Health Studies elective interest areas
Health Studies students are required to complete health electives within the major, which are approved by Health Studies faculty each year. The approved electives are categorized into four interest areas: 1) Health & Life Sciences, 2) Community Health Interventions & Practice, 3) Health & Society, and 4) Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics.
Each area contains a curated list of courses that may aid in your career development and pathways in health. Students are not required to take courses within a specific interest area; the interest areas below should be used as a guide for your elective selection. Please note that the career pathways listed below are meant to be an example of how elective courses may aid students in their professional development; there may be overlap present in both the coursework and pathways.
Please direct any questions that you may have about interest areas and elective courses to your Health Studies advisor.
Check out the Winter 2023 Course Information Spreadsheet and Spring 2023 Course Information Spreadsheet for details on quarter specific electives.
Health & life sciences
Curated for students with a particular interest in the intersection of health and natural/physical sciences, and students who are seeking to fill common prerequisite courses for advanced study in the health sciences (such as biology and chemistry; or schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing, public health, etc.). If you are considering applying to a pre-professional health program after graduation, we encourage you to meet with your Health Studies advisor and the UWB Pre-Health advisor to discuss your elective selection.
The following are examples of career pathways which may be held by those interested in Health & Life Sciences:
- Medicine and Allied Health Professions: Medicine, Dentistry, Physician’s Assistant, Pharmacy, Nursing, Midwifery, and Physical Therapy.
- Infectious Disease: Epidemiologist, Infectious Disease Researcher, Pandemic Response, Contact Tracing, Medical Officer, Public Health Nurse, Public Health Veterinarian, Public Health Advisor, Vaccine Researcher, Disease Ecologist, and Infection Preventionist.
- Maternal & Child Health: Doula, Home Health Nurse, WIC Nutritionist, and Lactation Consultant.
- Chronic Disease & Cancer: Medical Epidemiologist, Cancer Biologist, Hospice Care, Tobacco Quitline Coach, Behavioral Scientist, Study Coordinator, and Chronic and Infectious Disease Specialist.
- Public Safety: Injury Prevention Specialist, Gun Safety Specialist, Forensic Nurse, Director of Emergency Medical Services, Specialist in Poison Information, Forensic Pathologist, Health & Safety Specialist, Emergency Preparedness Specialist, Disaster Preparedness Researcher, and Biodefense Researcher.
- Environmental Health: Toxicologist, Poison Prevention Specialist, Environmental Engineer, Hazardous Waste Inspector, Hydrologist, Environmental Health Nurse, and Health Physicist.
- Occupational Health: Occupational Medicine Physician, Employee Health Nurse, and Industrial Hygienist.
- Food Safety & Nutrition: Nutrition Consultant, Food Service Sanitation, Food Inspector, Consumer Safety Officer, and Food Scientist
- Pharmaceuticals & Drug Safety: Pharmacist, Medical Officer for Drug Evaluation & Safety, Biostatician, and Regulatory Affairs Specialist.
- Laboratory and Health Monitoring Professions: Biotechnology, Medical Education, Public Health Geneticist, Implementation Scientist, Nanotechnology Researcher, Health Researcher, and Medical Writer.
Community health interventions & practice
Curated for students interested in aspects of community and population level health intervention and practice, such as health communication, health promotion, healthcare services and utilization, and community-based partnership for research and practice.
The following are examples of career pathways which may be held by those interested in Community Health:
- Health Education & Communication: Health Educator / Health Education Specialist, Health Communications Director, Peer Health Educator, Health Promotion Coordinator, Sex Health Educator, Public Health Nutrition Specialist
- Community Organizing and Care: Community Health Worker, Program Director (non-profit; county, state, national, global), Social Worker, Health Outreach Assistant, Counselor, Health Care Outreach Specialist, Patient Navigator, and Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist
- Evaluation & Quality: Program Evaluator, Quality Improvement Specialist, Outcomes Researcher, Informatics Specialist, and Patient Safety Specialist
- Other: Health Coach, Dance Instructor, Urban Planner, Chef, Art / Music Therapy, and Worksite Wellness Manager
Health & society
Curated for students interested in how societal, cultural, and systems-level factors influence health. Topics explored include social determinants of health, culture of health and illness, public health history, and socio-behavioral sciences.
The following are examples of career pathways which may be held by those interested in Health & Society:
- Education: Health Educator / Health Education Specialist, Health Teacher, Continuing Education Coordinator, Education Consultant, and Professor or Dean within a University
- Health Disparities: Officer of Minority Health, Patient Navigator, Correctional Medicine Physician, Disease Prevention Activist, and Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist
- Mental Health: Mental Health Researcher, Public Health Social Worker, Case Manager, Coordinator, Behavioral Health Programs, Counselor, Health Psychology / Community Psychology
- Nonprofit Services or Government Organizations: Grant Writer, Developing Director, Program Officer / Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Director of a Professional Organization
- Health Communication: Health Journalist, Public Information Specialist, Health Communications Director, Social Marketer, Medical Illustrator, and Medical Writer
- Military: Air Force Public Health Officer, Army Preventative Medical Officer, Army Health Promotion Officer
- Other: Medical Sociology and Anthropology, Victim Advocate, Social Epidemiologist, and Health Researcher, Health Research Coordinator
Health policy, leadership, & ethics
Curated for students interested in health policy and management within health systems, health justice, leadership in health sector roles, and ethics issues in clinical and population contexts.
The following are examples of career pathways for those interested in Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics:
- Public Health Law, Regulations, & Policy: Advocacy Director, Policy Analyst, Health Legislative Assistant, Health Economist, Public Health Lawyer, Health Policy Coordinator, Administrative Law Judge, Global Health Lawyer, Consumer Advocate, and Public Health Lobbyist.
- Health Management & Administration: Health Care Administrator, Public & Global Health Services Manager, Hospital Administrator, Health Department Administrator, Administrative Assistant, Program Coordinator, Health Commissioner, Medical Director, Federal Agency Director, and Non-profit Director/Executive
- Other: Community Organizer, Community Activist, Medical Ethicist
Approved elective list
School of Nursing & Health Studies
| Course |
Interest Area |
| BHLTH 179 (Interpersonal Communication) |
|
| BHLTH 196 (Preparing to Work in Partnership with Communities) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
- Health & Society
|
| BHLTH 197 (Preparatory Topics in Health) |
|
| BHLTH 198 (Intro to Physical Activity, Nutrition, & Health) |
|
| BHLTH 199 (Understanding Global Health Through Film) |
|
| BHLTH 200 (Lifespan Development) |
|
| BHLTH 201 (Intro to Global Health) |
|
| BHLTH 216 (Culture & Religions Influence on Food Choices) |
|
| BHLTH 217 (Nutrition and the Older Adult) |
|
| BHLTH 218 (Nutritional Science) |
|
| BHLTH 219 (Lifespan Nutrition) |
|
| BHLTH 220 (Community Nutrition) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
|
| BHLTH 221 (Dimensions of Personal Health & Wellness) |
|
| BHLTH 222 (Latina/o Health & Culture) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
- Health & Society
|
| BHLTH 223 (Feminist Approaches to Women’s Health) |
|
| BHLTH 224 (Disease, Human History, Society, & Civilization) |
- Health & Life Sciences
- Health & Society
|
|
BHLTH 225 (Intro to Cancer Biology)
(duplicate course to B BIO 233)
|
|
| BHLTH 226 (Race, Socioeconomic Status, & Health) |
|
| BHLTH 227 (Migration & Population Health) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BHLTH 228 (Infectious Disease Detectives) |
|
| BHLTH 229 (Quarantine & Isolation) |
|
| BHLTH 297 (Selected Introductory Topics in Health) |
|
| BHLTH 301 (Global Health Practice) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
|
| BHLTH 320 (Human Health & the Environment) |
|
| BHLTH 397 (Current Health Topics) |
|
| BHLTH 402 (Microbiology, Disease, & Global Health) |
|
| BHLTH 405 (Race, Power, & Food) |
|
| BHLTH 406 (Infectious Disease & Art) |
|
| BHLTH 410 (Genetics & Public Health) |
|
| BHLTH 411 (Environments & Health) |
- Health & Life Sciences
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
|
| BHLTH 412 (Narratives of Illness & Healing) |
|
| BHLTH 413 (Pandemics, Plagues, & Fear) |
|
| BHLTH 420 (Women’s Global Health & Human Rights) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BHLTH 421 (Food & Culture) |
|
| BHLTH 422 (Walking in Beauty: Native Art & Healing) |
|
| BHLTH 423 (Global Health: Critical Perspectives) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BHLTH 424 (Root Issues in American Indian Health) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
- Health & Society
|
| BHLTH 425 (Health in a Developing Nation) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
- Health & Society
|
| BHLTH 426 (Exploring the Humanities in Healthcare) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
- Health & Society
|
| BHLTH 427 (Women, Culture, & Healing) |
|
| BHLTH 428 (Adolescent Health) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
- Health & Society
|
| BHLTH 429 (Global & Local Health Inequalities & Interventions) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
- Health & Society
|
| BHLTH 430 (Health Policies & Politics on a Global Context) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BHLTH 431 (Representations of Health Policy & Ethics in Film) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BHLTH 435 (Foundations & Principles of Health Education) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
|
| BHLTH 436 (Intro to Management & Leadership for Health) |
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BHLTH 437 (Program Planning for Health Education) |
|
| BHLTH 438 (Program Evaluation for Health Education) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
|
| BHLTH 439 (Health Policy & Advocacy) |
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BHLTH 440 (Health of Military Veterans) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
- Health & Society
|
| BHLTH 441 (Community Engagement in Health Interventions) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
|
| BHLTH 442 (Family Caregiving Across the Lifespan) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
|
| BHLTH 443 (Assessment of Older Adults) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
|
| BHLTH 444 (Disaster Preparation) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
|
| BHLTH 460 (Women, Rhetoric, & Healing) |
|
| BHLTH 497 (Selected Topics in Health) |
|
School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
| Course |
Interest Area |
| BBIO 180 (Introductory Biology I) |
|
| BBIO 200 (Introductory Biology II) |
|
| BBIO 220 (Introductory Biology III) |
|
|
BBIO 231(Genes, Genomes, & Heredity)
(duplicate course to BISSTS 231)
|
|
|
BBIO 232 (Embryos, Genes, & Reproductive Technology)
|
|
|
BBIO 233 (Cancer: Biology, Risk, & Treatment)
(duplicate course to BHLTH 225)
|
|
| BBIO 310 (Brain & Behavior) |
- Health & Life Sciences
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
- Health & Society
|
| BBIO 351 (Principles of Anatomy & Physiology I) |
|
| BBIO 352 (Principles of Anatomy & Physiology II) |
|
| BBIO 355 (Behavioral Endocrinology) |
|
| BBIO 360 (Intro to Genetics) |
|
| BBIO/BCHEM 364 (Biochemistry I) |
|
| BBIO/BCHEM 365 (Biochemistry II) |
|
| BBIO 370 (Microbiology) |
|
| BBIO 372 (Stem Cells) |
|
| BBIO/BCHEM 375 (Molecular Biology) |
|
| BBIO 380 (Cell Biology) |
|
| BBIO 383 (Bioinformatics) |
|
| BBIO 390 (Diseases & Disorders of the Nervous System) |
|
| BBIO 470 (Microbiology II) |
|
| BBIO 480 (Neurobiology) |
|
| BCHEM 143/144 (General Chemistry I with Lab) |
|
| BCHEM 153/154 (General Chemistry II with Lab) |
|
| BCHEM 163/164 (General Chemistry III with Lab) |
|
| BCHEM 237 (Organic Chemistry I) |
|
| BCHEM 238/241 (Organic Chemistry II with Lab) |
|
| BCHEM 239/242 (Organic Chemistry III with Lab) |
|
| BCHEM 312 (Inorganic Chemistry) |
|
| BEARTH 320 (Impacts of Climate Change) |
|
| BEARTH 341 (Natural Hazards & Human Disasters) |
|
School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences
| Course |
Interest Area |
| BIS 170 (Intro to Psychology) |
- Health & Life Sciences
- Health & Society
|
| BIS 220 (Developmental Psychology) |
- Health & Life Sciences
- Health & Society
|
| BIS 221 (Gender & Sexuality) |
|
| BIS 222 (Intro to Human Sexuality) |
|
| BIS 225 (Social Psychology) |
|
| BIS 226 (Foundations of U.S. Social Services) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BIS 242 (Environmental Geography) |
|
| BIS 265 (Intro to Comparative Ethnic Studies) |
|
| BIS 270 (Abnormal Psychology) |
- Health & Life Sciences
- Health & Society
|
| BIS 307 (Environmental Justice) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BIS 310 (Women, Culture, & Development) |
|
| BIS 349 (Personality Psychology) |
|
| BIS 352 (Community Mapping) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
|
| BIS 353 (Human Rights Theory & Practice) |
|
| BIS 355 (History of Science & Technology) |
|
| BIS 364 (Realities & Representation of Adolescent Development) |
|
| BIS 369 (Indigenous Psychology) |
|
| BIS 380 (Bioethics) |
- Health & Life Sciences
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BIS 384 (Health, Medicine, & Society) |
- Health & Life Sciences
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BIS 386 (Climate Change Adaptation Policy) - approved for Autumn 202 forward |
|
| BIS 415 (Public Policy & Law) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BIS 448 (Social Policy) - approved for Spring 2022 |
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BIS 468 (Human Rights & Sustainable Development) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BISAES 305 (Power, Dissent, & American Culture) |
|
| BISGWS 301 (Critical Gender & Sexuality Studies) |
|
| BISGWS 302 (Histories & Movements of Gender & Sexuality) |
|
| BISGWS 303 (Approaches to Feminist Inquiry) |
|
| BISLEP 301 (Law, Economics, & Public Policy) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BISPSY / BIS 337 (Risk & Resilience) |
|
| BISPSY / BISCP 343 (Community Psychology) |
|
| BISPSY / BIS 348 (Cultural Psychology) |
|
| BISPSY 350 (Intergroup Relations) - approved for Autumn 2022 forward |
|
| BISSEB / BISSTA 304 (Institutions & Social Change) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BISSEB / BISSTA 359 (Ethics & Society) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
|
BISSTS 231 (Genes, Genomes, & Heredity)
(duplicate course to B BIO 231)
|
|
| BISSTS 307 (Science, Technology, & Society) |
- Health & Life Sciences
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BISSTS 420 (Race, Gender, Science, & Medicine) |
|
School of Educational Studies
| Course |
Interest Area |
| BEDUC 220 (Education & Society) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BEDUC 230 (Culture, Knowledge, & Education) |
- Community Health Intervention & Practice
|
| BEDUC 402 (Human Growth & Learning) |
|
| BEDUC 456 (Adolescents in School & Society) |
|
| BEDUC 460 (Moral Dimensions of Education) |
- Health & Society
- Health Policy, Leadership, & Ethics
|
| BEDUC 470 (Disability Culture in Schools & Society) |
|
| BEDUC 481 (Adolescent Development) |
|
Updated January 2023