Allied Health Sciences

Box 70573 (AHLD, CPSC, & RADG)
Phone: (423) 547-4900
Box 70690 (DHYG) (NTFD)
Phone: (423) 439-4497

The Department of Allied Health Sciences is a multidisciplinary department offering courses of study leading to Bachelor of Science degrees in Allied Health and Dental Hygiene. Five concentrations are available: Allied Health Leadership, Cardiopulmonary Science, Dental Hygiene, Radiography, and Nutrition and Foods Concentration.

All programs offered in the department call for a high degree of individual motivation, good physical health, and manual dexterity. Instruction is individualized and performance standards are exacting.

One class per year is admitted for Cardiopulmonary Science, Dental Hygiene, and Radiography. Students are required to attend designated consecutive semesters to complete the programs. Allied Health Leadership and Nutrition concentrations have open enrollment throughout the academic year.

The number of students admitted to each of the Allied Health career programs is limited. Admission is based on: successful completion of admission requirements; interview with an admissions committee; and space availability. The number of applicants admitted to each program is determined by several factors, including the number of available seats for clinical experiences, the predicted number of positions available in the health care industry for graduates, and enrollment limitations imposed by accreditation agencies. The limitation in class size and increasing popularity of the programs have created a highly competitive situation for applicants. Applicants will be notified in writing of the actions taken by the respective admission committees.

Students must apply and be admitted to East Tennessee State University. Students must also submit an application to the Allied Health concentration in which they are seeking admission.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health (B.S.) prepares students to qualify as contributing members of the Allied Health team dedicated to the conservation of life and the maintenance of health. The B.S. degree offers concentrations in Allied Health Leadership, Cardiopulmonary Science, Nutrition, and Radiography. The program correlated classroom and clinical instruction enabling the student to be competent in a specific concentration area. This approach will enable graduates to competently perform tasks as identified in the respective scopes of practice as autonomous health care providers. Students admitted to the program must have a strong and diverse academic background that will facilitate individual judgment, critical thinking skills, and utilization of appropriate professional decision-making skills. Students must also possess psychomotor, cognitive, and affective skills demonstrating competence, flexibility, responsibility, and sensitivity to client populations.

Students that have successfully completed an Associate of Applied Science in Cardiopulmonary Science (Respiratory Therapy) or Radiography are eligible for enrollment into an online B.S. completion program in their discipline. Associate of Applied Science graduates are required to contact and be advised by the Department’s admission coordinator after completion of ALHE 3010, Allied Health Professions.

The Allied Health Leadership concentration offers students that have previously graduated from an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) health related program the opportunity to obtain a baccalaureate degree by using more of the A.A.S. credit hours than normally transfer to a four-year institution. The B.S. completion program is designed for health care providers in a medical field such as medical assisting, medical laboratory technology, cardiovascular technology, physical therapy assistant, and occupational therapy assistant. Students must complete 41 credit hours of general education requirements, 28 credit hours of allied health core courses, and 24 credit hours in the Allied Health Leadership concentration.

Cardiopulmonary Science and Radiography concentrations are designed for students who have completed one or two years of pre-professional college work (a minimum of 40 credit hours) that includes the prerequisite courses required by the major. The Allied Health core consists of 28 credit hours and the professional phase (composed of the concentration and clinical practice components) of the curriculum consists of 51 credit hours for both concentrations. The baccalaureate degree in Allied Health requires 120 credit hours.

Admission Requirements for B.S.

Admission to the cardiopulmonary, nutrition, and radiography professional curriculum is a competitive process and is entirely separate from the student’s admission to ETSU. A limited number of students are admitted annually to each concentration by an admissions committee. Each applicant is evaluated on the basis of academic record, personal interview, and clinical observation. Evidence of university admission, updated high school and/or college transcripts, and department application forms must be returned to the departmental office by March 1 for the applicant to be considered by the admissions committee.

To gain admittance to a concentration area, the student must complete all admission, health, and academic requirements. Due to the large number of applicants, limited enrollment, and accreditation standards, all candidates are evaluated through a number of different instruments.

To be considered for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Allied Health, Cardiopulmonary Science, and Radiography concentrations, applicants must meet the requirements for admission to ETSU. Prior to being admitted to the professional core, applicants must complete the following requirements:

Maintain a college GPA of 2.50 or better on a 4.0 scale;
Complete prerequisite general education and other allied health core courses as required by the concentration obtaining a grade of C or better in each course within the first two attempts by the time of admission to the professional core;
Complete an additional minimum of 16 credit hours from the general educational core (not including prerequisite courses) maintaining a college GPA of 2.50 or better on a 4.0 scale;
Meet specific health and/or essential functions.

Students seeking admission to the Allied Health Leadership concentration must meet the following requirements:

College GPA of 2.50 or better on a 4.0 scale on all transferable credit;
Transcript(s) to include proof of graduation from an accredited allied health professional program;
Eligibility for professional licensure in discipline.