College of Health and Human Services

Sylvia S. Gaiko, Dean

Lynanne Black, Dean’s Associate for Graduate Programs
Jonathon Cooper, Dean’s Associate for Academic Affairs
Kristi Storti, Dean’s Associate for Administration

Website: www.iup.edu/healthhumanserv
Email: chhs-deans-office@iup.edu

The College of Health and Human Services comprises eight multifaceted departments, six centers, and two interdisciplinary programs that offer 23 baccalaureate degrees, 14 master’s degree programs, two associate degrees, eleven minors, three credit-bearing certificate programs, and six noncredit certificate programs. The departments in the College are Academy of Culinary Arts; Criminology and Criminal Justice; Employment Relations and Health Services Administration (previously Employment and Labor Relations); Food and Nutrition; Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Science; Nursing and Allied Health Professions; Psychology; and Sociology. To strengthen our educational mission while providing engagement opportunities for students, the College also oversees the Criminal Justice Training Center; the Institute for Rural Health and Safety; the Child Studies Center; the Center for Research in Criminology; the Center for Sports Science Research and Education; the Administration and Leadership Studies Research and Training Center; and the Center for Applied Psychology.

The College offers degrees in areas relevant to workforce needs and prides itself on having established a learning-centered environment in which the curricula bridge theory and practice. Hands-on fieldwork, observations, internships, clinical experiences, service-learning opportunities, and cooperative education are regular components of the curricula and provide valuable learning experiences for students. Instructional methods are often cooperative and collaborative, affording students the opportunity to understand what they can contribute to and gain from collective efforts. Discovery based instruction provides opportunities to learn about a discipline by practicing in the field. Media technology, an ever-expanding resource, provides access to worldwide information. Faculty members recognize the central role of the learner in the learning process and strive to create integrated, holistic learning environments. The focus on learning is a commitment to the continuous improvement of the quality of education offered by the College.

To fulfill degree requirements for many programs, students are required to complete clinical experiences, field work, or internships through one of the many affiliations at a myriad of health and human services facilities, agencies, and organizations. Due to the nature of these experiences, academic programs may require the successful completion of specific courses or maintaining a minimum GPA in order to be placed in clinical or internship experiences. Some students may be required to undergo criminal background checks, drug testing, as well as provide proof of health insurance, liability insurance, and/or immunization records prior to participating in any required experiences at selected facilities/agencies. Additionally, other requirements may be specified by the facility/agency or program that a student must meet in order to be eligible for field or practical experiences at a facility. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all institutional and/or facility requirements are met as a condition of participating in the experiences; students may be responsible in part or in full for any costs incurred to meet such requirements. Students are also responsible for transportation to and from off-campus experiences. In some programs, the students are responsible for rental fees for clinical instruments and supplies, purchasing uniforms, equipment, and fees above the regular tuition. At the completion of the program, students may also be responsible for fees related to national, regional, and/or state licensing exams.

The mission of the College is to serve the public interest by providing a quality education to prepare students for applied professional disciplines. Graduates will affirm high personal and professional standards, provide leadership, and be committed to creating and advancing knowledge in their disciplines.

College Majors

College Minors

Credit Certificate Programs

Noncredit Certificate Programs

* Programs leading to PA Teacher Certification, also available Driver Education

Interdisciplinary Programs, Minors and Certificates

The interdisciplinary degree programs, minors, and certificates are multidisciplinary and are not specific to one university college. Visit Interdisciplinary Programs to view offerings and requirements.

Early Admission to Graduate Programs

The early admission program is designed for IUP undergraduate students who want to continue their studies in a graduate program at IUP. In an early admission program, you can begin taking graduate level courses toward your Master’s degree while concurrently finishing your baccalaureate degree. Application requirement are available on the above website. Your undergraduate advisor and the graduate coordinators are available to provide guidance. Early Admission graduate programs in CHHS include:

MA in Criminology
MS in Food and Nutrition
MEd in Health and Physical Education
MS in Health Services Administration
MA in Human Resources and Employment Relations
MS in Nursing
MA in Sociology
MS in Sport Science