Course Syllabus
Course: BIOL 2120
Division: Natural Science and MathDepartment: Biology
Title: Utah Health Scholars
Semester Approved: Fall 2020
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2026
End Semester: Spring 2026
Catalog Description: This course is designed to give students preparing for careers in health care (nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, dental hygiene, speech pathology, audiology, pharmacy, medicine, etc.) opportunities for service, leadership, and exposure to various careers in health care. It will also provide instruction in making applications, writing personal statements, and interviewing. There will also be discussions based on articles dealing with issues related to health care such as emerging diseases, new treatments, and ethics. Students will be responsible for attendance, article discussions, advising sessions, community service hours, and maintaining a journal of these activities. All activities will be evaluated throughout the semester. All students considering a career in health care are encouraged to enroll. Enrollment may be continued each semester for elective credit. (Additional fee required)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 1; Lab: 0
Repeatable: Yes.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Justification: This course will serve to help pre-health professional students at Snow College choose appropriate career paths. Acceptance into health profession programs is extremely competitive. Program specific knowledge, service, and extracurricular activities during undergraduate years can increase the likelihood of acceptance into these programs.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will develop an educational and healthcare career pathway plan. Students will be assessed on their level of engagement in individual one-on-one advising appointments where career goals are discussed, and educational pathways are mapped out along with co-curricular activities.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the importance of civic engagement and provide appropriate service in the community while connecting service learning to the student’s academic studies. Students requirement of community service hours is assessed by their submitting a community service journal detailing the where, why, and how of their community service, including key experiences and takeaways from their service.
Students will identify a variety of healthcare career options and evaluate current healthcare issues Students will be assessed on their reading of weekly articles by the requirement to provide a personal reflection on the individual article each week in Canvas. In the same assignment students are also required to provide a reflection on the class topic for that week and how what they learned will impact their pursuing a healthcare career. Students are required to provide thoughtful responses and use appropriate writing skills.
Content:
Reading of course material; Group review of course material; Healthcare career exploration; Complete a minimum of 25 community service hours; Attend a minimum of 2 advising sessions; Learn the value of recording experiences in a reflective journal; Learn methods to improve their professional healthcare applications
Key Performance Indicators:
Attendance and participation in the weekly sessions 20 to 30%
Required 25 hours of community service 20 to 30%
Reflective journal 20 to 30%
Attendance at 2 advising sessions with the Utah Health Scholars advisor throughout the semester 20 to 30%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Weekly journal articles. No formal textbook is required.
Pedagogy Statement:
This class is taught through a variety of teaching methods. Students receive direct instruction from classes led through student discussion and information from guest speakers as well as the assigned teacher. In individual advising appointments, students are led through a personalized learning experience as future career plans are discussed. Goals are created and educational and career plans are mapped out. Through required community service experiences and the required community service journal, students learn through a hands-on approach as they gain experiences through interactive learning in their communities.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Maximum Class Size: 44
Optimum Class Size: 25