UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy Roadpiece

UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy

The College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP) at The University of Texas at San Antonio is a diverse college that provides real-world experiences and engages directly with our community.

The college contains nine academic disciplines, and these areas directly affect one another—you can’t examine public policy, for example, without considering public health, criminology and criminal justice, psychology, nutrition, sociology, and more.

When you join UTSA’s College for Health, Community and Policy, you will choose a degree program that complements your interests, conduct research and study with faculty who are experts in their field and engage with peers that will become lifelong friends.

Endowed Professor, College for Health, Community and Policy

“Our students engage with the city from the first moment they walk through our doors, gaining the preparation and knowledge they need to make a real difference in the community by the time they earn their degrees.”

Lynne Cossman, Ph.D.

Inaugural Dean, Mark G. Yudof

HCAP by the Numbers

62% Hispanic Students

168 Full-time Faculty

About San Antonio

As the nation’s seventh largest city, San Antonio offers the benefits of a major metropolitan city with the feel of a small-town community with rich culture. The UTSA campus is nestled along the Texas Hill Country and is in close proximity to major shops, restaurants and entertainment.

6,424 Undergraduate Students

8 Degree Programs

140,000 Internship Hours

About UTSA

The University of Texas at San Antonio is a Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving Institution that specializes in cyber security, health, fundamental futures, and social-economic transformation. With more than 34,000 students, UTSA is the largest university in the San Antonio metropolitan region. Students and faculty at UTSA advance knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. The university embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property—for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA CAMPUS TOURS are available through the Welcome Center. Schedule a tour today by visiting future.utsa.edu/visit

Chart Your Path

AREAS OF STUDY

Pick a program that complements your interests and major in one of our 8 undergraduate degree programs, or earn a minor in one of 5 areas.

COLLEGE FOR HEALTH, COMMUNITY AND POLICY MAJORS

» Criminology and Criminal Justice

» Health, Aging and Society

» Kinesiology

» Nutrition and Dietetics

» Psychology

» Public Administration

» Public Health

» Sociology

A student participating in

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Learn the ins and outs of policing, investigations, forensic science, violent crime, the legal system, victimology and more. Career opportunities include law enforcement, law, forensic science and education.

Kinesiology

Kinesiology majors choose from four concentrations: athletic training, exercise physiology, kinesiology and health science, and physical education. Career opportunities include coaching, recreation activities, personal training, physical therapy, fitness management and exercise physiology.

Health, Aging and Society

This program is designed to prepare students for jobs in the growing field of health professions as well as graduate training in the field of health and aging. Careers include medical and health services managers, social and community service managers and human resources managers.

Nutrition and Dietetics

UTSA’s Nutrition and Dietetics degree serves as the foundation for the Master of Dietetics Studies (M.D.S.) and is the first step to becoming a registered dietitian. As you work toward earning your Bachelor’s degree, you’ll attend classes and acquire off-site practicum hours. You’ll find employment in a number of healthcare facilities, like hospitals, wellness and fitness centers and food service operations.

Psychology

Cultivate a strong scientific understanding of behavior and mental processes with a psychology degree. You’ll learn how to apply scientific principles to a broad range of topics, like memory, sensation, motivation, emotion, personality, abnormal behavior and more. Career areas include mental health worker, human resources, education, research and organizational management.

Mark Perez Class of 2021 Public Administration and Policy

Mark returned to UTSA as a nontraditional, first-generation student and flourished with volunteer opportunities, becoming a senior mentor at a local nonprofit, My Brother’s Keeper. He is currently pursuing an MBA.

Public Administration and Policy

Jordan

Class of 2020 Public Health

Prepare to take on a wide range of issues, such as environmental sustainability, affordable housing, educational equity and walkable neighborhoods. This degree program will prepare you for leadership roles in public service by giving you strong foundational knowledge on how government works; a focus on urban planning and management; and tools to analyze complex problems. Careers include administrative or operations manager, chief executive officer, policy analyst or communications manager.

Public Health

Jordan dove into every research opportunity offered by the College for Health, Community and Policy. She built her resume and skills, helping her earn a full scholarship to pursue a master’s in Physician Assistant Studies.

The public health degree is for those who are interested in gaining knowledge and skills in a variety of health-related areas like biostatistics, environmental science, epidemiology, health policy, health communication and health behavior. Choose between two concentrations: health services or health promotion. Careers include health educator, social science researcher, epidemiologist, policy analyst, public health specialist and health services manager.

“My professors are change agents in educational leadership and provided a nurturing environment to foster challenging thinking.”

“UTSA is one of the best places to go if you’re interested in Public Health. They have a lot of research opportunities that were invaluable to me.”

Minugh

Nutrition and Dietetics students complete handson training in tandem with their classroom learning.

Sociology

In this program, you’ll explore social institutions, cultural dynamics and the processes of social interaction. The program offers a diverse set of electives, including studies on social inequality, the Latino/a experience, healthcare inequalities and the role of religion and culture in shaping human societies. Careers include social worker, human services manager, social science researcher and correctional treatment specialist.

Experiential LEARNING

Dean’s Community Lecture Series

This signature HCAP event series brings distinguished community leaders to campus to connect with students on current issues and provides pathways to leadership opportunities.

City-Wide Community Events

UTSA students are very involved in the City of San Antonio. Departments and student clubs participate in UTSA Day of Service, the largest service event of the year, with 600-800 volunteers and 20-25 community partners. In addition, every HCAP department has opportunities for students to serve the community. Events include volunteering at the Bexar county re-entry fair and mentoring at-risk youth with My Brother’s Keeper San Antonio.

Career Preparedness

Ensuring our HCAP students are ready for the world of work is a top priority. HCAP courses offer career-engaged learning experiences, such as opportunities in undergraduate research, internships and field experiences. The HCAP Student Success Center provides additional outside classroom support in professional development and leadership. All HCAP students are encouraged to participate in workshops, networking events and career expos tailored to the professional development of our students.

Student volunteers hear from Federal Magistrate Elizabeth S. Chestney at the San Antonio Federal Courthouse.

Research Opportunities

As early as your freshman year at UTSA, you are involved in conducting research studies that will let you act upon your curiosity, learn experientially and make a difference in people’s lives.

Some examples of research that Roadrunners are involved in through HCAP include improving vaccine access, preventing substance abuse, violence prevention, understanding demographic trends and health impacts, diabetes prevention and improving resources for underserved populations.

You can also conduct research through a variety of programs, including the HCAP Undergraduate Research Experience, McNair Scholars or Research Initiative for Science Enhancement (RISE), which you can participate in during the academic year or over the summer. The possibilities are endless!

Student SUCCESS

140,000+

internship hours completed by HCAP students

Employers who have hired our students:

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

US Customs & Border Protection

US Bureau of Prisons

Allied Universal

Fit Therapy of Texas LLC

Wounded Warrior Project

Exos

Lifetime Club Management

Austin Fitness

Hospital Corporation of America

UT Health Science Center

Baptist Hospital

Aramark

Idea Public Schools

City of San Antonio

United Health Group

Catholic Charities

The Mentor Network

Bexar County

San Antonio Housing Authority

Texas Health & Human Services

University Health System

Humana

Tenet Health

Endeavors

HCAP Student Success Center

The HCAP Student Success Center serves all undergraduates majoring in disciplines of the College for Health, Community and Policy. Joining the campus community in Fall 2021, the center serves as a centralized location for students, faculty and staff interested in fostering a warm and accepting environment where we work together to help students reach their educational and professional goals.

Internships

Internships allow students to obtain work experience, explore a chosen career path and increase their marketability to employers. Students can access Handshake, UTSA’s job portal, to source jobs and internships as well as recruiting and event information. A dedicated internship director in the College for Health, Community and Policy coordinates with employers to provide internship opportunities and advice for students across all majors.

HCAP Engaged Scholars

HCAP students have the opportunity to enroll in courses that allow them to graduate with HCAP Honors. By becoming a member of HCAP Engaged Scholars, students have a built-in community of like-minded scholars and support through our Student Success Center. The Honors distinction also makes students stand out to employers.

Get Involved

The College for Health, Community and Policy offers a variety of student organizations, including general interest organizations as well as major-specific ones. HCAP students are encouraged to participate in leadership roles within student organizations.

Organizations include:

» Active Minds

» Alpha Epsilon Delta (National Pre-Health Honor Society)

» Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology Honor Society)

» Alpha Phi Sigma (National Criminal Justice Honor Society)

» American Medical Student Association

» Blueprints for Pangaea

» Dietetic and Nutrition Student Association

» Global Bridges – Public Health

» Health Honors Society

» HOSA – Future Health Professionals

» Model United Nations Society

» Pre-Athletic Training Society

» Pre-Physical Therapy Society

» Public Administration Student Organization

» Public Health Society

» Student Psychology Association

» The Association of Black Psychologists

Visit Campus

Check out UTSA for yourself! Our Welcome Center hosts daily tours and special events so you can explore campus, talk to staff and students and learn more about life as a roadrunner.

WELCOME CENTER

(210) 458-5145

future.utsa.edu/visit

Apply to UTSA

UTSA provides a streamlined application process, and our admissions counselors are ready to provide you with a wide range of services and materials.

ADMISSIONS

(210) 458-8000

future.utsa.edu/apply

FINANCIAL AID

(210) 458-8000

onestop.utsa.edu/financialaid

Declare Your Major

The College for Health, Community and Policy has different paths for students to declare a major, providing access to programs and resources to promote success in college and beyond. TO