Master of Science in Health Science

Curriculum

Degree Requirements

The program includes 6 courses (18 credits) of core coursework. In addition to the core courses, students will choose two (2) additional elective courses (6 credits) and three (3) courses within a specialty track (9 credits): Health Leadership or Health Education. Students interested in both the Health Education track and the Leadership track can complete a “General Studies” in Health Science by taking a combined 9 credits of coursework from both tracks.

Major Requirements (18 credits)

An intensive writing course to support the development of professional, scientific writing and effective written communication. Throughout the course, students will also take a deep dive into how research is accessed and the components of a research study, while critically analyzing scientific literature. The course will also include an emphasis on APA format and ethics in writing.
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to research in the health sciences through an overview of the research process. This course provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods. This course will also highlight ethics in the research process.
This course will provide students with in-depth knowledge on legal and ethical issues with an emphasis on ethical decision making and its on health care as well as the ethical issues in research in the health sciences. The knowledge acquired from this course will enable students to meet the needs of the changing and expanding health care environment.
People of diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds suffer disproportionately from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and various forms of cancer. This course will address the reality of these health disparities and different perceptions of the healthcare system between the groups, to understand some of the cultural forces behind them.
This course provides an overview of how healthcare and public health are organized and delivered in the United States. This course will focus on how theory, research, and practice interface with population health and health care delivery in the US. Health issues will be discussed by unit of analysis including individual, interpersonal, organizational, community and national levels. Behavioral health theories will be reviewed for each level of analysis and how each can be used to understand health and healthcare in the US.
Extensive investigations into preventing common problems will be explored. The course will focus on fostering good mental health or psychological wellness. The counselor is seen as functioning in an extremely proactive role and as a wellness educator. Topics include establishing peer mediation programs, suicide awareness, managing impulsivity, forming support groups, training peer counselors, developing study skills, learning stress reduction techniques, recognizing and dealing with depression, isolation, cultural differences, understanding issues in human sexuality, avoiding gang involvement, and improving ethnic, race and gender relations.

Electives (6 credits)

Prerequisites for good health include but are not limited to the ability to have access to clean air, a stable climate, adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, sound agricultural practices, health-supportive cities and built environments and a preserved nature. Public Health officials and organizations have an obligation to not just understand policy and procedure but also to understand what prerequisites are essential for good health. This course explores the relationship professionals have with their environment, the risk management choices made, and the resulting associations that affect health and physical well-being for the individual, communities, and susceptible populations. Primarily, students will learn how a variety of environmental factors impact health outcomes, the current control measures on preventing or minimizing the health effects from the negative environmental impacts, and where to access additional information to make a difference at the individual, community, or higher level. The course is also designed to introduce students to environmental health factors that impact human health including mental health. The course will include reading assignments, lectures, class discussions, written assignments, and examinations.
Extensive investigations into preventing common problems will be explored. The course will focus on fostering good mental health or psychological wellness. The counselor is seen as functioning in an extremely proactive role and as a wellness educator. Topics include establishing peer mediation programs, suicide awareness, managing impulsivity, forming support groups, training peer counselors, developing study skills, learning stress reduction techniques, recognizing and dealing with depression, isolation, cultural differences, understanding issues in human sexuality, avoiding gang involvement, and improving ethnic, race and gender relations.
This course will introduce fundamental concepts and issues in global health in developed and developing countries to increase awareness of health issues from a global perspective. It introduces key global health topics and emphasizes the critical relationships between health, disease, and socio-economic development. The challenges associated with global health issues and the global efforts and strategies underway to prevent and control them will also be explored.
Social and Behavioral theories of health related behavior change will be reviewed to provide an understanding of and to address public health problems. As an individual’s health and well being is affected by a variety of factors, i.e. social and environmental, we will examine how these factors affect health behaviors and how these influences are used and can be used to improve health and prevent disease.

Specialty Track (9 credits)

Complete 3 courses from one track or any 3 courses from either track for “General Studies”.

Track I: Health Education

This course is an intensive study of the basic principle and procedure utilized in the development of health professional curricula, as well as the instruction implemented within the health care facility and community. Students will learn the principles of curricula plans and component parts and will be engaged in developing relevant evidence-based curricula addressing the current and projected needs of health care and professional education.
This course studies the alternative relationships in the teaching-learning process by providing a framework that presents options in teaching and learning. Topics discussed include: organizing students and subject matter; managing time, space, and equipment; interacting with students; choosing verbal behavior; and creating cognitive connections with learners.
By applying the principles and foundations of health promotion and education to the theories and practice, highlighting real-world issues, this course will examine and develop health promotion & education programs to improve health-related outcomes of individuals, families, and communities.

Track II: Health Leadership

An examination of concepts related to health care financing. Emphasis will be placed on budget preparation, cost-benefit analysis, managed care, and on developing an understanding of reimbursement systems.
This course covers political, social, and economic issues affecting health care organizations. Topics include the role of government in determining health care policy, the U.S. health care delivery system, costs and financing of health care, and social welfare gains and losses. Candidates will engage in interactive discussions of current trends and economic and social issues related to efforts to reform or revise the health care system.
Management, marketing, and financing of the delivery of health care will be explored. Healthcare economics is emphasized from an administrative perspective. The examination of quality versus quantity, the allocations of resources as well as relationships and conflicts among consumers and providers of health care services. Concepts related to technology, including the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) affecting health care organizations is discussed.
An examination of quality issues and measures utilized in healthcare, human resource management in healthcare settings including physician and labor relations, recruiting, retaining and developing clinical staff, as well as medical malpractice, compliance and Medicare fraud and abuse issues.

Track III: Clinical Research

This course provides a comprehensive overview of statistical methods essential for the design, analysis, and interpretation of research in clinical and public health settings. Students will explore topics such as study design, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and survival analysis, with a focus on real-world applications. The curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of both Clinical Research and Public Health tracks, equipping students with the analytical tools necessary to evalsuate clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and health services research.
This course will cover the fundamentals of designing, conducting, and managing clinical trials. Topics include study design (randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, etc.), protocol development, patient recruitment strategies, data integrity, and quality assurance. Students will gain practical insights into the operational aspects of clinical research and learn best practices for managing clinical trial logistics and challenges.

Focused on the regulatory environment specific to clinical research, this course will explore the roles and responsibilities of regulatory bodies (such as the FDA and EMA), the process of obtaining approvals, and maintaining compliance throughout a trial. Emphasis will be placed on navigating international regulations, ensuring ethical conduct, and understanding the legal frameworks that govern clinical research.

Track IV: Public Health

This course provides a comprehensive overview of statistical methods essential for the design, analysis, and interpretation of research in clinical and public health settings. Students will explore topics such as study design, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and survival analysis, with a focus on real-world applications. The curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of both Clinical Research and Public Health tracks, equipping students with the analytical tools necessary to evalsuate clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and health services research.
This course introduces the fundamental principles and methods used in the study of disease distribution and determinants in populations. It covers study design, data collection, and statistical analysis, with an emphasis on observational and experimental approaches. Students will learn to identify risk factors, measure disease frequency, and apply epidemiologic findings to inform public health policy and practice. This course is designed to equip Public Health Concentration students with the analytical and practical skills necessary to conduct robust epidemiologic research and contribute to effective disease prevention and control strategies.
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the principles and practices that ensure the health and safety of workers in various industries. Students will examine workplace hazards, exposure assessment, risk management, and the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern occupational safety. Emphasis is placed on prevention strategies, health promotion, and the development of effective intervention programs, preparing Public Health Concentration students to design and implement workplace health initiatives.

Capstone

Students will participate in an internship experience approved by the director of the program. Engagement in programs such as community health organizations or health care organizations are highly suggested. Through the internship experience, the student will be responsible for developing and executing a project geared towards the needs or request of the chosen organization in which the internship is based. The project will be reviewed by the faculty advisor to the internship and culminate in a formal paper written by the student that delineates the project and its implementation. Additionally, the formal paper will address the assessment of the effectiveness of the intervention.

Total Program Credits: 36