Master’s in Health Science

Diverse master's degrees are conferred in health sciences and allied health. Professionals with prior health services experience may choose the Master of Public Health program. Up to 11 tracks are offered, including biostatistics, public health preparedness and terrorist response, health administration and environmental health. The curriculum totals approximately 44 credit hours. Focal areas of classes include principles of epidemiology, health law and regulations, healthcare policies, quality management and health economics. A seminar, on-campus research projects and a practicum are necessary to finish some degree tracks. Academic and career advising are available for University of Oklahoma students.

Utah State University's degrees in health science and allied health range from health and human movement to health promotion. The university's numerous degree programs prepare graduates who plan to work as physical therapists, community health educators, fitness instructors or public health managers. A graduate degree in fitness promotion offers specializations in health education, sports medicine and exercise science. Coursework covers sport in society, human anatomy, physiology, biophysical aspects of physical activity and fitness as therapy. Research, creative projects and internships expand learning. Part-time students can finish coursework and other requirements within about three years, as opposed to two years for full-time students.

The health sciences master's degree program can give students skills and knowledge to promote community health and educate the public to reduce the spread of disease. Graduates may manage health service organizations, conduct research in the field or advocate for healthcare improvements inside or outside of political circles. The school operates on a semester basis. The 36 credit hours required include courses like research design, health behavior theories and models, allied health sciences and statistics. Master's degree candidates have the option of completing a thesis or an internship, which requires a background check. The University of Texas at Tyler offers academic and career counseling.

The University of Utah's Master of Science in Public Health is designed for those interested in research, education or advanced studies for a doctorate degree. Graduate health science degrees can be earned in fields such as public health or occupational and environmental health. The Master of Public Health has less of an emphasis on research and it targets individuals who want to work in administrative or managerial roles. It can take two to three years to finish the 45-credit program. Biostatistics, foundations of public health, clinical research methods and healthcare administration are core classes that students take while pursuing either public health specialization.

Master's degrees offered through the Health, Human Performance and Sports Management Department range from exercise science to health education and promotion. Students take nine credit hours of core courses in subjects including biostatistics, human anatomy, nutritional therapy and managing healthcare plans. An additional 27 credit hours are earned in the student's elected concentration. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock emphasizes learning opportunities through community service and behavioral research. The admission requirements for the health science graduate program include a statement of intent, three reference letters, GRE scores and a minimum GPA of 3.0.

California State University-Fresno offers a Master of Public Health degree, with many graduates going on to careers in government service. Among these career fields are public and environmental health professionals, allied health specialists and occupational health specialists. Accredited by the Council of Education for Public Health, the program's curriculum includes classes like program planning, applied research and community service in underserved areas. The Fresno campus program is taught on a part-time basis. Because of this, students should expect to take three years to graduate. Applications are accepted once a year.

The Master of Public Health at California State University-Long Beach aims to teach students how to use statistical techniques to find solutions to community health problems. Other skills gained include how to manage and administer public health programs, understand public policies and working with people from diverse cultures. Courses in the graduate program include advanced community health statistics, research in health disparities, environmental health and risk reduction and health promotion. A seminar and a thesis are also built into the curriculum. Total credit hours are between 42 and 43, 18 of which are electives. Students complete an internship prior to graduation.

Healthcare administration is the focus of the University of Central Florida's master's degree program in health sciences. An executive track is available for professionals who have at least three years of experience working in health services as managers or clinicians. A minimum of 44 credit hours are required for the executive program, with a culminating capstone course in strategic management. The traditional master's degree program comprises 51 credits with a final project and internship. Core classes include statistics and research, quality and risk management, healthcare law and ethics and epidemiology. The university emphasizes independent yet interactive learning through inquiry and dialogue.

Florida Gulf Coast University's Master of Health Science has two concentrations: health professions education and health services administration. The focus of the curriculum centers on topics like comparative policy studies, applied analytics, occupational health, environmental health and organizational management. Upon graduation, students should know how to review legal and ethical issues to improve healthcare policies and practices. They should also know how to study and comprehend healthcare statistics. A minimum of 36-credit hours and at least a 3.0 GPA are needed to graduate. One capstone project and an internship are also required.

The University of North Florida's health sciences degrees are administered through the school's Brooks College of Health. Master's level degrees range from healthcare management to public health. Concentrations are also available in areas such as exercise physiology and epidemiology. Some of the courses that make up the curriculum are biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health and advanced financial management. Applications for some programs are only approved for the fall semester. It takes about two years to complete the 39 to 54 credit hours for the various graduate programs on a full-time basis and requirements typically include a thesis or an internship.

At New Jersey City University, the master's degree in health science prepares adults to service members of underrepresented communities from a public health perspective. Students can choose to specialize in areas such as health administration and school health education. The curriculum explores occupational and environmental safety and health, research methods, epidemiology and community nutrition. Other subjects of study could include fiscal management, trends in mental health treatment or managed healthcare plans. It usually takes 36 credit hours to complete graduation requirements. Applicants for this selective program need a minimum 2.75 out of a 4.0 GPA, and there are instances when the school requires an interview with applicants.

Varied graduate programs in allied health and health science include a master's degree in health and human performance. Those enrolled in the program can focus on topics such as rehabilitation, physical conditioning and health promotion. Research projects and laboratory work are performed by instructors and students at the school's Human Performance Center. Classes include epidemiology, research strategies, nutrition, exercise therapy, cardiopulmonary pathophysiology and disease prevention. The Jesuit community at Canisius College encourages students to engage in reflection and self-assessment as they build their professional skills. Graduation requirements include core courses and internships or a thesis, and classes follow an 8-week schedule.

The university confers a Master of Science in Allied Health that allows students to focus on areas such as leadership or education. Studies at Otterbein University are meant to improve skills for scientific and clinical practice, research methods and curriculum design. Depending on the choice of academic emphasis, prerequisites include financial accounting, anatomy, physiology and statistics. The curriculum covers 36 credit hours with courses available in program planning, ethics, health and wellness, allied healthcare administration and athletic training. Time of completion varies depending on students' availability and whether they enter the program with an associate degree or a bachelor's degree.

Drexel University's Master of Health Administration is a 45-credit graduate program. The program is designed to prepare students to enter senior management roles. Students benefit from having an existing management or administrative background before they start the program. Emphasis areas include financial accountability, transformational leadership, managing teams, human resources management and problem solving. Course pace options allow students to complete the program in two or three years. During the 5-day residency, a management scenario is reenacted. In addition to a bachelor's degree from an accredited school, applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The numerous health science graduate programs available through Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine cover a range of disciplines. Studies at the master's level offer specializations such as the healthcare quality and patient safety degree, which is geared toward clinicians and non-clinicians alike. Ten core courses on topics like healthcare administration and quality improvement are built into this program. Experiential learning is the focus of a mentored capstone course that requires the design, implementation and assessment of a project focused on quality or safety improvement. The university emphasizes interactive lessons, with an intensive class schedule that includes a two-week introductory session and a week-long summer session.

The Medical University of South Carolina's Department of Public Health Sciences offers a Master of Science in Biostatistics and a Master of Science in Epidemiology. The school's biostatistics program emphasizes methodology research, and students work with the Data Coordination Unit to design clinical trials and analyze data. Illnesses and diseases that graduates should be prepared to study and help develop treatment programs for include Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's and mental health illnesses.

Both the biostatistics and the epidemiology program require students to complete a thesis. Records needed to apply include Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, transcripts, three reference letters and a purpose statement.

The Master of Arts in Integrative Health Studies at Antioch University-Midwest is an interdisciplinary program. Adults who are interested in working as life coaches, consultants, entrepreneurs or caregivers are best suited for the program. Skills people with these interests learn focus on the mind, body and spirit connection. In addition to research and academic writing, there are a series of core courses to complete. Among these core courses are health communication, systematic ways of knowing, body mind healing and social responsibility. Thirty-six credit hours or 12 courses are the minimum graduation requirements. Before completing a thesis, the option must be approved by an academic advisor.

This Master of Science in Public Health degree focuses on the scientific knowledge needed by health service professionals. Meharry Medical College's program gives students skills to analyze health statistics, interpret government policies and engage members from diverse communities to educate the public. However, the main aim of the program is to prepare graduates to serve children and adults from underrepresented areas. Biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, research and health administration are focus areas of the curriculum. The MS program consists of 45 credit hours divided between core courses and electives. Prior to graduating, students complete a 400-hour externship.

At Loma Linda University, students may choose from 11 different specialization options when pursuing their master's in public health degrees. Biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, global health, maternal and child health and population medicine are among concentration options. While many of the concentrations contain a research project, some also require submission of a thesis prior to graduation. Students can expect to complete to program in two to three years and may enter into fields like healthcare education, consultation, research and public policy management. Three letters of recommendation, a statement of intent and undergraduate transcripts must be submitted during the application process.

With the restructuring of the former University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, health science programs are now available through the Rutgers School of Health Related Professions. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, offers an array of on-campus graduate programs in allied health. Web-based courses make up part of the health science master's degree program, which has areas of concentration such as education or integrative health and wellness. The core curriculum includes classes on disease management, healthcare informatics, statistics, dietetics and public policy. It takes approximately 30-33 credit hours for students who hold bachelor's degree to earn these credentials, and those attending part-time have a maximum of five years to complete requirements.

The Master of Science in Occupational Health at Touro University Nevada offers training for professionals working with children and adult clients who are dealing with an array of challenges, including autism, spinal cord injuries, chronic illnesses and addictions. Potential career paths include therapists, consultants and healthcare educators. Studies could cover clinical reasoning, foundations of occupational therapy, social justice, assistive devices and movement analysis. Labs and field work constitute other curriculum components. Minimum admission requirements include an associate or bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, a 3.0 GPA and completed prerequisites in areas such as psychology, humanities, anatomy and human development.