TWU Home > Health Studies > Graduate Programs > MS Degree

M.S. Degree in Health Studies

The Health Studies Master's Programs are built upon the Bachelor of Science in Health Studies Program's competencies as framed in the entry-level competencies of the National Commission for Health Education Credentials, Inc.'s 2006 competency Update Project Model.

Master's Program Goal: To prepare graduates to become health education leaders and practitioners in the profession.

Master's Programs Objectives: The Master's Programs curricula are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to:

• Apply these competencies in their professional work.
• Assess the health needs and interests of individuals, groups, and communities in relation to cultural, ethnic, and demographic factors.
• Plan, implement and evaluate health education and health promotion programs in a variety of settings.
• Approach health education and health promotion from a multicultural perspective and sensitivity to diversity.
• Develop appropriate strategies to effect positive health behavior among the groups or populations addressed.
• Coordinate the provision of health education services and serve as a resource person in health education and health promotion.

Program Options

1. Thesis Option
2. Non-Thesis Option (Professional Paper)

^ This denotes "In-House" courses outside the Health Studies Department currently taught exclusively on the Denton Campus . Online Masters students may enroll in these courses.

To Health Studies Masters students:
Effective September 1, 2007, Health Studies Department will offer a non-thesis option to current and new Master’s students. This option will involve taking six hours in lieu of a thesis. The total hours required for the Master’s in Health Studies remains at 39 hours. The choices for the optional six hours should be selected from the list of Health Studies elective courses or Library Science elective courses. All current Health Studies Master’s student wishing to explore this six-hour in lieu of thesis option should contact their advisor in the event your degree plan will need changing. To recap, the current and future Health Studies Master’s students may stay with their current degree plan or move to the six hours of course work in lieu of a thesis option.

Each program option is available with your choice of Focal Area:

•  Higher Education

•  Community/Population Health

•  Health Management/Leadership

Delivery Methods

Students may choose from a variety of delivery methods to complete their degree:

•  In-house classes (traditional face-to-face format, typically 1 evening per week in long semesters)

•  Short Course (Workshop format) in summer 1

•  Short Course (Workshop format) in summer 2

•  Weekend Classes (3-4 weekends per semester, typically Friday evening and all day Saturday)

•  Internet Classes- must attend mandatory orientation session each semester

Admission Criteria

Unconditional Admission

Applicants will be evaluated for unconditional admission based on the following criteria: 

•  A preferred minimum GPA of 3.0 (or preferred 3.5) on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours of bachelor's degree coursework as evidenced by official transcripts.

•  A preferred minimum of 450 on the verbal portion and 400 on the quantitative portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); and, 4.5 on the analytic portion of the GRE for international students, and a preferred minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

•  Appropriate academic background and professional and/or volunteer experience for master's study in health studies as evidenced by a professional vita and CHES certification (non-CHES applicants, see prerequisite or corequisites).

•  Two acceptable recommendations (using the departmental recommendation form), completed within the past 12 months by faculty members, academic advisors, or employers.

•  Ability to express concepts and ideas in writing as evidenced in a 300-word written essay.

Provisional Admission

For applicants who do not meet the preferred minimum requirements for unconditional admission to the master's degree program, provisional admission will be considered, (dependent upon the relative strength of their undergraduate GPA, GRE or TOEFL test score, academic background and professional and volunteer experience, and written essay). Applicants will not be considered with a bachelor's GPA below 2.0.

Conditions of Provisional Admission : 1) Student must maintain an A or B in all classes during the first year of acceptance to the Department of Health Studies, and 2) must successfully complete other coursework as specified by the Health Studies Graduate Admissions Committee. When the student has met these conditions, her/his admission status will be converted to "unconditional."

________________________________________________________

Want to try out a class while you apply? Try enrolling as Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) , which allows you to:

• Admit to the university, with no guarantee of admission to the
  Health Studies program
• Take up to 12 hours of Health Studies courses to determine if it's the right program for you
• Just select NDS "taking courses in Health Studies" on the application form
• This form of admission to the university is ineligible for financial aid.

Consult with the Graduate Coordinator to ensure the courses you take as a NDS student are appropriate for the degree plan to which you are applying.

Please note: Effective Fall Semester 2002, the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) will not be accepted by the department as a graduate admissions test.

Admissions Procedures Checklist

Admissions is a dual process. Step One describes documents that need to be provided to the TWU Graduate School. Step Two describes documents that need to be provided to the Health Studies Department. You must complete both steps before the deadline to be considered for admission into the program.

Please submit the following Graduate School materials to:

.  A completed Texas Common Application form which is available online at: http://www.applytexas.org

.  Graduate School Application Fee (if applicable)

.  Your GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores or TOEFL scores

.  Official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) from every college/university attended.

Please submit the following Health Studies materials to:

.  Two recommendations (using the Health Studies recommendation form) completed by recent faculty members, academic advisors, or employers.  

.  Your current professional vita/resume

.  A typed essay of no more than 300 words that addresses the following question:

"What are your career goals, and how would you use the education you receive from your Health Studies graduate degree to pursue those goals?"

Download the MS Admission Checklist

Download the Recommendation Form

Deadlines for Submission:

•  July 1st for Fall 2008 semester

•  October 1st for Spring 2009 semester

To check your status and confirm receipt of materials , please contact the respective offices:

Student Records Processing : Toll Free (888) 948-9984 or (940) 898-3047 or Fax: (940) 898-3079. Located in the Administrative Clock Tower (ACT) - 7th Floor

Health Studies Department : (940) 898-2860 or Fax: (940) 898-2859. Located in the Classroom Faculty Offices (CFO) Building - 10th Floor  

Thank you for applying to the Health Studies Program!