College of Health, Education and Social Transformation

Dean - Yoshitaka Iwasaki

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs - Phillip Post

Associate Dean for Research - Michael Hout

Director of Research Operations - Juanita Hannan

Director of Finance - Aida Lopez

Coordinator, Educational Support and Resource Center- Margo Trevino-Torres

Student Program Coordinator - Sapphira Garner

Communication Specialist - Amanda Adame

The College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation (HEST) was established in 2021 to serve students, faculty, and staff whose efforts aim to improve individual, societal, and policy outcomes. The college was formed by combining the previous College of Education, College of Health and Social Services, and the Department of Sociology from the College of Arts & Sciences. In the Spring of 2023, the college added the Borderlands and Ethnic Studies Department. We offer stackable credentials, certificates, minors, and degrees in the following areas: borderlands and ethnic studies; communication disorders; counseling and educational psychology; kinesiology; nursing; public health; social work; sociology; and teacher preparation, administration, and leadership (TPAL).

General Undergraduate Requirements

1. Complete at least 120 - 132 acceptable credits, including a minimum of 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above.  NMSU Viewing the Wider World (VWW) classes are included in the 48-credit hour requirement.

2. The minimum GPA varies per degree program.  Please refer to your department/school for application, admission, or program GPA requirements.  Each department has information about minimum GPA, program prerequisites, and program-specific testing requirements.  Application to a HEST program does not automatically end in acceptance.

3. Satisfy New Mexico general education requirements. The HEST Undergraduate Resource Center and the Center for Academic Advising and Support Services (CAASS) have detailed degree maps, program information, and curricula.

4. All students, including transfer students, must complete the last 30 semester credits required for the baccalaureate degree within the New Mexico State University system. Students in the four-year Servicemen’s Opportunity College Program are not exempt from this regulation.

5. Students interested in teacher preparation (including secondary education minors), nursing, social work, and public health programs must apply and be accepted into these programs based on a set of prerequisites and a competitive admission process. For information about these application and admission processes, please refer to each department’s information in this catalog.

6. In addition, if department faculty determine that a student is performing below expected program standards in a particular skill, that department may require that a remediation plan be developed to promote student success.

General Education Requirements (non-teacher education programs)

1. Ten credits in General Education Area I: Communication

2. Three to four credits in General Education Area II: Mathematics

3. Ten to eleven credits in General Education Area III/IV: Laboratory Science and Social/Behavioral Sciences

4. Three credits in General Education Area V: Humanities

5. Three credits in General Education Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts

6. Three to four additional credits from a General Education Elective

General Education Requirements (teacher education programs)

1. Ten credits in General Education Area I: Communication

2. Three credits in General Education Area II: Mathematics

3. Eleven credits in General Education Area III/IV: Laboratory Science and Social/Behavioral Sciences

4. Three credits in General Education Area V: Humanities

5. Three credits in General Education Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts

6. Three additional credits from a General Education Elective (HIST 1110G United States History I or HIST 1120G United States History II)

HEST programs may require more credit hours or additional courses specific to the major.  Check the departmental pages for degree requirements in each program of study.

While the ultimate responsibility for planning an academic program in compliance with university, college, and departmental requirements rests with the student, the College recognizes the importance of sound and accessible advising for academic programs.  Students formally admitted to a HEST major are provided academic advising within the department of that major.  Students not formally admitted to a professional studies program are advised by CAASS.

Transferring Undergraduate Courses

Certain courses within the curricula offered by HEST programs have been identified as transferable from NMSU to other public two-year and four-year institutions in New Mexico. The equivalent course at other institutions can be identified using the common course number. Similarly, students from other institutions can use the common course number to identify education courses that can be transferred to NMSU.

The School of Nursing offers the New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium (NMNEC) state-wide.

Pre-professional Programs

NMSU offers several programs for students to transfer into professional schools throughout the university. The pre-professional programs administered by the HEST are pre-nursing, pre-social work, and pre-public health sciences. Students new to NMSU or working on completing their departmental prerequisites can declare a pre-professional major in HEST. Once prerequisites have been satisfied, an application process specific to each major is required. Application details and requirements are available through the "Academic Departments" link on the HEST website and the Central Advising Center (CAASS).

Graduate Work

HEST offers curricula leading to the degrees of:

• Master of Arts,
• Master of Science,
• Specialist in Education,
• Doctor of Education
• Doctorate of Nursing Practice,
• Doctor of Philosophy.

Those interested in pursuing graduate degrees should consult the Graduate Catalog for full information at https://catalogs.nmsu.edu/nmsu/graduate-school/.

Bachelor Degrees

Masters Degrees

Specialist Degree

Doctoral Degrees

Graduate Certificates

Undergraduate Minors

Graduate Minors

Accreditation

The programs offered by HEST provide undergraduate students with a broad general education with an emphasis on professional preparation in various disciplines. These programs are nationally accredited, while some require approval by the State of New Mexico. These programs include:

Teacher Preparation: The university’s teacher preparation program, which involves several colleges and is directed by the College Health, Education, and Social Transformation, was re-accredited in 2018 by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation Programs (CAEP). The undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare individuals for licensure to work in public and private schools in New Mexico have been approved by the New Mexico State Public Education Department.

Counseling and Educational Psychology: The Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); the Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) in school psychology, accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and the doctoral (Ph.D.) program in counseling psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The post-doctoral program in Clinical Psychopharmacology holds APA designation.

Health and Social Services: The baccalaureate degree program in the School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The New Mexico Board approves the undergraduate program in Nursing of Nursing.

The baccalaureate degree program in the School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The Bachelor of Public Health and Masters of Public Health degree programs in the Department of Public Health Sciences is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

The Communication Disorders master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CAA - ASHA).

The Athletic Training Degree in the Department of Kinesiology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training (CAATE).