Master of Professional Studies, Public Health Administration option
The Master of Professional Studies degree is a multi-disciplinary master's degree designed to meet emerging workforce development needs. It is designed to develop advanced professional skill sets in various subject areas not currently represented at FHSU by Master of Science (MS) credentials. A salient feature of the degree program is the flexibility for the student to combine a major subject area with one or more cognate areas designed to enhance professional workforce skills desired by employers in industry, government, health care, and information technology careers.
The Masters of Professional Studies with a concentration in Public Health Administration is designed to assist the individual in developing the skills necessary to deal with the complex health issues as seen in today's world. The program provides the individual with the skill set necessary to identify and understand emerging public health issues, analyze options for addressing these issues, and locate the necessary resources to deal with them. Those working in Public Health should be able to recognize and appreciate the importance of public health challenges ranging from health care access, the control of diseases and environmental issues related to health, emergency management, food safety, disease transmission and health-care costs.
This 30-hour program is offered entirely on-line and consists of 9-hour core, 12-hour concentration, and 6 hours of electives and a culminating experience project for 3 hour. Courses are offered on a scheduled semester and summer basis and the length of time needed to complete will depend on the number of hours taken per semester. A full-time student may complete the program in a year and a half. Most working professionals tend to take three or six credit hours a semester and will take three or more years to complete the degree program. Program contact information can be found at the bottom of this page. [bookmark to below] Click here for Graduate School admission criteria.
Admission Criteria
- Acceptance to the Graduate School at Fort Hays State University:
- A minimum grade point average of 2.5 for last 60 credit hours on the bachelor's degree.
- A personal statement introducing yourself and your reasons for applying to the program.
Program Summary (updated 8/31/17)
Core (9 hours)
HHP 815 Research in Health and Human Performance (3)
HHP 825 Statistical Analysis in Health and Human Performance (3)
HHP 602G Public Health (3)
Concentration (15 hours from the listing below)
HHP 620G Epidemiology in Public Health (3)
HHP 618G Environmental Health (3)
HHP 625G Legal Issues in Health Care (3)
HHP 630G Administration in Health Care (3)
HHP 610G Global Health (3)
Electives (3 hours)
Elective courses must be graduate level (600 level and above) and can come from any academic discipline that contributes meaningfully to the student's program of study. All electives must be approved by the student's advisor. Offerings are variable and will depend on the Department from which they are taken.
Project/Internship (3 hours)
HHP 873 Culminating Experience/Internship (3)
*Taken after all course requirements have been completed
Comprehensive Exam
As a final step in the program, all students are required to successfully complete a comprehensive examination prior to graduation.
Program Contact
For more information, contact Dr. David Fitzhugh to see if the Master of Professional Studies degree with a concentration in Public Health Administration as offered through the Department of Health and Human Performance could be right for you. You can also reach Dr. Fitzhugh at (785) 628-4354.