Health Care Degrees Online

Psychology is a science that has as its central theme the study of behavior. Psychology involves studying how we interact with one another and our environment. Psychology is practical; it is concerned with improving our quality of life. To achieve these ends psychologists work in a broad range of research and applied settings. The psychology major is designed to provide each student with a comprehensive overview of the major fields of psychology and the methods used in psychological research. The major is also designed to assist the student in selecting elective courses which can form a concentration in an area of the student’s interest. These specialty areas might include clinical/community, social, developmental/child/aging, industrial/organizational, learning/cognitive, biopsychology/health psychology and legal psychology. The major provides a basis for careers in a variety of psychology related occupations such as mental health agencies, hospitals, schools, businesses and public organizations.

The Master of Science program combines training in both scientific and applied areas of clinical psychology. It is based on the scientist-practitioner model. It prepares students both for professional work in a variety of settings and for doctoral training in academic and professional programs in clinical psychology. The M.S. program provides supervised research and clinical fieldwork experience. Completion of the course work prepares the student for Marriage, Family Therapy (MFT) intern registration. A small amount of additional course work must be taken to qualify the student for the MFT license.

The Master of Public Health requires 42 units of approved graduate work. Twenty-seven units are core competency classes (which includes a six-unit internship) and an additional fifteen units are electives, 75% of which must be 500-level courses. Students work with a faculty adviser to select these electives to support career areas in health promotion, environmental and occupational health, gerontological health, nursing leadership, or in a special studies track such as health anthropology or health counseling or other special academic/career needs.

The purpose of the Master of Public Health program is to prepare public health professionals to draw on the knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines and to define, critically assess, evaluate and resolve public health problems. MPH program graduates will have a common educational grounding that will enable them to work effectively with the broad spectrum of public health issues related to their public health careers

The Department of Health Science offers a minor in health science consisting of 21-22 units. Students interested in personal growth, community service, intellectual stimulation and professional career opportunities in the health field, will find this minor a method to achieve these goals. The minor provides a concentration of health-related courses that can enhance skills for students majoring in fields such as Biology, Chemistry, Child and Adolescent Studies, Human Services, Kinesiology, Psychology and Sociology.

The minor provides students with necessary tools to understand factors contributing to the promotion of health and well-being and the prevention of disease and disability. This sequence of courses offers traditional and modern approaches to education and career development in the Health Science field. It encourages a multi-disciplinary orientation.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science is offered for students who are preparing for careers as health educators as well as for those who seek quality preparation for advanced study. Students in Health Science learn how to effectively plan, implement, and evaluate prevention strategies that are practical and effective at the community, state, and national levels. In addition, through required and elective coursework, students must complete a focus area in health promotion and disease prevention, occupational and environmental health, or special studies. The competency-based degree program prepares students for certification as health education specialists and for careers in community health, worksite health promotion, occupational health and safety, and/or environmental health. The degree consists of 120 units with 52 units required in the major.

The mission of health science focuses on understanding and promotion of health in diverse populations. Health science bridges the gap between scientific discoveries and the application of this knowledge to improve the quality of people’s lives. Health science research reflects the range of diverse health problems, settings and populations. The approach considers the multi-level determinants of health and well-being, including individuals, groups, organizations, and communities. Health science professionals work at these various levels to implement and evaluate efforts that promote health and prevent illness and disease. An important aspect of this process involves empowering people to change the factors that influence their health and wellbeing, be it within the individual or in their social environment.