Welcome to the College of Human and Health Sciences!

I am pleased to introduce you to one of the newest and most dynamic colleges on campus. The CHHS currently offers undergraduate programs in Child Development, Nursing, and Psychology. We also have accredited professional graduate programs in Counseling Psychology, Behavior Analysis, and Social Work. Many of our alumni provide human and health services to citizens of the Central Valley, the state, and the nation. I hope that you will take advantage of the many opportunities available to you in the College.

Human and Health Sciences is unique in combining a strong emphasis on the science-based theory and methods of the disciplines with their practical applications. Our programs emphasize applying what is taught in the classroom to the real world through laboratory, clinical, and field experiences. For example, at the campus Child Development Center, students apply their Child Development coursework to infant-toddler and preschool development. Child Development also has an exciting link to the community through its Parent Child Home Program, which sends teams of students into homes as mentors for literacy and social interaction skills development. Nursing, of course, has clinical practice at the core of its curriculum, starting with the on-campus skills laboratory with its Sim Baby and Sim Man simulations to placements in various community clinical settings. Psychology emphasizes the research process, culminating in end-of-semester poster sessions, and clinical applications in fieldwork that becomes more extensive practicum and internships at the graduate level. Graduates of the program work with autistic children, counsel families, or teach at community colleges. Social work features clinical practice at its core in the preparation of licensed clinical social workers.

Prior to becoming Founding Dean of the College, I was a member of the Psychology and Child Development faculty at CSU Stanislaus for more than 30 years. I have seen the campus grow in size, stature, and in physical beauty. The first thing that attracted me to Stanislaus from the east coast that remains is the commitment of the faculty, staff, and administrators to our students. Under the tutelage of our faculty and as a part of our diverse student body, you will find many, many opportunities to discover things about yourself, our communities, and what you want to become.

Perhaps you’ve been blessed with a decisive nature. Perhaps you’ve already determined your direction in life. However, I arrived at my choice by a less than linear route. As a sophomore at Rutgers University in New Jersey, I felt equally pulled toward majoring in art history and psychology. I did what any deliberate decision-maker would do — I flipped a coin. Art history it was, but only for two days. A few conversations later, the realization dawned that I couldn’t teach art history without a doctorate. It seemed like a long stretch of road ahead. So I switched. Of course, the irony is I ended up earning a Ph.D. in developmental psychology and have taught at this university for more than 30 years, a career choice that I wouldn’t change. You discover a lot of things on your way to what you think will be your destination – you will discover a lot of things here.

The College of Human and Health Sciences is an exciting place that is on the move. New opportunities in the human and health sciences will be coming soon. I invite you to explore our web pages or go directly to the department web pages for further information, or contact us at 209-667-3155.

Sincerely,
Gary Novak, Ph.D.
Founding Dean | College of Human and Health Sciences