College of Health Sciences

235 Health Sciences Center

David Jones, Dean
Phone: (307)766-6556 FAX: (307)766-6608
Web site: www.uwyo.edu/hs

The College of Health Sciences is the place for students interested in improving and maintaining the physical, mental, and social health of others. We offer challenging degree programs in the “helping professions” and serve as the gateway to schools of medicine, dentistry, physical and occupational therapy, physician’s assistant study, and optometry.

Health sciences students receive not only a superior education from knowledgeable and caring faculty but also precise and personal guidance from conscientious advising personnel. Students benefit, too, from practicums and internships that help them refine and test the skills acquired in lectures and labs as well as opportunities to participate in dynamic, interdisciplinary research projects.

The college is also the home of the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND); two Family Medicine Residency Centers; and the WWAMI Medical Education Program.

We serve as the state certifying office for the Wyoming, Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) medical education contract program with the University of Washington School of Medicine; WYDENT, the dental education contract program with the University of Nebraska and Creighton University; and two programs for the Western Interstate Commission of Higher Education (WICHE): the Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) and the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). Refer to the sections on WWAMI, WYDENT, and WICHE in the first part of this catalog for program descriptions or go to www.uwyo.edu/certwy.

Any student seeking admission to programs in the College of Health Sciences will be required to obtain a background check as specified by college policy. Please contact your school or division for specific information.

The College of Health Sciences retains the right to deny or revoke admission to any of its programs for academic, disciplinary, ethical, or professional standards reasons.

Programs of Study

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Science

Kinesiology and Health Promotion
Medical Laboratory Science
Physical Education Teaching
Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Social Work

Graduate Degrees

Master of Science

Health Services Administration
Nursing
Kinesiology and Health
Speech-Language Pathology

Master of Social Work

Professional Degrees

Doctor of Nursing Practice
Doctor of Pharmacy

Minor in the College of Health Sciences

Disability Studies

Disability studies is a diverse interdisciplinary field that investigates broad questions about the nature, meanings, and consequences of disability from interrelated social, historical, cultural, and political perspectives. Students will gain a broad understanding of disability issues for working with people with disabilities rather than specific disciplinary skills and techniques. The minor complements any major and consists of 18 credit hours. See www.uwyo.edu/hs/divisions-and-programs/minor-indisability-studies.html.

Undergraduate and Pre-professional Health Advising Office

Health Sciences Center, 110

The Undergraduate and Pre-professional Health Advising Office (UPHAO) in the College of Health Sciences (www.uwyo.edu/preprof/) provides pre-professional health advising to all UW students regardless of their academic majors, who are interested in pursuing future study in medicine, athletic training, chiropractic, dentistry, optometry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, or other health care careers such as public health. A bachelor’s degree is usually required for admission to a professional school. The University of Wyoming does not offer degrees in pre-professional areas. Students may pursue any UW degree program in which they have an interest and at the same time complete the admission requirements for the professional schools they wish to attend. The UPHAO advises students for their professional program prerequisites as well as other aspects of becoming solid candidates. Each student will also have an advisor in his/her major for advising in the major.

Through this office, pre-health students can access current information about admission requirements, entrance examinations, application process, professional school curriculums, interviewing skills, and test preparation. Current admissions data and addresses for specific schools are also available. Specific schools may have additional requirements; students are urged to check with the schools they wish to attend.

Information and Wyoming state residency applications for the WICHE PSEP program, the WWAMI medical education program, and the WYDENT dental education program, may be found online at http://www.uwyo.edu/certwy.

Dental Hygiene

The University of Wyoming and Sheridan College offer a cooperative program of dental hygiene education which, when completed, results in two degrees. An Associate of Applied Science degree in dental hygiene is awarded by Sheridan College following completion of the prerequisites and dental hygiene prescribed study. An optional Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree is awarded by the University of Wyoming following completion of the Associate of Applied Science in dental hygiene, the University Studies Program, and other requirements of the University of Wyoming, for a total of 120 credit hours including 42 upper level hours, 30 of which must be from the University of Wyoming. See www.uwyo.edu/hs/divisions-and-programs/dental-hygiene-program.html.

The American Dental Association has awarded full accreditation to the Associate of Applied Science degree in dental hygiene at Sheridan College. Graduates are eligible to take the National Board of Dental Hygiene exam, as well as regional and state exams for licensure, as registered dental hygienists.

Applicants should visit www.sheridan.edu/site/sc/academics/program/dental-hygiene for specific prerequisites and application materials. Applications are due to Sheridan College prior to February 15 of the year they wish to enter the program. Class sizes are limited. Admission is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Learning Outcomes

The primary objective of the program is to assure that graduates have knowledge and abilities necessary to successfully practice dental hygiene.

All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a cumulative grade point of 2.750 (on a 4.000 point scale). Courses in anatomy, physiology, and microbiology must be current within five years at the time of application to the Dental Hygiene professional program. Completion of the prerequisite courses does not guarantee admission to the professional program. Students must also complete a minimum of 20 hours of dental hygiene observation prior to application.