Concentrations

In addition to the general bachelor's degree, we offer the following concentrations/track to help you maximize your education here at WMU.

Concentrations

In addition to the valuable general degree in Healthcare Services and Sciences, The School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs currently offers several concentrations in the HSS bachelor's degree program. Three of those concentrations are meant to prepare you for application to graduate programs in these areas. The fourth concentration (Clinical Practice in Health) may offer you up to 30 credits for your previous work experience in allied health jobs. All of the concentrations are designed to help you learn how to work effectively as a health professional. Learn more by clicking below.

• The Physician Assistant Preparation (PAPrep) Concentration: A preparatory program that prepares students to apply to Physician Assistant graduate programs including, but not limited to, WMU's PA program by including required prerequisites.
• The Blindness and Low Vision Studies Preparation (BLVSPrep) Concentration*: A preparatory program that prepares students to apply to two of WMU's Blindness and Low Vision Studies programs, Orientation and Mobility for Adults or Vision Rehabilitation, by including required prerequisites (these prerequisites are similar to other programs but not identical).
• The Occupational Therapy Preparation (OTPrep) Concentration: A preparatory program that prepares students to apply to Occupational Therapy graduate programs including, but not limited to, WMU's OT program by including required prerequisites.
• The Clinical Practice in Health Concentration: This option is specifically designed for those who have an associate degree in a clinical area and are licensed or certified in that discipline following a discipline approved licensing exam. You can earn up to 30 credits for your previous work experience.

*The Blindness and Low Vision Preparation Concentration can lead a student to an accelerated graduate program. This program is a collaboration between the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs and the Blindness and Low Vision Studies Department. Within this program, some courses are utilized for both a BS-HSS degree and a graduate degree. Students must be accepted into the accelerated degree program before taking the courses that apply to both degrees. Acceptance into this advanced program is not automatic and if students are not accepted into the graduate program as undergraduates they must meet with their advisor to pursue a minor in their junior year.

Career Pathways

• Courses related to Michigan Nursing Home Administrator licensing qualifications. Successful completion of these 9-credits help qualify the student to take the Michigan Nursing Home Administrator licensing exam. Required courses are GRN 1000 Introduction to Aging Studies; GRN 4000 Public Policy and Aging or HSV 4780 U.S. Health Policy and; HSV 4350 Post-Acute Care (Fall 2021). HSV 4350 is a new special topics course and examines the administrative management of services provided after hospitalization by skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, home health care, and long-term care hospitals.
• Program administrators and advisors will work with students to create curriculum plans for those who want to pursue other health careers such as physical therapy, medicine and dentistry. This plan will include courses required prior to applying to each graduate program. We support you in your path to contribute to the world of health care!