Master of Science in Physical Activity and Health

at Kaplan Group - Arizona State University - Downtown Phoenix Campus USA

The School of Public Affairs offers a BS in public service and public policy with a concentration in nonprofit leadership and management.

The role of nonprofit organizations continues to grow and presents broad policy implications for future public sector professionals. This program empowers students to understand the unique aspect of the social, political, economic and philanthropic factors related to the nonprofit sector.

The MS program in physical activity and health offers a unique opportunity for advanced training with options to focus on exercise science, fitness and conditioning, or physical activity and health promotion alongside faculty who are immersed in the latest research.

This program prepares students to translate and apply evidence-based exercise science, fitness and lifestyle behavior change approaches to improve health and well-being and prevent chronic disease across the lifespan. It also prepares students to design fitness and conditioning programs for athletes.

Students in the program develop competencies in research design, statistical methods and the ethical conduct of research studies and they have the opportunity to conduct a mentored research project as part of a thesis, if desired. They also learn to apply theoretical models of behavior change for the development and implementation of interventions to facilitate the adoption and maintenance of physical activity and other health and wellness behaviors. Students develop and demonstrate their knowledge of the causes, risks factors and impact of exercise, physical activity and fitness on the disease process in cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, cancer, musculoskeletal health and functional fitness through a critical examination of epidemiological research and exercise intervention studies.

The BS program in health entrepreneurship and innovation provides students with a broad background in the principles of innovation, leadership, complexity science, change theory, collaboration and evidence-based decision-making to prepare graduates to manage implementation of innovation in the health care arena.

Through the use of evidence-based decision-making and leadership skills in interprofessional teams, students learn to tackle health care challenges using modern technology, public policy and communication. This unique program situates students at the intersection of innovation and entrepreneurship, enabling them to develop their own solutions to health challenges.

Program areas of emphasis:

• Develop competence in the design, application and testing of innovative processes and products
• Incorporate current trends with interprofessional teams
• Lead processes of innovation and transformation

The School of Public Affairs offers a concentration in health policy as part of the BS program in public service and public policy. This program allows students to build a course of study that focuses on the health care industry. This sector continues to be a major part of the U.S. and world economy.

The concentration in health policy provides students who have an interest in policy to focus on health-related issues and their policy implications. The courses in the concentration are offered by the College of Health Solutions and the School of Human Evolution and Social Change.

Prepare to lead community colleges, colleges and universities toward solutions in contemporary challenges. You'll gain the skills needed to operate successfully in environments that demand innovation, excellence, inclusion and collaboration.

The MEd program in higher and postsecondary education is designed to facilitate the professional development of those who work in colleges and universities in administrative roles, as well as academic support and student support positions.

The program develops leaders who have a strong understanding of the theory and practice of higher education administration; possess the ability to analyze issues confronting contemporary colleges and universities; and can exercise innovative and effective decision-making.

Coursework addresses a range of practice-focused topics in the field, including the following: the history of higher education in the United States; organizational characteristics of colleges and universities; important laws and policies pertaining to administrative practice in higher education; how colleges and universities are funded; how to work successfully with diverse stakeholders in contemporary higher education; and how to collect and use data to improve decision-making.

This 30 credit-hour, 10-course program is offered on a 7.5-week calendar in fall and spring semesters (six weeks in summer). Students may enroll part time or full time.

Most courses are offered in a hybrid format with 50% of the content delivered face-to-face (weekday evenings) and 50% delivered through independent or technology-supported learning experiences and fieldwork.

This program culminates with the creation and presentation of an applied project in which students demonstrate their understanding of critical issues in higher education and how to collect and use data to improve their professional practice. The project is also designed to promote graduates' career advancement in higher and postsecondary education settings.

The BS in food and nutrition entrepreneurship addresses significant and ongoing changes in the food industry by preparing students with sound nutrition principles and business acumen that will enable them to competitively participate in a growing field.

The program encompasses important areas of knowledge and skills for future nutrition entrepreneurs, whether they intend to innovate within an organization or launch a food or nutrition-related business. Key topics include how to develop an online presence, supported by evidence-based principles, thorough social media, blogging, podcasting and video; how to launch nutritionally sound startups and businesses for individual practice and consulting; and how to innovate within the food industry through research and development.

This highly-ranked concentration within our MPA program (#16 in Public Finance and Budgeting, U.S. News and World Report) will help you turn your desire for public service into a rewarding career in public finance and budgeting. The program can be completed full-time, part-time, or entirely online.

The MPA is a professional degree program designed to prepare students for public service at all levels of government as well as in the nonprofit and private sectors.

The program consists of a core curriculum emphasizing managerial and analytic skills needed in a large range of careers that serve the public good. Through a focused set of electives, the concentration in public finance provides knowledge and skills for students seeking careers or career advancement in areas in which financial management plays an integral role in governance. The concentration deepens knowledge in urban economics, managing money in the public sector, public budgeting, and capital budgeting and financing.

Learn to understand complex public problems and develop and implement innovative policy solutions. Through coursework and real-world projects, you gain the analytic skills required to address society's most challenging problems.

The MPP program allows students to approach the study of public policy with a focus on public policy in the urban setting.

The program trains people to lead by making positive policy decisions, addressing the difficult questions associated with public policy, and managing the process of policy creation, approval, implementation and evaluation. Students also gain an understanding of policies addressing issues such as poverty, education, the environment and public safety. At the conclusion of the master's degree program, students are able to identify, analyze and interpret the challenges and dilemmas of public policies, especially those of urban areas. Students also are able to approach policy analysis with a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods and are prepared to develop innovative processes and tools to deal with changing realities of public policy and address issues on a global, regional and local scale.

The Master of Public Policy program with a concentration in science and technology policy provides knowledge and skills for students seeking or advancing careers in areas where science and technology are guided by public policy or where science and technology play an integral role in the policy process. This concentration emphasizes theories and research concerning the role of science in decision-making, complexity theory, institutional design of knowledge production organizations, national innovation systems, innovation and industrial policy, technology transfer and research evaluation.

The BS program in community health develops leaders who are dedicated to addressing health challenges at their source while also creating partnerships to leverage resources. This program is designed for students who want to create healthy, sustainable communities.

Community health professionals work in partnership to address health needs of diverse populations. Students learn to understand the components of a healthy, sustainable community; advocate for diverse individuals, families and communities; and provide health education, health promotion and service coordination.

Graduates of this program provide health education, health promotion, care coordination, disease management, health care navigation and advocacy services for individuals, families and communities.

This degree program has the same prerequisites as the nursing major; therefore, students may transition seamlessly to this program and obtain a bachelor's degree in a health-related field.

This top-ranked concentration within our MPA program (#3 in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, U.S. News & World Report) prepares you to be a results-driven leader within the field of emergency management. The program can be completed full-time, part-time, or entirely online.

The MPA is a professional degree program designed to prepare students for public service at all levels of government as well as the nonprofit and private sectors.

The program consists of a core curriculum emphasizing managerial and analytic skills needed in a large range of careers that serve the public good. Through a focused set of electives, the concentration in emergency management provides students with the skills and knowledge to manage and assume positions of leadership in government, private, nonprofit and civic roles, within the field of emergency management. An all-hazards and all-threats orientation, together with an focus on community resilience and communication, provides the student with a generalist perspective, which is critically important for the disaster managers of today and tomorrow.