, all designed to meet our students' needs and schedule constraints.
Online courses are marked with (Web) or (Hybrid). Courses offered in both face-to-face and online formats are marked with (F2F and Web) or (F2F and Hybrid). Courses with no indicator are offered face-to-face only.
Visit CGS Courses to learn more about our flexible offerings and how to search for classes in the course catalog.
Prerequisites
This major has a computer competency requirement. Choose one of the following courses to fulfill 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 (Web) | 3 |
Core Courses: (15 credits)
All five courses are required.
| Catalog Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMMRC 1730 | Special Topics: Health Communication* (F2F and Web) (PREQ:COMMRC 0300) | 3 |
| HRS 1017 | Introduction to Epidemiology (F2F and Hybrid) | 3 |
| NUR 1829 | Contemporary Issues in Cross-cultural Health Care (Web) | 3 |
| PUBSRV 1305 | Health, Law, and Ethics (Web) | 3 |
| SOC 0477 | Medical Sociology (F2F and Web) | 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.
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 (PREQ:COMMRC 0300) (F2F and Web)
or Organizational Psychology (PREQ:PSY 0010 and 0035) and (STAT 0200 or 1000)
|
3 |
| PUBSRV 1315 | Managing Projects and Contracts | 3 |
* If two organizational courses are taken, one will count as an MHSPP elective.
Electives: (12 Credits)
Choose four courses from the list of approved electives.
| 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 |
| CGS 1900 or PUBSRV 1900 | Internship Seminar (Web) or (Hybrid) | 3 |
| COMMRC 1106 | Small Group Communication (PREQ:COMMRC 0300) (F2F and Web) | 3 |
| ECON 0220 | Introduction to Health Economics | 3 |
| ENGCMP 1400 | Grant Writing for Nonprofits (PREQ:ENGCMP 0200 or ENGFLM 0210) (F2F and Web) | 3 |
| HIM 1455/1465 | Quality Management and Lab (CREQ: HIM 1456) | 3 |
| HIST 0709 | History of Global Health | 3 |
| HIST 1090 | History of Medicine and Health Care (F2F and Web) | 3 |
| HIST 1706 | Drugs in Global History (F2F and Web, available as of Summer 2021) | 3 |
| HPS 0612 | Mind and Medicine | 3 |
| HRS 1006 | Introduction to Human Nutrition (Web) | 3 |
| NROSCI 0081 | Drugs and Behavior (F2F and Web) | 3 |
| PHIL 1360 | Biomedical Ethics | 3 |
| PSY 1210 | Intro to Clinical Psychology (PREQ: PSY 0010 and PSY 0205) (F2F and Web) | 3 |
| PUBSRV 1110 | Financial Management in the Public Sector | 3 |
| PUBSRV 1120 | Human Resources Management in the Public Sector | 3 |
| SOC 0473 | Sociology of Globalization and Health | 3 |
Community Health Assessment
Required Courses: (6 Credits)
Choose two of the following:
| Catalog Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 1765 | Risk Factors and Health (Web) | 3 |
| PUBSRV 1310 | Diversity Issues in Public Service | 3 |
| SOC 1450 | Health and Illness | 3 |
Electives: (12 Credits)
Choose four courses from the list of approved electives.
| Catalog Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFRCNA 1710 | African American Health Issues | 3 |
| ANTH 1722 | Culture and Politics of Mental Health | 3 |
| ANTH 1726 | Global Pharmaceuticals | 3 |
| ANTH 1727 | Health and Environment in Pittsburgh | 3 |
| CGS 1900 or PUBSRV 1900 | Internship Seminar (Web) or (Hybrid) | 3 |
| COMMRC 0530 | Interpersonal Communication (F2F and Web) | 3 |
| ECON 0220 | Introduction to Health Economics | 3 |
| HIST 0709 | History of Global Health | 3 |
| HIST 1090 | History of Medicine and Health Care (F2F and Web) | 3 |
| HIST 1706 | Drugs in Global History (F2F and Web) | 3 |
| HPS 0613 | Morality and Medicine | 3 |
| HRS 1006 | Introduction to Human Nutrition (Web) | 3 |
| NROSCI 0081 | Drugs and Behavior (F2F and Web) | 3 |
| NUR 1634 | International Health Care Field Study | 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 (F2F and Hybrid, available as of Fall 2021) | 3 |
| PSY 1210 | Intro to Clinical Psychology (PREQ: PSY 0010 and PSY 0205) (F2F and Web) | 3 |
| PSY 1215 | Health Psychology (PREQ: PSY 0010 and PSY 0035 and PSY 0105) (F2F and Web) | 3 |
| PSY 1230 | Psychology of Death and Dying (PREQ: PSY 0010 and PSY 0205) | 3 |
| PSY 1235 | Alcohol Use and Abuse (PREQ: PSY 0010 and PSY 0035 and PSY 0105 and PSY 0205) | 3 |
| PSY 1635 | Organizational Psychology (PREQ: PSY 0010 and PSY 0035 and PSY 0201 or STAT 0200 or 1000) | 3 |
| REHSCI 1018 | Survey of Health and Rehabilitation Professions | 2 |
| REHSCI 1290 | Practical Issues in Disability | 3 |
| SOC 0473 | Sociology of Globalization and Health | 3 |
Requirements are subject to change. Check with an academic advisor before registering.