Office of the Dean
Welcome to the John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences (HCHHS), the largest academic college at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. A leader in community engagement, the Hairston College advances North Carolina A&T’s legacy of strategic workforce development and advocacy to enhance community health and well-being. We are proud to house the School of Nursing and six departments, namely, Communications Sciences and Disorders, Kinesiology, Physician Assistant Studies, Population Health Management and Policy, Psychology, and Social Work and Sociology.
The Hairston College seeks to foster student success through real-world experiences, allowing students to gain the essential skills and knowledge sought by employers, and prepare them to take their place as leaders in their chosen fields. We take pride in being home to three programs that prepare graduates to work in clinical settings as practitioners and leaders as nurses, physician assistants, and social workers.
We offer seven baccalaureate degree programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management
- Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW)
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
At the graduate level, the Hairston College offers six degree programs:
- Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
- Master of Science in Social Work (MSW)
- Master of Science in Health Psychology
- PhD in Social Work
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- PhD in Applied Psychology.
Our faculty engage in a variety of research programs spanning the areas of basic sciences, behavioral sciences, community-based interventions and clinical/translational research. More importantly, the research programs within the college seek to answer questions that improve overall community health. Many faculty members are supported by external grants from funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Hairston is also home to the Center of Excellence for Integrative Health Disparities and Equity Research (CIHDER), a hub for multidisciplinary research and community engagement efforts to alleviate health disparities and eliminate health inequities. These efforts are achieved through research, community engagement and training. More importantly, our students are integrated into CIHDER research experiences that enhance their critical thinking skills and prepare them to work in multidisciplinary team environments. The Hairston College is also home to the North Carolina Regional Diabetes Research Center (NCDRC).
Our college capitalizes on the synergistic relationships between the constituent departments to develop advanced academic programming, enhance the mentoring of trainees and conduct collaborative multidisciplinary research and scholastic activity. We continue to build partnerships with regional institutions, community stakeholders, and industry to advance community health and well-being. I invite you to explore our academic programs through the links on our academic department web pages, and to join us in building a legacy of excellence in the health and human sciences.
