Learning Outcomes and Assessment

The mission of the Ph.D. in Health Sciences Program within the Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences and Health Administration is to graduate doctorally prepared health science professionals who will respond to critical needs in the areas of academia, healthcare organizational leadership, advanced clinical practice and healthcare research.

Program Goals:

The curriculum prepares the graduates to:

Exhibit advanced communication, educational and research skills to serve as active contributors to the healthcare system
Consider ethical values and principles fundamental to the provision and receipt of healthcare services and research
Use pedagogical and organizational skills necessary to deliver healthcare in an efficient and effective manner
Critically appraise health science literature and apply the appropriate principles and procedures to the recognition, evaluation, interpretation and understanding of current issues
Apply the principles of scientific inquiry to investigate problems at the frontiers of knowledge, and
Demonstrate knowledge and sensitivity of culturally diverse populations and their attitudes toward health and illness.

Specifically:

1. The curriculum prepares the graduate to exhibit advanced communication, educational and research skills to serve as active contributors to the healthcare system.

Objectives:
The student will:

Demonstrate advanced communication skills in writing and presenting to scholarly audiences.
Adopt lifelong learning practices to continually improve himself/herself in order to advance the lives of patients/students and clients, organizations and society.
Know and apply scholarly research practices to advance knowledge and understanding of health care issues.

2. The curriculum prepares the graduate to consider ethical values and principles fundamental to the provision and receipt of healthcare services and research.

Objectives:
The student will:

Know and apply ethical principles and core values endorsed by the healthcare professions.

3. The curriculum prepares the graduate to use pedagogical and organizational skills necessary to deliver healthcare in an efficient and effective manner.

Objectives:
The student will:

Select and utilize appropriate teaching approaches to assist students and clients in learning in the most effective and efficient manner.
Evaluate organizational needs and apply the most effective and efficient intervention available to address the situation.

4. The curriculum prepares the graduate to critically appraise health science literature and apply the appropriate principles and procedures to the recognition, evaluation, interpretation and understanding of current issues.

Objectives:
The student will:

Critically review existing research in order to understand what is known about a particular topic.
Apply new understandings to current issues.
Join scholarly and practice "conversations" concerning topics of interest in order to further the development of knowledge and practice, both individually and collectively.

5. The curriculum prepares the graduate to apply the principles of scientific inquiry to investigate problems at the frontiers of knowledge.

Objective:
The student will:

Know and apply scholarly research methods in the pursuit of new knowledge.
Go on to publish scholarly work completed as a requirement for the awarding of the PhD degree.

6. The curriculum prepares the graduate to demonstrate knowledge and sensitivity of culturally diverse populations and their attitudes toward health and illness.

Objective:
The student will:

Recognize cultural differences pertaining to attitudes toward health and illness.
Consider cultural difference in order to more effectively communicate with others.
Advocate for the needs of diverse individuals.