ASU's Polytechnic campus to Offer New Human Health Degrees in the Fall

March 27, 2002

A new degree program focusing on the critical study of the multiple dimensions of health, and alternative approaches to health maintenance and health care will be offered at Arizona State University's Polytechnic campus beginning in the fall.<separator></separator> The bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degrees in Human Health Studies will examine not only the biological aspects of health care and health maintenance, but also social, psychological, spiritual and economic aspects, said David Schwalm, ASU's Polytechnic campus vice provost and dean of School of Applied Arts & Sciences.<separator></separator> The degree program was approved by the Arizona Board of Regents at its March 21 meeting in Yuma.<separator></separator> "Public attitudes toward health and health care are changing. In times of change, it is especially important for higher education to examine closely what is going on in the culture at large," said Schwalm. "This program will help to link faculty approaching health issues from different perspectives, and it will prepare students who are more able to make critical judgments about health care and health maintenance as consumers and citizens.<separator></separator>"This is not a practitioner degree," said Schwalm. "It is designed to help students develop a critical understanding of the changing attitudes toward human health and the different modalities of health maintenance and health care.<separator></separator> The interdisciplinary program will rely on existing ASU's Polytechnic campus and ASU Main programs. In particular, it will join a cluster of health programs at ASU's Polytechnic campus that includes the Nutrition and Exercise & Wellness degrees.<separator></separator>The B.A. in Human Health will be a degree for those with a general interest in health issues, while the B.S. in Human Health will be a pre-med degree that will lead to further study in the fields of health care.<separator></separator>Students interested in enrolling in the program should contact William Mermis, Ph.D., head of the Human Health faculty, at 480-727-1092.