Allied Health (ALH)
ALH 101 Introduction to Health Sciences Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: This course is designed to introduce the student to diverse careers within allied health professions. Students investigate educational pathways, certification and licensure requirements, scopes of practice, and typical work environments across a variety of professions. Emphasis is placed on communication, interprofessional teamwork, and exploring personal strengths and interests to support informed career decision making. Guest speakers, case examples, and reflective activities help students identify potential academic and career pathways in health care.
ALH 106 Medical Terminology Credits: 2
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Course Description: Medical terms with reference to human anatomy and disease processes for the paramedical professions.
ALH 201 Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response Credits: 2
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: This course provides an overview of the principles and practices of emergency management. Students will explore the history, theory, and practical aspects of managing emergencies, including natural disasters, technological incidents, and terrorist events. The course will also cover the roles of various agencies, the importance of community preparedness and resilience, and the integration of FEMAs national training programs. Students will be required to complete FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training, Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management system as part of their coursework. Students will also complete CPR/AED training to gain hands-on emergency response skills.
ALH 210 Health Care Delivery Systems Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: Study of the components of the health care delivery system; roles and functions of the hospital's organizational components: the governing board, the administration and the medical staff in various hospital departments and ambulatory care settings. Investigation of the procedures used by the organizations which regulate and accredit hospitals, e.g., The Joint Commission.
ALH 260 Pharmacology Credits: 2
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: An introductory course with emphasis on classes of drugs and their primary use. Course work will include indications for the medications, dose and route of delivery of the most frequently prescribed medications in various health care settings. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in ALH 106 and BIO 250.
ALH 275 Clinical Coding and Classification Systems Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: Introduction to classification systems, vocabularies, taxonomies, terminologies and the coding and mapping of data by manual or the use of encoders. The students will be exposed to a variety of classification systems and terminologies, specifically ICD-9-CM and CPT/HCPCS, but ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS and SNOMED-CT will be emphasized. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in ALH 106, ALH 210, and BIO 250.
ALH 290 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Healthcare Management Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: The study of the legal and ethical issues involved in management and delivery of healthcare services and inter-relationships between institution, physicians, and patients. Topics include release of information, quality documentation, retention of records, HIPAA privacy and confidentiality, ethical standards of practice, fraud and abuse, risk management, contracts, consents, and other current medical/legal issues.
ALH 305 Chronic Illness Management and Disease Prevention Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: This course explores the public health challenges and approaches to managing chronic illness including diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other prevalent conditions. Students will examine the social, environmental and behavioral determinants of chronic disease as well as the underlying pathophysiological processes. Emphasis will be given to prevention, evidence -based management strategies, and interdisciplinary care. The course highlights the role of public health, primary care and behavioral health in reducing the burden of disease and improving population health outcomes. Through a lens of cultural competency, students will also analyze health policy, ethical considerations, rural considerations and public health interventions that address disparities in chronic illness care. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in ALH 106 and BIO 250.
ALH 315 Health Data Management Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: Focuses on the study of the origin, content, and format of healthcare records across the continuum of healthcare in both traditional and non-traditional settings, including hybrid, and electronic health records and the standards that govern the development of records. Other topics include accreditation and regulatory requirements, methods to assess and retrieve health data and patient records, registries, structure and content standards pertaining to healthcare data sets and data sources, record analysis, and storage and retention. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in ALH 210.
ALH 320 Community and Public Health Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: This course examines the issues and problems that exist within the political, social, cultural and economic dimensions of community health. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in BIO 101 or BIO 105.
ALH 330 Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: Focuses on knowledge and concepts as applied to study of population health outcomes. Development of basic understanding of the principles of epidemiology and biostatistics as well as the critical thinking skills to assist in the evaluation of research and assessing the health of a population. Quantitative and methodological analysis and their implications for evidence based medicine, healthcare policy, resource utilization and health systems management are explored. Prerequisite(s): PSY 300 or GBA 210 or MAT 111 or MAT 111E.
ALH 350 Population Health Science Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: This course introduces foundational concepts in population health science, including epidemiology, social determinants of health, health systems, health disparities, and policy. Students examine how social, behavioral, and environmental factors shape population level outcomes. In addition to lectures and discussions, students complete an applied research project: formulate a research question, conduct a literature review, analyze publicly available health data, and present findings. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, data interpretation, and evidence-based communication. Two hours lecture and two hours lab. Prerequisite(s): ALH 106 and BIO 250.
ALH 352 Applied Nutrition Credits: 2
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Principles of normal nutrition through the life cycle and the role of nutrition in health are considered. Nutrition therapy and its role in the prevention and management of disease are also examined. Prerequisite(s): BIO 250.
ALH 355 Quality Management Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: Focuses on the study of history, organization and coordination of facility-wide management and performance improvement processes that involve team and process thinking; outcomes measurement; review of utilization of healthcare and other cost-containment programs; risk management and the application of evaluation techniques. Principles of data collection, preparation, analysis and interpretation of healthcare statistics, will be taught along with statistics used in quality management activities and organizational assessment, vital statistics, and computerized statistical packages. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in ALH 290, ALH 315, and PSY 300 or GBA 210 or MAT 111 or MAT 111E.
ALH 379 Revenue Cycle and Reimbursement Management Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: The course will cover various reimbursement practices and payment methodologies, processes for reporting and billing, reimbursement terminology, including revenue cycle and chargemaster management. Prerequisite(s): ALH 106 and ALH 210 .
ALH 380 Advanced Procedural Coding Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: The Advanced Procedural Coding course provides an in-depth exploration of advanced procedural coding techniques using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II. Students will build on foundational coding knowledge to master complex coding scenarios, accuracy and payer specific guidelines. Regulatory standards and compliance are addressed. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in ALH 275.
ALH 381 Advanced Diagnostic Coding Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: The Advanced Diagnostic Coding course is designed to enhance the capabilities of medical coding professionals. Advanced concepts including compliance regulations, complex case analysis and coding for specialized medical fields will be explored. Students will enhance their proficiency in ICD-10-CM coding. The course prepares the student for advanced roles in the healthcare industry. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in ALH 275.
ALH 390 Billing and Coding Practicum Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: A course which integrates theories of allied health with billing and coding practice. Students spend a minimum of 135 hours in a position in a health care or other approved setting. Anticipated learning objectives are established in a contract agreed to by the student, the on-site supervisor and the course professor. Requires periodic progress reports, supervisor evaluation, and a formal written paper or presentation. May be taken for up to 6 credit hours. Prerequisite(s): Instructor approval.
ALH 401 Healthcare Leadership Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: The healthcare leadership course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills required for effective leadership in the allied health field. Students will explore the principles of leadership, innovation, systems thinking, and strategic decision making tailored for allied health professionals. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in ALH 210.
ALH 402 Population Health Internship Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: An academic program which offers students an opportunity to integrate theories of population health with actual practice. Students spend a minimum of 135 hours in a position in a health care or other approved setting focusing on population health. Anticipated learning objectives are established in a contract agreed to by the student, the on-site supervisor and the course professor. Requires periodic progress reports, supervisor evaluation, and a formal written paper. May be taken up to two times for credit. Prerequisite(s): Declared health population major, senior standing, completion of major core courses, a minimum of 2.5 GPA in a major field and consent of instructor.
ALH 410 Human Resources and Operations Management Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: Focuses on human resources management practices and strategic leadership management. Topics include staffing, employee development, training, benefits, employer relations, recruitment, work measurement, change management, project management, and human factors. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in ALH 401.
ALH 420 Clinical Data Management Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: Focuses on acquiring, managing, manipulating, analyzing, and reporting data retrieved from a variety of sources, such as electronic health records, patient care systems, claims management data, and traditional coded data in order to provide data for healthcare decision making. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in ALH 315 and ALH 379.
ALH 440 Financial and Resource Management Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: This course builds on foundational knowledge of healthcare organizations and management, with a focus on managing health informatics operations. Topics include managerial problem solving and decision making, development of performance measurement systems, and application of financial management and accounting principles relevant to health informatics departments. Students also examine budgeting, cost benefit analysis, and resource planning to support effective operations and informed decision making. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in ACC 201, ALH 210, and ALH 379.
ALH 465 Professional Management Experience Capstone Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: During this supervised professional management experience, students will perform management-level activities at an approved health related facility. The management activities are designed to prepare the student for entry-level management roles in health information management settings. Virtual laboratory and other activities simulating work performed in health-related facilities will also be used in this professional management experience class. Prerequisite(s): Senior standing and admission to the Allied Health Management program, or department approval.