Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management

at Kent State University USA

The Master of Public Health degree in Public Health is designed to help students develop real-world knowledge and skills needed to pursue success in the public health industry.

The Public Health major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Biostatistics concentration prepares students in the quantitative science of health data collection, storage, retrieval, analysis and interpretation. Graduates are equipped to use statistical methods to design and analyze health-related surveys and experiments for improving health. The college’s faculty research interests include applying biostatistical analysis to understand critical health problems. Graduates in biostatistics are in demand at hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, state and local health departments, federal health agencies and biotechnology companies to analyze the effectiveness of new drugs and interventions, identify risk factors for disease and develop effective prevention strategies.
• The Epidemiology concentration prepares students to analyze the distribution and determinants of disease, disabilities and death in populations. Graduates are able to apply quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate disease outbreaks, determine causal relationships between environmental and biological factors, and conduct studies to project health trends in populations. Students benefit from public health faculty research agendas in bio-preparedness, public health surveillance systems, chronic disease, cancer and infectious disease epidemiology. Career opportunities for graduates include research positions in universities, medical schools and pharmaceutical companies; disease prevention specialists in hospitals; and surveillance managers in state and local health departments.
• The Health Policy and Management concentration prepares students to address public health risks and develop effective health services delivery models. This concentration incorporates health services research, health policy analysis and health care planning and management. Given the active research of the college’s faculty in identifying service gaps and in developing evidence-based practices and policy analysis, students emerge with strong skills in health services management, alternative models of service financing and strategies for improving services. Career opportunities for graduates include administrative and management positions in hospitals, clinics, state and local health departments, nursing homes and mental health facilities; policy analyst positions in health planning organizations and governmental agencies; and planning and management positions in health maintenance organizations and health insurance companies.
• The Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to improve health in populations across the life course. Students learn to apply theoretical principles to design, implement and evaluate effective programs that include behavioral and environmental approaches. Graduates are able to design and evaluate public health interventions intended to improve health for families, workplaces, communities and other settings. The active research of the college’s faculty—particularly in the areas of childhood obesity, violence and injury prevention, substance abuse prevention and chronic disease prevention—provides students the opportunity to work on large-scale externally funded prevention research. Students are prepared for careers in health promotion; program design and evaluation; and prevention program development for state and local health departments, workplace health promotion programs, hospitals, international health agencies, mental health centers and non-profit organizations.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Explain public health history, philosophy and values
• Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services
• Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health
• List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the US or other community relevant to the school or program
• Discuss the science of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc.
• Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge
• Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health
• Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health
• Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health
• Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities
• Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease
• Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health and ecosystem health (eg, One Health)
• Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate
• Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice
• Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings
• Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels
• Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs
• Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention
• Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
• Select methods to evaluate public health programs
• Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
• Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
• Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
• Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity
• Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making
• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges
• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
• Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content
• Perform effectively on interprofessional teams
• Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue

The Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology prepares graduates for a wide variety of career options, including exercise prescription and research, as well as future doctoral study. Representative faculty research includes the areas of body composition, metabolism/nutritional requirements, environment, clinical exercise physiology and the physiology of aging as it is influenced by physical activity and fitness.

Athletic training faculty also support the degree path with their areas of expertise in clinical and educational research in the field of athletic training.

The Exercise Physiology major includes the following optional concentration:

• The Athletic Training concentration is designed to serve the needs of post-certification (or certification-pending) students who wish to further their knowledge and skills in the athletic training profession while pursuing a master's degree. Students have the opportunity to pursue advanced clinical and academic training while obtaining knowledge and skills relative to effective clinical instruction and supervision. Advanced research skills are also a critical component to this advanced track program. Opportunities to perform research independently and/or in conjunction with program faculty are widely available.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Pass one of the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) or NSCA exams: Certified Exercise Physiologist (C-EP) or Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
• Demonstrate understanding of the physiology of human movement across the lifespan.
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the human and health and disease.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the pathophysiology of disease, risk factors and special exercise populations, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

Graduates of the Athletic Training concentration will be able to:

• Apply the principles of the research process in athletic training by engaging with faculty and clinical staff in graduate research initiatives.
• Engage health care professionals and apply the knowledge gained, through their education in both the classroom and clinical settings.
• Engage in program improvement as part of a continuous quality improvement initiative by evaluating the effectiveness of the program through multiple evaluation resources.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Mechatronics Engineering integrates mechanical, electrical, computer and controls engineering to understand automated machinery, specifically, how to design it and how to make it work. Mechatronics engineering revolves around the design, construction and operation of automated systems, robots and intelligent products, which result from the integration of software and hardware.

Using automated systems is becoming more popular for operating equipment or machinery on manufacturing lines, boilers and aircraft to reduce labor costs, increase precision and accuracy and provide quality and safety for workers. Mechatronic devices can be found in agriculture, hospitals, buildings, homes, automobiles, manufacturing plants, the toy and entertainment industry and in aids for the elderly and disabled.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering
• Design a system, component or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints, such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturing and sustainability
• Use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

The Master of Arts degree in History offers students the opportunity for advanced study in a variety of areas. Coursework emphasizes interpretation, methodology and original research. A student's program of study allows for the opportunity to conduct historical inquiry, research and analysis at the highest level. While students will be able to develop a core competence in their chosen field study, they will also study the histories of regions and times far removed from their central interests. Students may also pursue interdisciplinary work in cognate fields composed of courses in outside disciplines.

Students who anticipate continuing their graduate study beyond the M.A. should pursue one of the thesis tracks. Those who choose the thesis option, which is required of students on graduate assistantships, will produce a thesis based on original primary source research that engages a historiographically significant research question. Non-thesis options are available for those who do not expect to go on to doctoral work.

The program develops graduates who are educated scholar-citizens committed to historical empathy and in possession of critical thinking and communication skills honed by rigorous training.

The History major includes the following optional concentration:

• The History for Secondary School Teachers concentration is for educators interested in the advanced study of history. Coursework is focused on current scholarship and approaches to history. While the concentration's focus is not in history pedagogy, it is designed to encourage the application of current historical scholarship to the work responsibilities of the practicing teacher. The program provides school professionals with a structured but flexible approach to analyzing and teaching history while permitting interdisciplinary work in related fields or areas particularly relevant to students' professional objectives.

The Master of Arts degree in French provides an advanced education in French, which integrates the language, linguistics, literature and culture of France and the latest methodologies in the teaching of French.

The French major comprises the following concentration:

• The Applied Linguistics and Pedagogy concentration is intended primarily for students who wish to teach in elementary and secondary schools or beginning and intermediate levels of post secondary study, and to increase their effectiveness as teachers.

The Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies is intended to provide a broad spectrum of knowledge about human communication in various social contexts, and the ways in which information is produced and processed. Curriculum focus is on the social and behavioral study of communication theory and research. The program prepares individuals to pursue a doctorate degree, as well as for non-academic careers in which a broad understanding of communication theory and research is desirable.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Read, critique and engage in theory-based research involving a broad spectrum of topics in human communication.
• Understand and master appropriate methodological skills for the study of human communication and apply them to relevant and shifting real-world contexts that often include newer communication technologies.
• Utilize theory-based and state-of-the-art knowledge to stimulate and improve communication processes in educational, business and nonprofit environments.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree in Public Health broadly prepares students to enter the workforce as a public health professional or to enter an advanced program of study. Students explore the five disciplines of public health: biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health policy and management and the social and behavioral sciences through general coursework.

The Public Health major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Allied Health concentration seeks to augment the career portfolio of the allied health professional or aspiring student. Students who are interested in a generalist focus in public health or interested in moving to a professional degree (accelerated nursing) or technical allied health degree (respiratory care, radiologic technology, occupational/physical therapy assisting, etc.) are encouraged to pursue this path.  Students may currently hold or may be actively pursuing a state licensure in an allied health field and may be eligible to receive a maximum 12 credit hours of upper-division credit for their prior experience and demonstrated competency in select areas. Students without a state licensure may still pursue this concentration but will complete 12 hours of coursework in allied health-specific areas. Students in this concentration will be exposed to broad areas of public health including epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, global health and health policy; thus, preparing students to meet the increased demands for a trained and educated public health workforce.
• The Clinical Trials Research concentration focuses on training students in the epidemiology methods used in clinical research. The curriculum provides students a thorough understanding of the management of research studies, the scientific literature related to drugs, medical devices and other new therapies, and the federal regulations related to conducting clinical trials. Students are prepared to design and answer research questions, collect and manage data and communicate research findings to both scientific and lay audiences. An internship experience provides necessary experience in a clinical research setting. Potential places of employment for graduates include hospitals, contract research organizations, medical schools and pharmaceutical companies where graduates assist with and manage clinical research studies.
• The Community Health Outreach and Development concentration focuses on identifying and exploring ways to influence the multi-level determinants of population health and health behaviors, from a perspective that prioritizes health equity and social justice. Approaches focus on community- and system-level strategies to promote health and healthy behaviors among populations and eliminate health disparities through media, policy and education initiatives. Career options include the public sector, social services, non-profit agencies and other community-based health promotion and advocacy efforts. Graduates are prepared to assist with developing, implementing and coordinating public health interventions that promote community health and organize diverse communities around issues related to health and health behavior.
• The Global Health concentration educates students in identifying and working to address the critical public health and human needs of diverse, underserved and vulnerable populations locally and globally. Students learn the need for multidisciplinary (biological and social sciences) approaches and cooperation to address the major global public health problems. In addition, they have the opportunity to focus on a specific aspect of global health, e.g. HIV/AIDS, health policy, health disparities, health education, environmental health, nutrition. Graduates are prepared to work at entry-level positions in public health with local, regional, national or international public health agencies in both public and private sectors. Students who pursue this concentration are required to participate in a study abroad experience and complete four courses (at the elementary and intermediate levels) of either Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish
• The Health Services Administration concentration establishes a foundation for graduate work in health policy and management. Students analyze national and local public health infrastructure, evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of health care delivery and explore the legal and ethical issues of health care administration. Graduates enter the health care workforce as finance managers, compliance officers, patient navigators, insurance specialists and other health care managers. Students are encouraged to pair this concentration with a minor.
• The Pre-Medicine, Dentistry, Osteopathy concentration includes preparatory courses for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and admission entry into other professional schools including pharmacy, podiatry, occupational/physical therapy and physicians assistant programs. The overall curriculum—focusing on biological, social and economic determinants of health, prevention and control of diseases, introduction to biostatistics and public health research—makes this program highly desirable for admission to professional schools. The unique features of the program open new opportunities and offer competitive advantages for students seeking to enter into clinical medicine.

The Master of Education degree in Research, Measurement, and Statistics develops educators and specialists in the areas of assessment, measurement, research design and program evaluation. The program serves teachers and administrators seeking applied measurement, research and evaluation skills for use in schools (pre-kindergarten to grade 12) and in higher education. The program also serves professionals seeking careers in the areas of evaluation, research and psychometrics.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of descriptive and inferential statistics at a conceptual and application level.
• Demonstrate knowledge of research design and methods by selecting and executing the appropriate research design and methods for a variety of applications.
• Demonstrate knowledge of measurement, including the methods to develop valid and reliable measures of constructs.
• Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary and classic theories in program evaluation, the purposes and logic of program evaluation and the processes of different types of program evaluation.

The Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering provides an advanced theoretical and/or research-oriented curriculum with significant depth in aerospace-specific disciplines, beyond the general fundamentals of the engineering bachelor’s degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Conduct literature searches, comprehend advanced research materials and uncover connections between related work.
• Perform research, discovery and integration by applying advanced knowledge of aerospace engineering.
• Communicate problems and solutions in aerospace engineering clearly, both verbally and in writing.

The Master of Arts degree in Chemistry is for students interested in gaining additional knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry beyond the bachelor’s degree. This non-thesis degree program is flexible and can be taken on a full-tine or part-time basis. Several course sequences have been designed for students interested in career advancement. The biochemistry interest area is recommended for students seeking to further develop their academic background in biochemistry and chemistry prior to applying to medical school or dental school. The industrial chemistry interest area is ideal for students seeking additional preparation for employment in the chemical industry. Current and future K-12 educators may pursue the chemical education interest area for advance chemical instruction including chemistry pedagogy.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate a core knowledge and understanding of chemical and/or biochemical concepts.
• Demonstrate a depth of knowledge of specific topics in chemistry and/or biochemistry and/or chemical education.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills in chemistry and/or biochemistry.
• Effectively and clearly communicate chemical and/or biochemical concepts and knowledge.