Consider these statistics on the health of Americans: Nearly 50% suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, more than 40% are obese and 12% manage diabetes every day, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Throw in the estimated 50 million people who require physical therapy, and you get the picture: a population with severe impairments.
But many of these conditions are preventable or can be minimized, say faculty at USF鈥檚 (COPH), which in August begins to offer three new undergraduate programs for students focused on a healthier society.
The COPH has launched bachelor of science degrees in and in , plus a new bachelor of science in health sciences concentration in healthcare simulation science. These fields of study underscore the need for a larger health care workforce to address the nation鈥檚 problems, said , assistant dean for undergraduate studies.
鈥淭he fields of nutrition science and rehabilitation science are growing, as is the demand for preparing a new workforce,鈥欌�� Oberne said. 鈥淭hese new programs were developed to help students learn the information and skills needed to either be job ready or to apply for graduate programs.鈥欌��
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Along with Oberne, organizers of the new initiatives include Dr. Lauri Wright, associate professor, COPH Department of Community Health Sciences and director of nutrition programs; and , assistant professor and undergraduate program coordinator in the Morsani College of Medicine, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Previously, students interested in becoming registered dietitians or rehabilitation specialists had to transfer to other universities with accredited undergraduate programs. Now, USF can admit students from any undergraduate major, provided they complete the necessary science, nutrition or rehabilitation prerequisites.
鈥淣utrition science is critical to tackling today鈥檚 most pressing public health issues, such as rising obesity rates, food insecurity, micronutrient deficiencies and chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease,鈥欌�� Wright said. 鈥淥ur program equips students with the knowledge and skills to develop evidence-based nutrition strategies that improve health outcomes at both individual and population levels.鈥欌��
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Health experts say nutrition science is about far more than managing a healthful diet 鈥� it鈥檚 essential to stopping many ailments before they do harm. The nutrition science major trains students to understand how nutrients, metabolism and dietary behaviors interact with genetics, the microbiome and environmental factors to influence long-term health.
鈥淣utrition plays a central role in preventing many chronic diseases,鈥欌�� Wright added. 鈥淪cientific evidence shows that dietary patterns affect the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and some cancers.鈥欌��
The physical rehabilitation science major is designed for undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing careers or graduate programs in physical therapy, athletic training or occupational therapy.
鈥淭his major has a strong interdisciplinary foundation, with upper-level rehabilitation science course work to prepare students for the next step in their professional or academic journey,鈥� Parrino said.
She added that 鈥渢he major provides students with a unique opportunity to engage directly with clinicians, teaching faculty and researchers within the 鈥� giving them valuable insight into the field of rehabilitation science.鈥�
The field is growing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A 10-year national projection shows a 14% employment increase in physical therapy, 13% increase in athletic training and 11% increase in occupational therapy. The projected 10-year increase in Florida is even greater for all professions.
Bachelor of Science in Health and Nutrition Science
Students explore nutrition from all angles and learn how nutrition affects health outcomes through a variety of courses in nutrition, health sciences and public health. This major prepares students for graduate work, after which they can take the national exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.
Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Rehabilitation Science
This major focuses on rehabilitation and physical well-being, providing a strong science foundation and clinical coursework. Graduates are prepared for health care careers or graduate study in fields such as physical therapy, athletic training or occupational therapy. It prepares them to help improve the quality of life for people with disabilities or those recovering from injury, illness or surgery.
鈥淲hen students complete their program, they will have developed a strong foundation in public health and health sciences, so they have the information needed to understand and navigate important issues across a variety of health professions,鈥欌�� Oberne said.
鈥淭hey will learn critical thinking skills, have opportunities for applied learning experiences and will learn from subject matter experts. Students will be set up for success no matter which path they choose 鈭� to join the workforce or continue their educational journey.鈥欌��