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2019-2020 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Health Professions

Director: Green. Faculty: Brew, Wambach, Ritch.

For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to your college's section in this catalog. Note: The Health Professions Degree is undergoing significant curriculum revisions. Please check with the program director for current requirements.

Degree Offered:

The B.S. in Health Professions degree is best suited for students interested in pursuing work in the allied health field at the undergraduate level or a graduate degree in a particular health profession. The B.S. in Health Professions degree serves two principle functions: To prepare students for general entry level positions in the allied health field and to prepare students for entry into graduate level degree programs such as: Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, and Occupational Therapies. Should a student decide not to directly advance to a graduate level education in the health professions or should a student not be accepted into a desired graduate level program, the student will still have an appropriate foundation and background for employment in the health care arena.

This degree can prepare students for employment opportunities in areas such as: health care informatics, medical interpretation, community mental health, and entry level positions in health care and extended care management.

Grand Valley State University is ideally suited to educate a wide variety of health care professionals. The university's geographic location, access to high-quality clinical environments, strong relationships with the regional medical education community and network, excellent faculty, supportive administration, experience in the education of health care professionals, and a growing student population all combine to form an ideal environment for the development of new health care profession educational programs.

Health Professions Degree Goals:

  • Prepare students with an educational foundation to succeed in the allied health professions.
  • Instill in students the generic abilities required for professional conduct.
  • Instill in students the critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary to be effective in providing interventions and services.
  • Instill in students the understanding of the role of research and scientific inquiry as applied to the practice, education, and leadership of their chosen profession.

Career Opportunities

The demand for many health care professions exceeds the supply. With the aging of the American population a boom in health care employment is expected. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that at least half of the 10 fastest growing occupations will be in health care fields. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects tens of thousands of new jobs for hospital workers. In addition, as the health care system continues its extraordinary state of transition, many new employment opportunities will occur in areas outside the realm of traditional hospitals.

Program Requirements

The following programs are available:


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