Academic Catalog 2024-2025

College of Health, Human Services, and Nursing

The CHHSN is an outstanding College that houses 9 distinct health and nursing departments and two schools that offer 6 undergraduate, 6 Masters, and one professional doctorate in occupational therapy. The undergraduate programs include Child Development, Clinical Lab Sciences, Public Health and Health Sciences, Human Services, Kinesiology, and Nursing (BSN). The professional graduate degrees are in Marital and Family Therapy (MFT), Social Work (MSW), Occupational Therapy (Master's and Doctorate OT), Nursing (MSN), Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P), and Radiologic Imaging Sciences (RIS). The CHHSN also offers postbaccalaureate certificates in Cytotechnology and Medical Technology for the ASCP-BOC certificate and Licensure. The Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) certificate is available as a bridge program to Speech Pathology graduate degrees.  

The mission of the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing is to address the overall health, mental health, and social needs of the human population. This goal is accomplished through an interdisciplinary preparation of students who will be equipped to deliver quality and comprehensive services within a multiethnic, multicultural, and multiclass society. Given our campus location, the College's programs address the needs and issues of individuals, families, and communities living in a diverse urban environment. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable educational environment that is welcoming and provides resources and programs that will enhance the quality of your educational experience and prepare you for your chosen careers and/or postgraduate degrees.

The CHHSN offers a Health Professional Pathways Program, titled ‘Toro Health Pathways (THP).’  The program promotes our distinguished healthcare degrees to eligible and diverse high school and transfer students to recruit them into one of various health professions including Human Services, Nursing, Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, Medical Technology, Cytotechnology, Radiologic and Imaging Sciences, Health/Medical management, Public Health, Social Work, Marital and Family Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Exercise Physiology, Speech Pathology, and beyond.

As you explore your educational opportunities, we encourage you to learn more about the many wonderful career preparation undergraduate programs and professional graduate degree options that are available here in the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing. The impact that our graduates make on society is limitless. There is no service more fundamental to society than ensuring the health and physical well-being of the communities we serve!

We look forward to being a significant part of your preparation.

College of Health, Human Services, and Nursing

Office Location: Welch Hall 300
Phone: (310) 243-2046

Dean, Mi-Sook Kim
Associate Dean, Enrique Ortega

School of Public Health and Health Sciences

SBS C321
Phone: (310) 243-2698

Interim Chair, Matt Mutchler
Orthotics and Prosthetics Program Coordinator, Mark Muller
Radiologic and Imaging Sciences Coordinator, Elwin Tilson
Communication Sciences and Disorders Program Coordinator, John Spruill

School of Nursing

WH 335
Phone: (310) 243-3596/1050

Director, Ronald Norby
Associate Director Undergraduate Program, Cathy Andrade
Associate Director Graduate Program, Terri Ares

Department of Child Development

WH 320
Phone: (310) 243-2029

Chair, Megumi Kuwabara

Department of Clinical Sciences 

WH 330
Phone: (310) 243-3748

Chair, Payman Nasr
Program Coordinator for Post-Bacc Certificate Program, Sarah Turkel

Department of Human Services

SBS D321
Phone: (310) 243-3461

Chair, Phu Phan

Department of Kinesiology

SAC 2145
Phone: (310) 243-3761

Chair, Michael Ernst

Department of Marital and Family Therapy

WH 320
Phone: (310) 243-2032

Chair, Karen Quek

Department of Occupational Therapy

WH 320/WH 445
Phone: (310) 243-2726

Chair, Terry Peralta
MSOT Program Coordinator, Heather Kitching
OTD Program Coordinator, Eric J. Hwang

Department of Social Work

WH 385
(310) 243-3170/2678

Interim Chair, Leslie Ponciano


The College of Health, Human Services, and Nursing is home to academic programs for students interested in fostering individuals' physical, psychological, and familial well-being. Our talented and dedicated faculty prepares professionals to work with populations in need of support and service in the areas of mental, physical and interpersonal health. The wide array of programs offered by the College share common features – a rigorous curriculum recognized by professionals in the field, nurturance of high academic standards, and opportunities to practice skills in the field under expert supervision. The College's academic units and some corresponding highlights are as follows:

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SCIENCES

The School of Public Health and Health Sciences offers a variety of programs, including a major with different options leading to a Bachelor of Sciences in Community Health and Health Care Management, a minor and a subject matter preparation programs that partially fulfills the requirements for a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Health Science. The School also houses a Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics that combines academic rigor, clinical training, and research to prepare students for professional practice. Focused on the evaluation, fabrication, and fitting of artificial limbs and orthopedic braces, this program ensures graduates are well-equipped to excel in the O&P field. A Master of Science in Radiologic & Imaging Sciences provides professional advancement tracts in RIS administration and RIS education for individuals already in the profession. A Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Post-Bacc) is a pre-professional program offering students the prerequisite knowledge that is required for education leading to a career as a Speech-Language Pathologist.

SCHOOL OF NURSING

The School of Nursing offers a RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing as an online offering for individuals seeking their bachelor's degree in nursing. A Master of Science in Nursing encourages students to integrate advanced nursing knowledge; synthesize, translate, apply, and disseminate scientific evidence, while appraising and utilizing healthcare technology and information systems. All are used to improve person-centered and population health outcomes. 

DEPARTMENT OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Child Development studies the individual from conception through the end of adolescence in a plurality of contexts through in-class and field experiences. The curriculum includes both in-class and field experiences to prepare knowledgeable and effective child and family professionals. A unique feature of the curriculum is the inclusion of courses that are of special relevance to students from Southern California. The student can choose one of four options/concentrations in Counseling and Family Services, Juvenile Delinquency, Management and Administration, and Early Development and Learning.

DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL SCIENCES

The Clinical Science program offers one of the few four-year curricula in the country leading to a bachelor's degree and eligibility to take professional certifying examinations in medical technology and Cytotechnology.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES 

Human Services prepares students for occupations in human services. Human Service is an excellent major for those seeking meaningful jobs while serving their community. The Department also offers a Mental Health Recovery Option.

DEPARTMENT OF KINESIOLOGY

Kinesiology provides students a solid foundation for studying anatomy, physiology, and the principles of mechanics concerning human body movement to prepare for preventive and rehabilitative health careers and advanced degrees. Students can also pursue a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Physical Education. 

DEPARTMENT OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY

MFT prepares students in systemic theory, research, and relational practice to clinically and ethically engage concerns of intersectionality, equity, and social justice to improve systems of oppression and promote wellness among individuals, couples, and families in underserved communities.

DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) are both offered as entry-level first professional degree. The programs accept student applicants who have completed a bachelor's degree in another major and wish to enter the field of occupational therapy. Both full-time cohort programs prepare students for a professional career focused on helping people achieve skills and utilize resources to live independent, meaningful lives. The occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) aims to meet the increasing demand for highly skilled OT practitioners within the dynamic nature of current health and human services delivery systems. Both degree options produce client-centered professionals who can research, develop, implement, and evaluate procedures using a high degree of judgment and consult with other team members where appropriate.

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

Grounded in Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality, the Department of Social Work (MSW) offers a curriculum that emphasizes a psychosocial, ecological and cross-cultural orientation to social work practice. The MSW strives to educate contextually competent social work practitioners. The degree is offered through both full-time and part-time programs.