Master of Science Degree in Health Sciences (with online option)

Graduate Programs

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Health Sciences Degree Program is designed to prepare graduates to be effective leaders in the fields of health promotion and disease prevention. This program builds on and extends the curriculum of the Department's undergraduate program in health sciences or similar programs, thus providing a strong foundation for both professional leadership roles and pursuit of more advanced degrees in the field of health.

Graduates of this program will be prepared to assume leadership roles in: a) assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating individual and group needs for interventions aimed at promoting health and preventing disease; b) administering and/or coordinating specialized activities and programs aimed at promoting health and preventing disease; c) communicating health needs and concerns and resource availability for programs aimed at promoting health and preventing disease; d) critiquing, conducting and contributing to research related to health promotion and disease prevention; and e) serving as advocates for improvements in the fields of health promotion and disease prevention through effective education of individuals, groups and communities.

The curriculum consists of 18 hours of required core courses, 12 hours of electives, and six hours of thesis or internship. Elective courses, which are typically but not necessarily chosen from courses offered by the Department of Health and Kinesiology, must be approved by the student’s academic adviser. Students are strongly encouraged to engage in research with faculty and to select the thesis option. Completing a thesis is especially desirable for a student who plans to pursue doctoral studies. A student considering the thesis option should discuss this with the academic adviser early in the degree program. For a student who does not complete a thesis, earning the M.S. Health Sciences Degree requires satisfactory completion of a comprehensive exam in the latter part of the student’s program of study.

Curriculum (36 semester credit hours)

Required core courses (18 hours):

• HECC 5303 Research Design
• HECC 5317 Biostatistics
• ALHS 5335 Global Health
• ALHS 5305 Program Design and Evaluation
• ALHS 5347 Epidemiology
• ALHS 5365 Theories and Models in Health Behavior

Elective courses (12 hours approved by adviser)

Thesis or Internship (6 hours):

• HECC 5395 and HECC 5396: Thesis I & II

or

• HECC 5397 and 5398: Internship I & II